Bed rails for first gen?

Im a bit jealous of the rail systems in the second and third gen beds. Is there anything like that for a first gen? Not sure I really need it but....

 

Nice, you posted the thread before I decided to go out and search.

Some have used rails found at Lowes/Home Depot and secured them against the inside of their truck; I plan on doing the same but haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

do you mean the ones where they have hard plastic tie downs that just slide and position better?

 

Yes. All I have are the hooks in the front of the bed.

 

Hmm. What rails? Any idea? How do they secure them to the bed? I assume they have to drill some holes?

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/diy-unistrut-bed-rails-cheaper-option-than-oem.1906/

 

Thanks for this! Good idea!

 

Yes unfortunately, on first gens, you have to drill holes in the top of the bed side panels. Currently making headache rack + bedrails for my truck...

 

Did you get the rails built yet? I’m really considering this. Have a shovel I need to mount in the bed somehow and I’m thinking this rail would be an easy way to do it.

 

Truck is at the paintshop for the moment, but the rack/rails are not put together yet. I'll weld it together and install it when I'll get the truck back. I'll post some pictures when it will be done

it's going to look like this

 

May or may not be reasonable if you’re not interested in drilling holes in your bed, but since I was putting fiberglass bedsides on my truck it was well past that point. @Kwikvette thanks for the link. I’ll definitely be doing the unistrut bed rails. I found 1” square tube fit perfectly up under the bed and welded in some nuts. I put some facing up for other things later like lights or flatbar to mount stuff to.

 

You can track down some 2nd 3rd gen rails and just cut them down

 

I use L tracks in my bed but you could use them on the side rails. Depending how much weigh you want it to hold you will need to have the side rails reinforced.

https://www.uscargocontrol.com/Airc...MIy76qzf_u4wIVIx6tBh09FQW9EAQYASABEgJ0zfD_BwE

 

Hey! I have been looking at this setup for a few years now and was about to buy on Amazon right now!. Moab trip is coming in October and time to pull the trigger. If I can ask you a few questions?

How do you like having the rails toward the outside of the bed floor? And how did you fasten it? Did you do rivnuts?
I was going to order 4 rails and use the bed rails. I have the plastic bed liner and haven't seen the metal there. Is it sufficient to use these there?

I'm looking at securing bins and coolers to the floor for camping. I'll be four wheeling Moab with all my shit in the bed so it has to be secured. ANY advice you can provide would be sooooo helpful for me right now!

 

I’m currently using it to hold my full size spare in my bed and it doesn’t budge at all. You can get the mounting hardware from the site I listed as well.

I like the setup because sometimes you need to secure the items that are lower than your bed rail down to the bed and this works better than the side mounts. Since you can move the mounting position on the rails it gives you a more customize option on your secure points.

 

You had no access issues with the hardware on the floor of the bed?

I was also going to use rivnuts to secure strips to the tailgate and to the front bedrail...

 

I had one tight spot by the fuel tank but the rest was pretty easy. I think the position makes a difference. I don’t remember how far I did mine from the bed end but you can see in the photo for reference.

 

So you just bolted it down no rivnut? Asking because I'm planning on doing this also.

 

Yeah, thank you so much for sharing your install tips. I’ve got 4 4’ strips of track ordered and on the way.

I’ve pulled my plastic bed liner out a bit to see the rails and how they would fair with track installed there. They seem thin and bendy. I may get some steel strips and create a sandwich of sorts by drilling and mounting it as a backing plate.

That or I may just use rivnuts and bolt L track to the top of the tailgate and back bed rail...

 

Yea the uscargo site has the hardware to bolt it down too. They fit perfectly and are flush with the tracks base. The holes are tapered so I’m not sure how rivnuts would fit.