Bed stiffeners that don't require drilling

Just like the title, anyone out there makes bed stiffeners that don't require drilling and instead use preexisting holes?

 

you can buy any kind and use the factory mounts and opt out of drilling

 

I have been using Total Chaos bed stiffeners and have only been using the factory bolt holes, have not drilled for the additional bolts. I do not have anything mounted on top of the bed rails.

 

This may be a dumb question, but if you don't drill doesn't that defeat their purpose? If they aren't attached to anything other than the composite bed how is that going to prevent flexing?

 

If you want max effect, I would just bite the bullet and drill the bed. If your concern is returning to stock for resale purposes then I wouldn’t even install them. The only usable hole on the vertical side of the bed structure are small m6 holes. If your concern is rust or something just make sure all the holes are painted up before running bolts. I’ve cut holes in metal on just about all of my last few Toyotas and as long as you paint things it’s not an issue. You can even top coat from the rear side of the mounts with fluid film or something for extra corrosion protection.

I think they mean just using say the bed bolt location and then the 1 or 2 m6 bolt holes at the top edge of that rear metal section of the bed.

 

OK that makes more sense. Thanks for the clarification

 

Thanks for replies.
I'm not concerned about resale as I'm planning to keep this truck for many years. I live in Florida and my main concern was rust, especially with how bad humidity is here.

I ordered softopper and getting bed rack as well. I also build drawers that will go in the back. Pretty sure I will need to install bed stiffeners.

 

As @JdevTac said, paint the holes with some rust proof paint after drilling. Since none if it will be visible once you put everything back together you can use some Rustoleum or similar.

 

Why is rust a concern? I thought you only had to drill through the composite bed, not any metal?

 

You don't drill through any composite. You drill through the metal on the vertical supports just inside the tail lights. I just drilled mine and used a little spray paint to cover the raw metal. Then once the stiffeners were installed, I coated the entire inside of the tail light bucket with HDMP from Amsoil. I'll probably reapply when I coat the frame annually.

 

Just drill the 2 holes and be done with it. If bed stiffeners weren't already useless, they'd most definitely be only attaching them to the floor side.

 

i would question if they can accomplish the task if its not drilled

 

Yes, got mine from Amazon. Uses 3 factory bolts.

 

There are no holes on the vertical except for the one at the very top. Did you even have to take the tail light out to put those on?

 

Nope. 1 bolt on the top of vertical part and 2 bolts on the horizontal bottom part, very simple install.

 

Dude I'm in Ontario, the rust capital of the world and drilled to install mine. Just slap some paint on the holes before you install and spray her down with some rust preventative spray every once in a while. She'll be fine.

 

I got the hooke road version of these off Amazon. A few people sell them. I liked the finish on hooks roads version better. There all the same style and function they were on sale for $68.

 

Sold. Just ordered from Amazon. For $59 I'll give them a shot, especially when I don't have pull the tail lights out and drill. Time will tell if they work with just one bolt.

 

I likely wouldn't have made this month's TW calendar if I had bed stiffeners

 

Shit that's your rig with the stuff bouncing out the bed?



I'm August