1st Gen Bed Rail?

Very much a long shot since this thread is dead. But can you post what you braced the side rails to? I'm coming up blank and how to brace something behind them.

 

Are you talking about the bedside rails or the topper rails? The bedside rails are just bolted through the bed rail.


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-topper-rebuild.694546/
Check out my build thread for the topper here.

 

Bedside rails. I'm going to use rivet nuts for them, but was wondering if you had braced them with anything and or how you made them level with the lip on the bed.

 

I think I just lined up the l-track with the bottom edge of that lip. So the l-track is not flush with the tops of the bed rails. I drilled holes through and bolted them on with stainless bolts and nuts. This was tricky at the front of the bed, so I actually unbolted the bed and slid it forward so I could get the nuts on the backside.

I didn't reinforce with anything, but I have thought about doing something like that. I don't get much deflection since the l-track actually reinforces the rail.