Bed stiffeners?

What brand are you running and how is it working out? TIA.

 

I got ones from CaliRaised LED. They seem to be working great. Admittedly I don't have as much weight back there as I used to but they feel like a solid product.

Here's more info on my install:
https://buildstring.com/step/lZOXUC7isaadYqF16zuo

 

Unfortunately, they don't sell anything for the 1st gen. Hard to even find anyone that does which is why I asked.

 

I never got the impression that first gens needed them. Our beds are all steel instead of the composite construction on the newer models.

 

There was a picture I've seen of a 1st gen with cracks in the corners i believe because of a bed rack and RTT which is what I'm doing. Just wanted to be safe.

 

Ah ok. Thats believable too

 

I've been running the Chaos Fab stiffeners. They were the first mod I made to my Tacoma almost a year ago. I'm also running a leer canopy with prinsu rack. It seems like they help with the weight, but I haven't held the weight without them.

 

Was that on a first gen? I can't find the item on their site.

 

I'm not running any and it's working out just fine.

 

3rd gen. The majority of bed stiffeners are just right angles. Couldn't they work with a little enginuity?

 

I got a set of Rago’s for my 1st gen. got a topper/rack/RTT. I never measured, but once I installed them I swear my gap between tailgate top, and truck bed shrunk by maybe 1/8”. So I’m happy.
If you are a welder, you can make your Own with some 2” angle iron easy.. seen some videos on YT but my welding is terrible. So I opted to purchase.

 

Thanks. Were they difficult to install? I don't mind drilling at all. I'll be ordering a set shortly.

 

Our beds are sturdier than the composite ones. But if you regularly take your rig over rough terrain and have weight on the bed rails, like from a bed rack and an RTT, the metal will eventually fatigue and your get spreading at the tailgate.

These are ones my friend built for me. Fairly easy and straight forward to do. And only about $10 in materials.

 

Not at all. I think I found issues with the upper bolt hole location. Had to spin the bolt around, cause there just wasn’t room for the rest of the bolt there in the tail light area. One could just get a smaller bolt, but I was half lazy and didn’t care that much.

 

Hey Anson, I have the Rago Fab bed stiffeners. I think the PO had a cabover camper or something because the bed was in rough shape and bowed out a lot in the rear when I got it. These pulled the sides back in and have significantly reduced the amount of dust that gets sucked into the bed when I have my softopper on the truck. They also don't stick out much when loading/unloading and provide a couple of additional tie down points.

 

@Nessal as mentioned above, there are still 1 or 2 vendors that offer these but really...1st Gen beds don't even need them.

I ran an RTT like you're planning on doing, and had significant weight at all times and never had an issue even while going off road with said weight -

 

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Style-Selections-19-5-in-Shelf-Bracket/3034239
500lbs each
bit long that one though

 

Thanks. I ordered a set.

 

That's good to hear but it looks like for $100 it's cheap insurance.

 

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