4 Wheel Parts Bed Stiffener Install

Big sad.

 

I plan to trade up to a 3rd gen this summer, so I will need a set. I can make cardboard templates and then the computer drawing. It can be laser cut and bent at send cut sent or osh cut. I will see how the first set works.

 

IF I didn't have so many things to I have to do (Being retired has it's challenges)
I would make up a template from fiber board. I've got the photo images of the part installation on my desktop ... It's not rocket science, just time and getting to it.

(This post is no help to the cause, but gets the notion off my mind! ;-)

 

Being retired gives you all the extra time in the world though

 

Or I might spend the rest of my life making templates for f...ng toy truck bed stiffies.

perspective and priorities. There are motorbikes to be ridden, tractors to pull stuff, sports cars to drive and restore... grand kids to cherish!

 

Would take what, an hour to mock up a template?

 

In my mind, an hour at most

In reality...two, maybe three days.
There is no sense in producing a model/template that does on reflect the desired result.

I could make a template for one side out of masking tape in about an hour, But it would not be worth crawling under the rear end and getting all that road grit in my eyes.

Best leave the dirty work to the California dreamers. I live a mile off pavement.

 

Not sure if that was a poor attempt at a dig, or if we're just so many years apart that I don't get the reference

 

It's all spoken lightly, as all my comments on the internet are intended.
but my harsh reality is that working in those bed corners would be hindered by multiple applications of rust proofing and accumulated road grit, grime and yuck! So much less fun than clean and dry vehicles from America's south west.

eta

Plus, I am bitter after having ordered the 4WP products, had the order confirmed, even with a ship date. and then canceled. ;-)

 

Serious question: what do these do that the tie downs that come with the truck don't? And what don't they do that you might want them to?

I could take this on, but I don't think I would want to simply copy them. Then again they're so dead simple that if they work well enough, maybe I could leave my ego at the keyboard and not mess with what isn't broken..sometimes good enough is exactly that..

 

You're only looking at one part of it

It's an internal bed stiffener, not just a tie down

 

That's me with Headstrong

Customer support sucks via phone, email, and even on here when I tried to place an order and was blown off for an entire week

And this was back in 2019 before they were bought out; they're now owned by TG or something so they're worse now.

 

Worse yet, I only read page 1 and 5 until now.

I see what they're doing now, I think at least, need to study the pics some more. I thought it was a stiffener in the sense of just being a tie down with a large backing plate. A little more complex than initially thought but still simple stuff..hmmmmm..

Edit: if anyone else wants a closer look, found a pretty detailed installation article here: https://***************/review/4wp-bed-stiffeners/

Edit my edit: is the Trail Tacoma site banned here or something?

 

I often wonder if the complexity of the installation is why 4 wheel parts discontinued the product.
Making permanent changes by drilling holes in hard to reach places is something that I'm sure resulted in a lot of customer complaints and questions.
If someone were to make it, I'm sure it would sell well but I also know there'd be a lot of customer service overhead for anyone but the most mechanically minded customers.

 

Anyone know any bed stiffeners that will work with a bed extender? Since 4wp discontinued I can’t find anything that will work

 

Ok so I did some measuring, scaled the image on 4wp as close as I can and made a dxf drawing the closest I think I can do.

The only inaccurate part is the exact angle of the OEM holes the stiffeners are supposed to line up with, and making sure all the parts sit perfectly level.
I can figure it out by making some templates but I would have to drill out my truck bed to get the holes in the right place.

I'm not sure if I want to do that unless someone is for sure down to make this... Kwikvette ??
I don't want to use OshCut / SendCutSend - it would be super expensive.
And also the nuts still have to be welded on

One more detail I haven't incorporated is the sheet metal thickness. What is an appropriate thickness for this?
I can add the correct line for the bend once I know the thickness.

 

I'll open it up and cut one side out tomorrow (er later today)

If I cut it in 16 gauge as a mock up, I'd love to send it to you for test fitting

 

Wow - that is encouraging to hear this update - thanks you guys for your work on this! Looking forward to hearing how this goes!!!

 

Watching this, as I would totally have one made if it became a thing.