Bed stiffeners...yay or nay??

I wanted to say something about that, but we just don't have corrosion issues here. I hit the new holes with paint, did install the fasteners in the stachion wet with RTV, and put a bit extra on the backside.

I have couple nicks through the powder coat from hauling pallets and sliding them off. Barely anything to report.


I'm originally from PA and expected it to be worse here. This place is just weird.

 

Yay for me. Cali Raised gives me the option to chain the bike in the back of the truck, making it impossible to steal without a grinder or torch.

 

Calling this 'more of a shear wall method' is quite the stretch. Also saying it resists 'all' loads in that plane is an even larger stretch. Kind of like what peoples bedsides will do if they use a design like this. Yes, shear walls are great structural elements, keeping most every timber built house ever built standing when the wind blows on them, but your design misses many keys elements of a shear wall. A lone line of vertical connections paired with a lone line of horizontal connections does not resist shear. What you have is a welded corner experiencing moment forces. There is no resolution of the moment forces into tension and compression (i.e. shear). You aren't using intelligent shapes. And you're confidently telling people something that just isn't true, no matter how you slice it.

I would be astonished if any of my colleagues would attempt to stiffen a shear wall with an 'L' plate at each corner. No code book that I am familiar with offers any permissive shear value for a bracket of this kind.

I figured after my 1,000+ word, detailed, response (Post #138) in this very thread that this discussion would be finished, but I guess I need to stay tuned. Lots of misinformation in here.

* Practicing Structural Engineer with degrees in ME and Mathematics.

 

Couldn't someone just unscrew and remove the stiffner?

 

That's a bit of a stretch... That would require someone to carry proper sized hex sockets, Torx bits, and have an understanding of how the bed stiffener is attached.

To your point, there's no such thing as "theft proof"... but you do what you can to slow them down or deter them. I'd have 100% confidence in this set up.

 

I have no problem spending $90 on gussets that are also extra tie-down points.
My '05 was one of the initial trucks to have the tailgate replaced under warranty because it went U-shaped the first time I loaded a motorcycle. Toyota doesn't always think of everything.

 

The four bolts on the uprights have nylon lock nuts, so not easily removable. I'll probably super glue some ball bearings into all the screw heads, however, just to be safe.

 

what's the stiffener pair called that goes from the end of the bed at the cab to the sides?

thanks

 

https://athfab.com/product/bed-corner-tie-downs-for-05-15-toyota-tacoma/

Is this what you are talking about?

 

exactly; thank you

Q: do we like these (2019 tacoma) or is there another company preferred?

 

I made these a while back that I'll all but give away since they are just taking up space. Cover shipping and enough to buy a 30 rack.

 

I would be interested in them, if he is not.

 

Shout out for your *other* product; great design, well made, and it has more functional tie down points compared to the others!

 

Does anyone have any examples of a stock Tacoma bed failing in a way that would have been prevented by bed stiffeners?

 

well spank my monkey bobbie-joe; those look right up my alley.

what's a 30 rack? at my age when i see one, i think "damn, bet her momma look fine"

so i guess it's all relative!

but i am a sucker for some dimple die.

they would go to 02879 zip code. pm if you haven't gotten rid of them; thanks for the thought either way it shakes out.

 

I have 3 or 4 sets here. So you can both have some. They're brand new... other than sitting on the shelf for more than a year. I was previously instructed that I was not allowed to sell the rear versions on here, or at least actively market them here, so I never pushed these at the time.

 

These are few I delt with, note they are all at the cab end of the bed. For the tailgate end, just start looking at the tailgate gaps of your tacoma, or others.

 

30 Rack = Case of Beer

If I recall, shipping was about $40. Case of beer is about $20 - So call it $60 shipped.

I have 3 or 4 sets.

 

Sounds good to me. I would have taken a pair but just notice it won’t work with softopper. Damn they look great though

 

So now I'm thinking that the models with the top horizontal hole, where some have antennas mounted, might be good for some small light pods...