3rd gen “Offroad bed” build

ITS FRIDAY ALREADY!?

So I built this awhile back but never made a thread on it. Have a few questions on it now and then so maybe this will help! So this will be “looking back” to show the progress.

Start- remove bed



Now build base



Time for braces, gussets, sleeve the bolts for mounting “feet”



Starting the skeleton






Lights are temp mounted ^


Then I started with the floor, sides and top



Bumper, bolts directly to frame (not to bed, this was a question lol)


Super fast forward to bumper being cut, all sheeted and painted. Light buckets made, etc



It was time for a tailgate, needed a license plate mount and rear camera location.



Whipped up some quick detach mud flaps



Added the short cross bar to the top, it is really just there to stop our four wheeler bumper from breaking my rear window




If you read all that and are not bored, here is up to date photos.

Things to note:

-I still have my stock bed for when I decide to sell my truck for a raptor

-This bed bolts down to the existing factory bed location

-Lights did hyper flash with the new leds. Added resistors and that went away

-I did not loose much usable space with this bed. I can still load up my 3 kids and all their stuff and head to the lake, fishing poles and potty chairs and all

-It’s not a flat bed, it’s an Offroad bed. Purpose built because my factory one is all dented. Yes, I get it happens when you Offroad, but it was a lot of fun to build this

-I’m not a professional welder, I literally just started welding earlier this year. So no, I have no desire to weld other peoples stuff.

Like it or not, it was fun to build. It’s not done but I’ve lost motivation and got caught up with time, and life.

Here’s those pics that were mentioned-

 

Also here’s a video on it.

Offroad bed build pt1 | 3rd gen Toyota Tacoma
https://youtu.be/gDvWJIrz0K0

 

Yup, that's cool. You getting your steel at Metal Supermarkets in St Louis?
Zim

 

Thanks!

I got it from a guy in Washington. It was a 1/3 of the price from Shapiro. Very cool dude too.

 

A T bed for a little more space for stuff...

 

Huh?

 

Looking for a company to make me some side boxes to mount underneath the sides. Want them angled so I can use them as support for a fender. Need to close off that wheel well something fierce.

So if any of you know of a place, let me know. I tried one place but they were expensiveeee

 

Yeah I've seen that guy on FB marketplace. If you don't mind a little surface rust, like me, I'm all in.
Zim

Oh, I'm down in Gasconade County. I've heard alot of good things about southern Missouri Off Road Park. I'd like to head down there one day.

 

Yeah his prices are so nice lol. Sometimes you’ll get brand new, fresh off the truck stuff. But sand it down and go lol

I’ve been and it was awesome (what little bit I got to explore). I do wanna make a weekend trip out of it for sure.

 

Cool, let me know. I'm a Army EOD brat so I can fit in. Ahahahahahahha
Zim

 

We might be able to handle that. Sheet metal is my favorite trade. I've got a bead roller too...lol
Zim

 

truck looks great man, subbed

 

oh dude! Let’s get together and get some measurements over to you. That’s awesome!

 

Thanks!

 

Im thinking spring. There’s an expo in feb too down there in Springfield I plan on going to

 

Cool. I'll keep a eye out. I actually might try and get a spot at the show. Thinking about it.
Zim

 

It was pretty good last year. I was more interested in seeing SMORR though lol

 

Found the link, somehow they got a pic of my truck prior to the bed, which is fine lol

 

Seen it in action.

It's ite

 

Thanks bro ski

Fixin to slap an rtt on it now. I really need to camp more, so I’m hoping this will give me more motivation to do so.