Front Tie Down Help

Ok, so i was a dumbass and went to Yota for the d-rings in the back of our truck to match for the front(if your willing to spend 45 bucks a pop) cuz im a tard and like to make things look stock...anyway, wondering how you attach them to the bed to distribute the weight. Thinking of using big ass washers. I know the rear use a gusset off the frame. Is there something in the front as well, or just make your own?

 

^ yup...what he said!

I also thought I had to have stock rings but I only paid $28 shipped through TRDparts4U. I need more and plan to order the 5 for $5 (just like Arby's) from the Army Surplus store. They are the same thing.

You can buy the torx bit at any auto store for $3. Remove the bed bolt, slice off half of the washer (or remove the washer with a BFH) and reinstall the bed bolt with the D-ring in place.

I cut half of my washer off with an Angle grinder ($10 at Harbor Freight).







I'm buying 2 more to put in the middle bed bolts.

 

Nice mod vecc- I may have to do that next!

 

thanks for the info and link guys!

 

As usual, I'll give my warning: Don't cross thread, strip, or in anyway destroy the bed bolts. They cost $12 each from the dealer.

Yes, I know this from experience.

 

I feel the going to the trouble of using the bed bolts is overkill.. Just drill some holes.. it's Composite.

 

Unless you are unsatisfied with the location of the bedbolts, I think its overkill to drill holes in the bed. If I can avoid drilling holes, I will.

Climbing under the truck is more effort than I spent on the whole install.

 

But you have to make the hole in the washer d-ring bigger for the bed bolt to go through it. There fore to me it weakens the d-rings integrity.
Just my opinion.
More work and force needed to break the bed bolts than climbing under the truck.

 

Very little work. It takes no time at all. And there's no way freaking way you'll break a bed bolt if you stay within the bed's carrying capacity.

 

Not worth arguing about any longer. I just want to point out that the washer can be removed all together. A big hammer can break if from the rings that hold it in place (they are rings NOT threads). If you want to retain the washer, you need to trim it so the head of the bed bolt sits flush. That is the route I went.

You do not need to enlarge the hole in the washer.

 

Can you tell me the size of the Torx bit needed for this (the gray-colored bolt, not the black)? Thanks!

 

T-55. I picked one up at Northern Tool & Equipment for around 3 bucks.

 

Wow. Thanks for your quick reply!

 

i thought about doing this mod so i could tie down my atv but then i realized that the front tires of the atv would be in the way when trying to tie it down from the front bumper of the atv....so i just use the bed rail things in the front and tie down from the handlebars of the atv

 

Hauling a bike, I use the front anchors that I added to my bed bolts. But when I haul 2 bikes, they are tricky to use. I plan to add 2 more to the tops of the wheel wells. There is a very solid surface under there that would work well with the backing plate that comes with the D-rings.

I used my cleats once (hauling 2 bikes) and was NOT comfortable with it. The cleat itself stretched a good bit. Also, the diameter of the bolts holding the rails to the bed is not impressive. The cleat system is great for hauling random things, but bigger items need more stable anchors.

I'll be drilling into my wheel wells soon.

 

If you decide to drill holes, remember the gas tank is very close to the bed.

 

I am usually very particular about things but in this case, I figure I will just start drilling random holes until I get one in a spot where it looks good. I also plan to use very loooong drill bits.

I figure nothing bad will happen...it's a Tacoma after all!