How to install a bike mount?

Looking at the rockymounts driveshaft, and am not sure how to install it.

RockyMounts DriveShaft HM Locking Thru-Axle Mount

https://www.amazon.com/RockyMounts-DriveShaft-Locking-Thru-Axle-Mount/dp/B078N3C1WZ

Do I have to drill into my bed? Is there another way? I figure I could bolt the mount to a piece of wood and then lay that in the bed, but it would defeat the purpose of being locking.

 

The best bike rack is the front bed rail. Get the bed rail for $45 on Amazon, install it in a few minutes, then you can mount any kind of front axle bike rack on it you want. You can also chain/lock your frame to the internal cargo hold downs for added theft resistance.

 

You need the back accessory rail. Easy install.

 

Bingo. This. ^^

 

I want to put a camper shell on the bed - mounting to the bed rail would probably be too high.

Out of curiosity, could you link me to the front bed rail on Amazon?

 

Price has gone up a notch.

$56 Genuine Toyota Accessories PT278-35100-BH Truck Bed Header Rail

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Toyo...s=tacoma+front+bed+rail&qid=1579289147&sr=8-1

 

If you want to put the axle mount at bed floor level, bolt it to a pine 2/12. It won't go anywhere.

 

If you can afford a new shell, just buy a 1up and you'll be set for anything.

www.1up-usa.com

 

Yeah, 1-UP is great - heard great things about Kuat too. I'm looking at a SofTopper so that I can fold it forward when I mount the bikes in the bed.

 

I literally was just doing a bunch of research on this today. I know its not what you were asking but heres some info for ya.

If youre putting on a camper shell. is locking it down as important?

Not sure what kind of bike you have or if your truck has a short bed or long bed, but I've read that 29ers wont fit (straight) in short beds even with the front wheel off. Discussion about it here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/29er-doesnt-fit-in-dcsb.640229/

Post #27 in this thread shows 2 bikes with a camper shell. Seats obviously dropped down, but it looks like a fork mount system attached to a bed rail down low.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/can-a-bike-fit-under-a-softopper.582070/page-2#post-19369995


I have a DCLB, and here are some of the options I'm considering. No camper shell, but I dont want to remove any wheels. Im looking for an upright truck bed solution that uses the bed rails. I prefer not to use a bar and I don't want to drill into the bed.


https://www.ride88.com/product-page/v3-single-mount-complete-kit
Can mount all 3 ways. Bolt on, Bed Rail, Bed Bar

https://pipelineracks.com/
also has bed rail mount kit.

https://www.thule.com/en-us/bike-rack/truck-bed-bike-racks/thule-insta-gater-_-18344
Locks into tailgate when closed.

 

Couldn't somebody just walk off with the bike along with the piece of wood that the bike mount is attached to?

 

My friend has the Thule bed rack. They work ok, don't think I'd ever buy one myself.

If I'm solo with minimal gear I just lay my bike down in the bed. If I'm with others I have a tailgate pad and/or Thule T2 hitch rack. When I have my moto with me I can use the tailgate pad, hitch rack or I also installed the bed rail and Rockymounts driveshaft

RockyMounts DriveShaft Track thru-axle bike rack

https://www.amazon.com/RockyMounts-...mounts+driveshaft+track&qid=1579329117&sr=8-1

I do like the bed rail mounted Rockymount. It is very solid, and it locks the fork down via the thru axle in a way that would slow a potential thief down. I chain the bike to one of the bed tie downs as well.

 

Seems to me a rack that simply mounts into your hitch receiver would be the way to go as opposed to installing something into your bed or bed rail.

 

Here is one of the best hitch mounted racks I have seen. Expensive but well built.
https://www.northshoreracks.com/

 

I even had a hitch on my mazda just for bike racks. Hitch mount is the way to go No fuss of taking wheels on and off, height requirements on a roof rack, pain in the butt to take them off the roof, etc. And they're cheaper (than roof racks for the mazda at least, bed mounts are probably cheaper).

It may cover the backup camera though.

 

Homemade:

 

Mine was linked above. It’s aluminum L channel extended and gusseted to reach the factor bed mounting holes. I used security hardware to bolt the OEM rail to the L channel. Then add spacers between the rail and one of the mounts to mitigate some handle bar interference.

It’s not the quickest to stow but the bike is locked to the rail in side my locked camper shell and locked tail gate.

Big bikes with a short bed is a tough fit. Tallboy is no prob. Med Sentinel fits Longer Geomotron was pretty maxed out.

I also use my oneup rack when security is less of an issue.

 

Here is a cheap option for inside a shell

 

I still have this that I made if your interested. Are you close to CA?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/custom-bike-bed-mount.642072/

 

If I take off the front wheel , mount it by the fork to the rockymount, and then turn the bike diagonally at a bit of an angle, it will fit in the short bed with the tailgate closed.

Is there any possible damage to the bike/fork from traveling with the bike fork at an angle?