Cracked Composite Bed Repair - Is it possible?

Hi all, I bought a 2020 TRD Sport in December that had previously been in an accident (rear-ended), and had been repaired before being sold.

When I was most recently under the truck I noticed that the composite bed was cracked (presumably from the accident) on both sides, in the same spot. Both cracks start at the same point on either side of the truck (right above/behind the rear tire, near the top bolt for the rear suspension), and neither extend all the way across the bed, but rather about 1/4 across. It does looks like repairs have been made to these cracks, but it still makes me a little nervous about how some of the composite/fiberglass looks a little “flakey” around some of the edges (see pictures).

My questions are: Should I be concerned? Is this something I could reliably fix on my own, and not have to completely worry about the structural integrity all the time?

Thanks for any advice!

 

I couldn't speak to the structural integrity but it doesn't really look like it was repaired to me. I don't see any places where resin was added to the base composite structure to bind it together and the strands sticking out look like they are from the parent material. Usually fiberglass repair requires extensive and specialized cutting and splicing to be as strong as the original, which would be not economical on something like this, OR it is very obvious that it was repaired because of the raised surface from layers of extra material and resin/epoxy. I don't see any layers on top of the base material of the original bed. I also have no idea what kind of composite the bed is made of so my experience may not apply.

Is there any evidence of a crack or repair on the top side? Or any clues to concealment?

 

I can’t speak if there is any crack on the top side, because I haven’t taken anything apart. I assume there is a top side of the composite, and then the actual plastic of the bed is laid on top? However, if that is not the case, then no, there is no sign on cracking on the top side.

in terms of concealment, I thought there was on the inner side of the crack (toward the middle of the bed) because it is a little more shiny than the rest of the bed, and is smooth to the touch.

 

There is no plastic on the topside, these beds are made in the same fashion as a fiberglass boat would be. Chop mat and resin are layed into a mold, then pressed to form the bed. The top being so smooth is because of the tooling they use.

But, more to your question, yes they can be repaired with fiberglass chop mat, and a grinder. But I would not repair that that one, I would get a new one. That one mount is crushed and is no longer structural. Any sizable load may cause it to crush all the way down.