Alabama thread!

Id sit in wait for him when i got home

 

I'm off today. Self servicing the 4runner. Getting ready to hit the road Monday for Jacksonville.



Quick forecast.







It actually might not rain that much. Dothan might get the most rain. Dry side is fine with me. Car show tomorrow and swap meet in Opelika but we'll see.

 

Don't have stiffeners, never have. 2016 truck with a reinforced Z series ARE shell (the heavy one!), not a daily driver, 25k hard miles camping, carrying kayaks, and wheeling hard, never had a RTT. The gaps on both sides have not changed at all.

Without getting all engineery, it seems like the angle of the bed racks is putting outward force on the bedsides where as a camper shell force is more directly down. Not to mention the 180 lb tent becomes more like 500 lbs. give or take depending on the size of you and your lady friend.

Also my camper shell is very securely clamped to the bed side and probably actually holds the bedside in place. Think convertible car vs. a hardtop.

 

Its 30 miles from Windrock

 

Shouldn't the bed rack be just as ridged if not more than a shell. If it is attached firmly to the bed it should stiffen the bed sides. The rack I have is made from 1 3/4 tubing i don't think it would spread apart.

 

yes, a rack would be more structurally sound and resistant to spreading than a fiberglass shell would, even a reinforced fiberglass shell.

A bedrack would support the bed from spreading more-so than a camper shell would.

 

Not if it’s reinforced.

 

I don't care if it's reinforced or not. You won't be spreading a steel tube bedrack or bed bar, and you will spread a fiberglass shell. A reinforced shell is not as strong as a steel rack.

 

HMM that is a valid point

 

Thinking if I want to have an engineering argument...on Tacoma World...with Scotty...Probably not.

 

Good luck. I’m a mechanical engineer too.

 

He is right....sort of. All things equal, yes steel are is stronger than fiberglass.

But steel does flex quite a bit. And then you use thin walled tubing welded in and attached at 4 points at obtuse angles, then add 500 pounds of weight it does not distribute the load as well and could be the reason every body on here with a RTT tent and a bed rack has gap issues.

 

Controversial pictures are the best

you are welcome Alabama thread....

 

I don't have anything in my bed, so I don't have the spreading problem. I need to use my truck like a truck too much, to put bars in the bed.

 

The bars remove in 2 minutes. My truck gets used as a truck all the time.

 

Full height bed rack solves that problem

 

Or that

 

I don't use a rtt, so i don't really have a need for bars. I had an opportunity to pick up some SOS ones for a decent price, but decided against it. Besides, I'll put that money towards new tires and windshield right now.

 

Honestly i would probably still have a rack even if i didnt have the tent because it gives me space to mount my jack and other accessory's. Ive got some scene lights right now mounted to it that i haven't wired up yet.

 

All my shit goes in my truck box. I have to attest to the durability of Toyota's composite bed though. 13 years of use from this thing and it's still going strong. I've hauled rocks, scrap steel, gravel, mulch, fill dirt, and even manure in the bed of this truck! She has been a trusty, old faithful for me and I'm so ready to hit the trails with her again!