Decked System for Tacoma Worth it?

I was going to mention something a long these lines also... why is anyone paying attention to load limits for the Deck but then put in 1500lbs of "Overlanding" gear in the bed and off road bumbers. Also if you take a look at your door jam sticker you might find you have even less then 1600 lbs.

For instance, for a 2020 TRD OR the combined weight you can "legally" carry in the truck is only 990lbs.... Show me an overlander that is not exceeding that limit.

Heck if you put 4 average adult males in your truck, you are at max load

 

where do folks usually get deals on these new

Used sounds sketch. Odds are pieces are missing and it’s been messed with

 

Eh, depends on the person. They're super well built. I bought mine used, had it for ~3 years and sold it used for nearly just as much as I bought it for. Plus DECKED has parts you can order directly through them to replace anything that is damaged or missing. I don't know how that changed with the updated style they came out with in the last couple weeks. Hope this helps!

 

how dust proof are they? thats one thing no one answering, i asked decked as well and got washy answer, anyone has experience with it? i have open tail design on my truck for wheel carrier wonder how bad that will be

 

I don't have much dust, BUT, I don't travel dirt roads all day like some that are fortunate enough to live rural. I do travel gravel roads at the gun club a couple times a week though. If you don't have a tailgate at all, I would expect dust, as the vehicle's vacuum when moving is significant, but that is guess.

 

I think you might be right, because thats one thing i am seeing alot of its like it creates vacuum in back with no gate and pretty much by end i have tons of dust, granted all in boxes but yea. trying to find solution that would be 100% sealed.

 

if you are not in a hurry, I will try to remember to leave the tailgate down and conduct a before and after experiment (maybe take pics?),,,, but I don't know when I will hit dusty back roads, and we are winter, so everything is soggy at the moment. Again, if you aren't in a hurry, ping me in the coming months and remind me
If you could find someone in Oklahoma, that red dirt is so obvious, they could for sure do this with one rip down a side road, that red dirt on black will show for sure!

 

oh that would be awesome, yea i am not in rush doing research currently.

 

koo, I will try to help.
Maybe I could wipe an area down ultra clean, snap a pic, and drive back and forth at the gun club, with the gate down, to start.

 

I've got a Decked draw system I've been considering getting rid or if anyone wants to make me an offer (East Tennessee). I have an ARE cap as well I am thinking of getting rid of.
I think I am just going to go a bed rack option. I don't necessarily need a cap and drawer system.

 

I hope they’re dust and water proof. That’d be a selling point.

1. certain things can be done do the bed to seal gaps. Rubber gaskets they make for it, etc

2. Smartcap appears to have a positive pressure vent. Might be possible to add such a thing to your shell or bed



edit: never mind about the above ‘Factor GP’ one that claims it’s the other way around, placed downward to vent air out reducing condensation inside

who knows maybe something like that aimed differently to force air in would work as positive pressure

but then again it’s at low speed off roading when dust kicks up, not high speed highway…



A vent that just equalizes and might not be positive pressure could still work to stop vacuum
would be cheaper if it’s white or black than to paint match body color. Probably doesn’t have to be large and obtrusive.

 

interesting youre going from cap and drawers to just rack. i went from rack to cap and am building a custom drawer for one side of my bed.

why moving away from a cap? do you put real big items in the bed like couches and trees and whatever?

 

No I don't do a lot of hauling, but I feel like the Decked system does take away from the "Truck Bed" functionality. Ultimately Im not sure I really like the cap, and prefer the rack. I don't sleep in the bed since its a short bed, so I dont really see much need for the cap.

 

depends on your height. 5’ bed turns into 6’ diagonally, without an extension

decked weight bearing capacity + retractable Softopper could still haul

bed rack compatible with Softopper even more
Don’t know if theres any with removable bars though.
For example, two or three sideways bars on top might clear a Softopper if designed for it.
But block loading a fridge on. Unless they’re made to unbolt when needed
Then, with side and front bar left on for structure, could serve as additional securing tie down points

 

I got a cap to keep the stuff in my bed safe. I get nervous doing a full day hike somewhere or walking around a city with a bed full of camping and biking stuff. Now it will be a little more reassuring with it locked up

 

I have both of mine for my two Tacomas used. Both I paid $550. I got them off FB Marketplace. Nothing was missing for either one.

 

i had the old one for about a year in my 2022 before swapping it out for the new one. it has an okay seal on the front that keeps water out but its only water resistant from BC there is no internal seal (on either the old one or the new one) so to top works like a roof, as far as dust goes its just okay BC any dust that is floating around that can get in through the sides of the bed can be blown in through the sides. I've had a good amount of luck using a pool noodle (or copper pipe insulation) along the sides to minimize the draft that lets dust in. also as an added bonus it keeps small things from falling down in the cracks on the sides. wasn't a huge fan of the old one as the small drawer was useless for most things but it was better than having to climb under a tonneau cover every time i needed something in the back (i have bed bars and a roof top tent on). the new one isn't perfect but its a HUGE improvement.

 

Those with a decked and a 5ft bed, how is it sleeping if you're around 5'11? I've tried sleeping in the bed between the wheel wells at an angle and it was nearly impossible, wondering if being over the wheel wells is that much more of an improvement gaining those few inches on each side. Have an opportunity to purchase a decked at a reasonable price and I'm a little indecisive. Thanks

 

It’s not bad at all in my opinion. I’m around 5’ 10”. And if you use two pillows you can actually sleep less diagonally by propping your head up a little more at the front of the bed. I did a 6 day trip last year this way and it was great.

 

So should i explore new one more closely sounds like, i did notice that old one had alot of space waisted due to that middle section, but for some reason on videos the drawers seem to be more robust and higher, versus new one almost looks like u still want to use the small cases to maintain in there, as piling alot of stuff will fall off to sides or something.