Newbie here! Storage alternative to canopy

Hi guys just got a '99 regular cab with a bedliner. Will be doing some modding eventually but first need to keep my stuff in a safe place!

I don't want a canopy, what are some other options for storage?

The bedliner covers the top rails completely with no openings, are there no top openings on 99 tacos? I can't find any pictures of a naked taco bed online. (search for naked taco at your own discretion )

What have you guys installed in your bed for cargo management? Do they all involve drilling? (As I can only see the 4 tie-downs at each corner)


Thanks!!

 

First thing I'd do is pull the liner and see if my bed is rusted out.

On second thought, don't do that. Judging by the edge of the bed there you won't like what you see.

Are you looking to tie things down, store stuff in secure containers, both?

 

You could go through the liner with these. A lot of options for securing stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omQEd0ytwNE

 

I want to get a lockable tool box first. Then still have tie-downs at all 4 corners to secure whatever else I might throw in the back.

I see there are clamp-on style hooks you can install along the rails, but that will mean I have to drill holes / remove my bedliner . HMM.

 

Sounds like you'll have to cut or drill through the liner if you want tie downs. Why are you against drilling through the liner out of curiosity?

 

Cos I was afraid of water getting into the holes and make my 18 yr old import truck rust ... OK typing that out made me realize maybe it's not such a big problem after all lol.

Anyway , Bedliner off, it was treated .

Even did a little dance on the bed no holes !

 

Those plastic bedliners are notorious for letting water and debris collect underneath. I pulled mine out and found crap.

 

I had one of those plastic bed liners on for a month and when I took it off because I suspected it was trapping water/rocks, my '04s pristine bed looked like it had been used and abused as a landscaping truck during those 4 weeks. I was pissed. Got rid of the bedliner and Herculined the bed instead, since it was trashed from the rocks/debris that got trapped by the bedliner anyway.

The bedliner I bought though was a used one and I don't think it sealed as well as a newer one would, but I wish I hadn't done that in hindsight.

 

Regardless of how you plan to proceed for storage, I would remove the bedliner, and evaluate the condition of the box. I took a can of wheel bearing grease, and an old paint brush and "painted" the inside of mine to keep the rust at bay. Seems to have worked pretty well, but I do also have a cap on mine.

 

I'd thought the bedliner would be less popular if people know they don't protect the bed all that well.

 

I guess it matters what you use your bed for. I have rhino liner sprayed in my truck and it's durable as heck. I'd prefer it over a plastic liner. Herculiner, monstaliner, line x, and what I have are on another level from rustoleum liner in a spray can (although that stuff has its uses as well).