Another Cheap Mount For 60" Hi-Lift Mount In SB Tacos

Found another cheap way to mount a 60" Hi-Lift in a short bed Taco. Should work with a long bed also.

I have an Extang Encore trifold bed cover and was looking for a way to mount my lift under the cover. I'm using 5" corner braces I picked up from my local hardware store. I'm also using the factory rail bed cleats to secure the braces to the factory rail. Just unscrew the lock wheel (takes a little extra effort when you get to the end of the mounting screw), insert the brace through the top hole of the brace, reinstall the spring and then locking wheel. Place the bed cleats across from each other in the bed.

I then removed the Hi-Lift top clevis clamp and base. I secured the clamp to the jack and put the base in an old ice chest that I use to hold a lot of my other gear. I then secured the jack to the corner braces using 1 1/2" 5/16 bolts and some plastic knobs I also found at the hardware store. You can use wing nuts instead of the knobs if you want. Use whichever holes on the braces and jack that line up.

When you mount the jack on the braces, you have to insert it diagonally under the Extang drain channels. There's about 1/4' inch of clearance on either side of the jack from the bed wall. Make sure to place the jack with the locking pins facing down to give the jack clearance from the cover. Also make sure you mount the jack where it won't hit any of the hardware hanging down from the cover. Other than those two factors, you can mount the jack pretty much any where you want in the bed. I mounted mine just ahead of the front cover fold.

The jack seems fairly well secured but rotated a little too much for my taste, so I also used two 1/4" J bolts to secure one end of the jack to eliminate any rotation. I bent the hook tops about 30-45 degrees and then used wing nuts to fasten them through the holes in the little protrusions on the bed cleats.

The corner braces work great for my particular setup. Don't see why it wouldn't work with other covers that move the factory bed rails lower in the bed. Might even work if you don't have a bed cover or maybe even with a 48" lift.

So for about $25-30 worth of parts, I've got a bolt in setup that should work for me for the mild off roading i'm planning on.

Pete

 

What an awesome idea! Random question, is that an OEM tonneau cover, how did you open that side, isn't it bolted down?

 

Haven't seen it mounted that way before. Good thinking.

 

@dubNation thats not the OEM tonneau bro. but this is an awesome way without having to put locks on it since its secured under the tonneau though..

 

It's an Extang Encore which can fold back to front or front to back. It is lockable, but it's more a matter of out of sight, out of mind. I'm pretty sure most lockable bed covers would be relatively easy to get into with a big enough pry bar.

I'm a little concerned about the small amount of clearance on either side from the bed walls. If I see any signs of the jack hitting the bed walls, I will probably take an inch or two off the top of the jack.

 

Now before you guys go out and and spend your hard earned beer money on this, I want to give you a quick road test report on the set up.

Took a short 90 mile road trip today, with about half of that on dirt roads with quite a bit of washboard.

Good news is the brackets held up just fine and the jack didn't fall off them. The not so good news is most of the hardware loosed up quite a bit. I didn't remember to double check everything before I took off this morning to make sure it was all nice and tight. But I was still surprised by the loose fasteners. My initial reaction was to Loctite everything but fortunately I couldn't find it in my tool box. Plan B, which is probably a lot better idea, is to add some internal tooth lock washers to the knobs and J-hook wing nuts. Or I might just duct tape the damn thing to the hood.

I also think I better check my bolt on sliders. Will keep you advised.

Pete

 

Can you point me in the direction of a mount that runs along one side and has locks?

 

Well done!

 

Looks good!

 

Not sure what you are refering too. Do you mean the bed rails that come with studs for the OEM tonneau?

 

I meant I got the rails already came with my sr5.... I was wondering if there is something you know of that where I can mount the jack in one of those rails and have some sort of lock mechanism?

 

They make highlift jack mounts that built into the bed rails. i believe they have the ability to lock or add a lock as well.

 

Any names? Or links? I've tried good but doesn't really come up with much on the locking ones.

 

Heres the AllPro version..

 

Nice! Thanks!