Must have bed modifications?

Just recently bought a stock 2005 access cab and was wondering what you guys thought were the must haves for the bed. I'll be doing a lot of things with the bed of this truck, but mainly hauling motorcycles. After doing a short drive with a motorcycle in the back I did NOT feel confident about it at all. What are some modifications I can make to the bed to make hauling things easier?

 

add some extra d ring thingys on the bed floor. Like the ones that are next to the tail gate but on the other bolts that hold the bed on.

 

Extra d-rings in the floor, rubber bed mat, tonneau cover, tailgate lock.....

 

Ahh I forgot about the bed mat, I had my snowboard in the bed the other day and it slid around more than it did on the slopes. Also, who makes a kit for the extra d rings?

 

Can't beat 5 D rings for $6.50

http://www.armysurpluswarehouse.com...links/rope-ring-with-clip-b21-5-for-5-00.html

EDITED

Write up here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/28533-installed-d-rings-bed-pics.html

 

^^^^^this, with pref a locking cover.

there are some cheaper ones available online, but the quality was suspect with some brands. I picked up some oem ones from the dealer.

 

check out the pitbull trailer restraint system. i have a mounting plate in the bed of my truck (as well as in our enclosed trailer) for hauling track bikes. it's a very good product. no need for any tie downs, though i usually throw a set on the handlebars when it's in the bed of the truck.

 

If you meant your hauling cycles in the bed i'd reinforce the tailgate. Believe it wasn't until 09 where Toyota applied a bandaid to reinforce 09+ tailgates, otherwise if it takes too much weight it is going to be bent.

Relentless Fabrication (vendor on here) also sells tailgate reinforcement plates (steel or aluminum choices) for under $200.

Actually now that I think about it I believe there was a TSB out for it so maybe yours has already been taken care of.

 

I'll probably look into it, but luckily my bikes are short enough to be just be on the gap between the bed and the tailgate.

 

What kind of bike are you hauling? I haul my KTM 500 EXC back there and it's totally fine. I put the front wheel right in the front drivers corner of the bed and kick the rear end out to the passenger side. 3 tie downs: one to each front corner and one to the back driver corner (from the handlebar to the back corner). Super solid and no bed flex/cab interference issues. Of course, I think there may be more tie down's in the newer trucks? I have a 2013 and I've got two silver metal hooks on the side of the bed in the front and one D ring each corner of the floor in the back. I also have the factory Toyota rubber bed mat. The plastic bed is wicked slippery...the rubber mat is a must IMO.

If you're trying to haul two back there, that's a different story. I may build a reinforcement and tie down system for the front of the bed to keep it from flexing and allow good tie down's for two bikes. There is stuff like that available already but I like making stuff. I would never use the sliding bed rail tie downs for a motorcycle. They aren't very confidence inspiring.

 

Well I have several that I haul (can't have just one ) the one I haul the most is my cafe/brat project, a 74 CB450. I also haul my TLR200 and my Dad's XS400. I've never tried angling it into the bed like that, I've always been really paranoid about that for some reason. As for the tie downs I think you're right, all I have are the bed sliders and the 2 d rings in the back. I don't trust the bed sliders at all.

 

Bed lights...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_BmpnkcoRE

 

http://geekologie.com/2012/09/finally-a-decent-hitch-mounted-stripper.php

 

Are the holes on those d rings big enough to fit the factory bed bolts, it doesn't look like it.

 

How many cars do you own?!?! Or is this at a shop?

 

^x2

Made my own for under $15



I am a snowboarder too and the LEDs plus the bed mat are the top two favorite mods for the bed.

 

Nothing a little muscle and a drill bit can't fix

 

Check these out from BAMF: http://www.bayareametalfab.com/Bed-Tie-Downs_p_21.html

 

Those look like they would hold up well, hopefully will be able to get something like this and more d rings.

 

Very Nice. Need a switch to interrupt them for just sitting on the tail gate too... but That's a pretty good mod right there.