L Track Tie-Down System

Received some goodies in the mail today. Four anchors for the corners of the bed and two 6' rails I have to cut down to size.

Anyone have any experience mounting these on the side of the bed rail? Install is pretty straight forward. Just wondering if there are any Tacoma-specific issues I should be aware of before I start poking holes in the bed.

 

be aware that you shouldn't tighten down the straps to tight, as it will bend in the bed sides lol
i have these on mine and love it for being able to tie down everything

 

Ya. The sheet metal isn't too thick there. I'm thinking that having the channel anchored every five inches the full length of the bed rail will help distribute the load on any particular stud fitting.

 

if you have those full length, you dont need it. mine will pull the whole bed side in.

 

How are you mounting it to the bed rails? Just drilling holes and using bolts, or are you tapping it?

 

Holes and bolts. I'm wondering if there's a way to reinforce it on the backside, or is the fact that it's bolted every five inches enough.

 

There would be room for say a reinforcement plate behind the bed rail lip if you needed. Seems like itd be unnecessary but maybe not...

 

I put the same L-tracks in my bed. I just clamped the track to the inside of the truck bed rail where I wanted it and drilled holes. I can see it flex the bed rail a little when I really crank down a ratchet strap, but it always goes back. I did the front of the bed as well (which is more reinforced), but it was such a pain to get the nuts between the cab and bed without dropping. In the future I plan to get some steel angle that matches the bed rail to reinforce it.

 

Good to know. Thanks. I plan to use them for more than taming cargo. I want to make things that attach to the rails, such as a hi-lift jack mount, load bars, or whatever comes to mind.

These should do the trick.

 

I haven't permanently mounting anything to mine. I did get some of the studs for future use but haven't used them yet. The quick release rings that I have started to rust after about a year. You may want to look into getting the stainless versions if they still have them.

 

Where did you get the rail? How much was it?

 

US Cargo Control
L Track stuff: http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Ratchet-Straps-Tie-Downs/L-Track-Tie-Down-Rails

$97.97 for the two 6' tracks ($38.99 ea) and the tie-down kit ($20). With shipping it was $112.31.

 

Why don't some of you fancy trucksters have a photo or two of those fancy machines you be putting back there!!!! I bet I could fit a quad but some might prefer a trailor.

 

I don't have any "fancy machines." Nothing about me is fancy. The tie-down system can be used to secure things other than ATVs. For example, I had to bring home two 12' 6x6 posts. There is no way to secure them to the floor; the factory tie-downs are too high. At best, they can only keep the posts from tipping up. That's why I bought the tie-down kit. I plan to use the tracks for things other than securing cargo.

 

This might work well for my sleeping platform. I like these recessed ones.

http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Ratchet-Straps-Tie-Downs/Recessed-L-Track-tie-down

 

No prob. same here. Nothing from a silver platter ( afluent parents ).

 

I had sleeping platform on the list of possible ideas. I want to be able to take things in and out as needed. I felt these L tracks offered the flexibility to do that.

 

Sounds great, some things I can / could do " on top " of Tonneau cover too. It makes one to begin thinking of more possibilities like . . .

 

I'm on my 3rd sleeping platform. I build one, use it for a year or two, it gets beat up and I decide what I like and don't like about it and build another. I'm about halfway through building this one. I swear it's the last one.

 

^^ what he said. Too tight and the tailgate will not open as well.