How durable are composite beds really

So Toyota says composite beds are better than the metal but as loyal fanboy as I am I do know their engineers (like Mike sweers and the bunch) are lying sacks of shit when it comes to a lot of things such as when he said drums are vastly superior to discs yet the 4th gen gets “superior discs”
Anyhoo I have a second gen but composite is the same shit, I rarely use my truck for truck stuff (mostly for camping) but when I do use it for truck stuff and even for camping I notice not only does it scratch easy as fuck but shit chips off pretty damn easily. Yes I know it’s a truck bed but one it looks like fucking ass and two I believe the material of the composite is only a few millimeters thick and since it literally chips off by just looking at it how tough are these beds actually?

basically it’s like a fiberglass plastic mix my theory is they used it because it’s cheaper duh and because of the whole damn rust thing. 2nd gen tundra got a metal bed if that tells you anything so basically Toyota either said fuck you to them or us me thinks it’s the latter

 

And the Third gen tundra has a composite bed

I’ve never had any issues with any of the ones myself or family have had. Much prefer it to scratched up rusting paint or spending $1000 on linex

 

Lighter, doesn't rust, doesn't need rhino liner or cheap plastic insert. What's not to like?

It's slick as shit when wet, bed mat was the first thing I bought for the truck. That'll help with scratches, too.

 

I've had mine 17 years and I can't find any downsides to it. Hauled a bunch of firewood thrown in there.

 

Mike sweers is a good man and a great engineer first of all. Second… the composite bed is the best you can get. Plenty strong enough for whatever you’ll be doing with a midsize truck

 

I've seen only 2 damaged in 12 years at Toyota.

 

Think of it as a fiberglass boat.

 

Coming up on 2 years of ownership on mine. I put a small crack in it within the first 6 months, hauling a piece of granite countertop that wasn't tied down. Completely my fault and something that the bed mat would have prevented. But really, it's a truck bed and I use it as such. If it were metal I'd have plenty of rust and dents in there by now, I'll take it.

 

Seem to be holding up after 19 years and 3.6 million 2nd and 3rd gens sold Seriously, what other two decade-old design feature are you going to criticize? Electronic throttle control?

The only durability issue is at the frame mounts, where the plastic tube chafes over time and causes the bed to loosen and rattle. Toyota addressed this with the 3rd gen Tundra by using aluminum U-channels to interface between the bed and the frame.

 

I have seen some TW threads about cracked beds. My bed looks great after 8 years. A bed mat will help protect the bed.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/cracked-truck-bed.653613/

 

Haven't overloaded my Tacoma but did several times when i had a ford explorer sport trac with a composite bed. Overloaded that thing with concrete and bricks several times, zero cracks or issues when I got rid of it after 8 years.

 

If I had a metal one, I’d already have gouges and dents in it.

 

I guess if mine gets that fucked up i can get it linexd this guy did it and I live pretty close to where he got it done

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rhino-liner-linex-in-new-truck.474735/page-3

 

We’re decades past a “metal is better” world,, cause it’s not always. Many composites are lighter, stronger, cost less, rust/corrode less on and on

 

Like, he doesn’t cheat on his spouse good man or like “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (1953) by O’Connor type of good man?

 

Composite bed is solid. Awesomely so. Metal beds suck.

 

I understand the scratches, we all have some, but what are these "chips" you mention. Pictures please.

 

lasercut steel bolt in bed liner/stiffener? What’ll it cost man!?

 

Try drill through the bed and tell me it’s only a few mm think.

 

I have a 2010 Tacoma....buddy has a 2010 Tundra Rock Warrior that had a bedliner in it since new and he is trying to source a whole new bed from a southern state as a replacement as you can push your thumb through it in several places.