Attaching Drawers/Platform to Bed, Frame Flex?

How do people usually attach drawer/platform systems to their beds? I just spent two full weekends building a setup out of plywood, and with how much time and money I put into this, I really don't want it breaking. I bolted the rear down to the bed mount bolts using L-brackets (the big torx screws just behind the cab) so the system doesn't tip forward when the drawers are fully extended, and I tied the front down by the tailgate to the factory bed tie-downs using paracord, hoping this would allow for some shifting when the frame flexes offroad. I'm thinking this might not be enough though, especially with a 6' bed and how much the frame will flex when I go to places that twin lockers and 35's will take me.

How do people usually attach their drawers/platforms? Do they ever break from the frame flexing? I'm tempted to reinforce the rear of the frame when I swap the rear axle this fall, not just to stiffen it but to accommodate the extra weight of everything. I have pretty beefy rock sliders, so the middle is already stiffened from those, even if that's not the intended function.

 

This is impressive that you put this together. Interested in what it cost you in materials and time. The seemingly widespread Decked Drawer System seems to go for about $1600, and of course you'd have to assemble and install in any event.

As to how much the bed will flex and your drawer system with it, it might actually depend on the woodgrain and whether the flexing is with it or against it...

 

This thread might be of help to you

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...eping-platform-drawer-storage-systems.424709/

As for my platform that I built, I rely solely on gravity to hold it in place. Granted I am not flexing out on 35s and using twin lockers when off roading but I have done 20k miles of road/gravel and a about 1000 miles of offroad with no damage to my wood platform.
If you haven't cracked your canopy and your tailgate still works I couldn't imagine enough frame twist to break the platform without damaging those first, especially with it just front mounted using turn buckles.

 

Thanks! I spent about $700 on materials and put around 40-50 hours into it. It was not a small project lol. I actually built this to replace the Decked system I had. The Decked worked fine, but took up too much space for my liking and the drawers were too small relative to how much bed space they took up. Almost half of the Decked system's total volume is inaccessible space due to the design. The system I built has about twice the available storage space and sits about 3" lower in the bed. They probably weigh at least 100lbs more though. I think I calculated the total weight as somewhere around 200lbs empty.

As for the grain, it's plywood, so it's in every direction. The sides and middle support would be bending the plywood in the hardest way possible when the frame flexes, though.

 

Honestly I don't think bed flex would be a problem for a drawer setup... I too would be more worried about that topper (and I've done my fair share of offroad three-wheel stands too).

If it concerns you though, maybe attach it at both front corners behind the cab like you have it, but then mount it at the rear of the bed with just a single mount in the middle (have it raised up ¾" or 1" or however much you think is needed to allow for the bed to flex underneath it).

Otherwise you're probably looking at reinforcing things underneath to reduce the bed flexing (strengthening the frame, adding some sort of metal framework to the underside of the bed, etc.).

 

Ha, I do have to slide the shell back up to the cab and tighten the clamps from time to time. I plan to put an air tank where the factory spare is when I swap axles this fall. I'm thinking I'll build a beefy crossmember to go there and maybe box in the C-channel if it's not too difficult.