Bed Stiffener Issue???

I noticed after I had my stiffeners and my bed rack with the rtt installed, I’m seeing one of the gaps between tailgate and bed wall was wider than the other just by a bit. It was bothering me but I knew I had forced the bed rack in so thought it was pushing one side out. I took the tent off, loosened the whole bed rack, and got rid of the pressure pushing on the bed wall. That adjustment of the bed rack was about an inch. Once I put everything back together, the gap was the same. So I figured it wasn’t the bed rack pushing the walls apart. So next Ichecked on the stiffeners and reinstalled the driver side one after trying to re-torque and breaking one of the bolts. That seemed to help and got the gaps within 1/8” of each other. So was it the stiffener pushing the wall out when they aresupposed to be doing the opposite? I was happy with that but just got back fromsome trailing and noticed when I was washing the truck that the gap is back, if not worse. Am I tripping and it’s not a big deal or what?! Sorry for the long rant, just kinda thinking as I type.

 

Can you upload a pic?

If you think it’s the bed stiffener, use a square to see if it’s at a proper 90 degrees

 

It’s marginal, but I can feel it and see it. Am I just being too OCD? The square is a good idea.

 

^^- Do this, then consider any improvements if any - the difference seen in your pics is really insignificant in the big picture in MNTBH opinion. If you're really fixated on it, try a fender washer or 2 between the bed and the stiffener's vertical leg. Say 2 washers at the bottom bolt, 1 washer at the middle one and none at the top. That will pull the top of the bed side in toward the center.
EDIT: Any suggestions found on TW must be applied at YOUR own risk.

 

I appreciate you chiming in. Thank you for your insight. I’ll consider that for sure.

 

Hard to tell by the photos but the difference looks negligible

 

The gap on my driverside is bigger than the gap on passenger side. It was like that from the dealer.

 

Oh is it? That’s interesting. It would’ve been smart of me to measure while I was stock.

 

The bed of the truck is about 15 pieces. Could be anything. You're not tripping balls, unless you spent a night in Leucadia.

 

Haha I’ve spent many nights in Leucadia. I used to live there.

 

Interestingly enough I bought my 1st Gen at Toyota Carlsbad. Lived in Solana Beach and Encinitas up from Swamis, worked in La Jolla. Damn I miss that place sometimes.

 

Born and raised in Carlsbad. I can’t leave this area haha

 

Mine was like that when I bought it. Grab the tail gate on one side and push. It centers up.

 

don't measure your rear bumper gaps you will faint

 

Exactly. When mine is lowered you can slide it a bit left/right if you really want to even the gaps.

 

Don’t measure how centered the bed is to the cab. You will freak.

 

Lol just as a general rule, don't measure panel gaps

 

Haha ok sounds like I’m just leaving it.

 

I’ve got a dumb question: When are bed stiffeners needed? Is it a matter of what’s loading up the top of the bed? How wild the twisting forces are when off-roading? My Tacoma is a work truck, doesn’t go off-road, has a lumber rack I built that ties in low on the bed rather than sitting on top, and isn’t likely to torque the bed sides significantly. Do I need them? Thanks!

 

I don’t think you’ll need them but after a few years the weight of the rack may start bending your bed walls out. I had a camper shell on my 2015 for 3 years and didn’t worry about stiffeners. With off-roading more now with that added weight, the bed really moves around a lot back there. And the walls are composite so weaker than the cab.