Cracked bed

I should have bought bed stiffeners. Too late now. What are my best options. Did the bed lose all integrity now that it’s cracked? I have a GFC and a cargo box on top. Maybe 350lbs dry. Way heavier when camping. I’m off-road multiple times a week, the truck definitely goes through a lot of flexing and vibrating. Should I just put the bed stiffeners on and seal the crack and call it good?

 

I can’t say I’ve ever seen one crack on the cab side of the truck?

 

Wow that’s crazy. Maybe junk yard?

 

Looks like the tire well, so cab side.

 

That’s where I was confused. I figured the bed stiffeners would help by the tailgate because there is less structure.

 

This makes me want to get bed stiffeners now..
I just have a snugtop hi-liner

 

Maybe the bed stiffeners wouldn’t have helped.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/flatbed-information-thread.558179/

 

At the helm makes corner brackets or a piece that goes all the way across the front of the bed and ties in the corners that would be your best bet for support. The rear bed stiffeners wouldn't be a bad idea either. But you're bed is definitely compromised. I'd also go scrolling through big mike's (from marlin crawler) build thread in there they bobbed the bed and used some sort of epoxy on the bed to connect it back I'd look at doing something like that.

 

Good stuff, I've got his previous version.

https://athfab.com/product/bed-corner-tie-downs-for-05-15-toyota-tacoma

 

Maybe your bed bolts and mounts are also in tough shape ?
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-loose-bed-design-flaw-explanation.388873/

 

Plastic welder?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/last-chance-free-composite-bed.710112/#post-25261449

might be too late, but here's a free one

 

Thanks for the heads up, unfortunately that is a long bed. I have a DCSB

 

Yep, you're done for. You could get the ATH front bed stiffeners to buy you some time, but your bed is done for.
You sent it too hard.

What is your suspension in the rear? It may be time to find a replacement bed tub like another linked above and then get some air bumps and address the rear suspension while the bed is off.

 

Stiffeners will help prevent flex in the sides which could also eliminate what you just saw.

To be honest, this is only the 2nd failure I've ever seen from one of these beds. The other appeared to have been caused by some sort of impact. I'd recommend trying to find one in a junkyard, personally. 2nd and 3rd gen ones should be the same, or very similar (minus a few cubbies on some).

Also, if you hit "quote" at the bottom right of a comment, the person you're responding to will get a notification.

 

Pretty sure 3rd gens have higher walls.

 

I have a buddy that’s gonna fab some support for the front of the bed, and I’ll buy the total chaos stiffeners for the rear.
Suspension wise in the rear I’m running the icon RXT leaf pack with 2.0 resi’s.

 

It's possible. However I've seen many people swap all of the 2nd gen body panels for 3rd gen ones, so I'm not so sure. I know a relative has a 2009 and the only difference appears to be that his has cubbies over the wheel wells while my 2017 does not.

 

Yeah, toppers aren't compatible because the third gens sides come up a bit further. I'm sure you can probably swap them, but it won't be the same as it was. Very likely has been done though!

 

3rd gen beds are 1" taller than 2nd gens. I think they got rid of the bed cubbies in 2012