Show me your failed/damaged bed

So it seems that bed stiffeners are all the rage lately. I understand the premise behind them, I've heard the complaints of "weak bedsides" but I have not seen any failures that a bed stiffener would have prevented. So post up some pic's of your failed or damaged bedside that would justify the $150+ price of bed stiffeners.

Extra tie down points IMO doesn't justify the $$

 

Why don’t you search in the 2nd Gen forum where age and cycles of stress takes effect? Same material but more time and cycles of loading. There are lots of threads and posts.

Asking for a guy with a 2020 if his bed has cracked is a little premature.

 

If this was such a problem by now, Toyota would have included bed stiffeners from the factory.

 

No, because on a stock bed it's a non-issue. Throw a cap, rack, etc on and it can become an issue. No mfg includes extras for the 1% of people that add aftermarket parts.

 

1990s Toyota maybe, Toyota today nope.

 

There are pics of damaged beds even with the stiffeners installed and they didn't prevent said damage. I'm on the fence but leaning towards the unproven anecdotal evidence that TW tends to create and that it doesn't prevent damage. Like sliders preventing door dings

 

I imagine a lot people buy them just to have an extra mod, but if I was adding a cap or bed rack with a tent, I would definitely get a set. I think there are some available for right around $100. People were paying that for TRD pro shift knobs, so it's not the craziest thing you'll see people drop money on. Heck, I've thought about getting a set just for the extra tie down points.

 

I've been on the fence about adding a set of Bed Stiffeners to my truck, mainly because it seems the design of most of them slightly narrow the gap between the bedsides, however I occasionally have to drive with my tailgate down in order to haul a motorcycle or ATV. Sometimes (like last weekend) I also do some four-wheeling with an ATV in the bed and the tailgate down. Would bed stiffeners help in this case? I'm worried that over time the bed sides may start to pull-away from the tailgate. I'm leaning towards getting a set since it seems more and more I drive this truck with the tailgate down.

 

Are you saying they don't help prevent door dings? If so, I would have to disagree. I got the slider/steps from Avid (didn't need the full bolt to frame stuff) and I've seen people swing their car door open and hit the slider. It's not going to stop dings from full size trucks or rear car/suv doors, but front car doors and most front suv doors hit the slider and save the door. I'll take all the help I can get. My 2017 had them and I didn't have any door dings. I guess your results may vary, but mine have been pretty good.

 

A nice little mod for adjusting the tailgate, if you don't want it dropped the whole way:

Edit: Just in case, your TG may come free like this if bouncing hard, like when wheeling. I have a SS hose clamp on my right hinge, so no worries here.


I don't believe your situation would cause a problem with the bed sides. It is usually from stress on the sides themselves. Caps, racks, or extreme wheeling.

I do have the @CaliRaisedLed stiffeners. They have proven extremely useful to me.

 

Yeah, like I was saying it is all anecdotal. Just like the stiffeners. Since you will take all the help you can get and believe in door ding protection from steps/sliders, the bed stiffeners should be right up your alley.

 

I inquire about them when buying my truck at the dealer knowing these tacos had a composite bed for years. I wanted to build a platform above the wheel wells so i could load my snowmobile back there. The dealer frowned against it, but did say it can be done but didn't advise it over a long period. Recommended a trailer instead so thats where i buying a small used utility trailer. Now i'd wish i kept my 2 sled enclosed triton trailer i sold back in 05. At any i was told those bed stiffners are nearly useless their just another way these aftermarket guys can make a dollar.

 

It may be anecdotal to you, but since I have literally seen people getting out of their car and their door hit my sliders and NOT ding my door, I have pretty good reason to believe it helps. Also, I didn't say I was getting bed stiffeners to keep the bed intact. I said I liked the idea of having added tie down points. I'll do my thing and you do yours. Let me know if you need some recommendations on a good DA polisher to help smooth out those door dings.

 

Nah, I feel they made a truck for a general purpose... people using their truck OUTSIDE of that purpose will not booty tickle them enough to force a change... We live in a fishbowl called TW... its easy to think the world revolves around us

 

Right? Watch the same token in reverse..... you ready?

I have ALL this stuff on my truck... with bed stiffners installed... Zero damage... that means they work

 

I want to play...no bed stiffeners and no problems

 

Lies! lol

 

There's way more things that are a waste of money besides bed stiffeners.

 

I also watched a guy open his door HARD into my slider from my office window. He knelt down and felt the new edge ding on his door for a few minutes. It would have left a mark if I didn't have sliders. I'll probably add the stiffeners as I'm looking for a tent and will be building a rack.