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Plastic bed pros/coms

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by badger, Mar 20, 2012.

  1. Mar 20, 2012 at 12:35 AM
    #1
    badger

    badger [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I hear lots of people complain about the POS plastic beds being, well, plastic. I'm wondering how many have had any real trouble with theirs? I've used my truck pretty hard, and so far I like the bed. I especially like the lack of rust. It's warmer if you sleep back there. I've hauled gear, firewood, concrete, all sorts of things

    I'm just trying to figure out if the complaints have anything real behind them.
     
  2. Mar 20, 2012 at 12:50 AM
    #2
    JKD

    JKD Well-Known Member

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    Pros:
    Very strong
    Very light
    Doesn't rust


    Cons:
    People without any supporting evidence claim that your bed is inferior.
     
  3. Mar 20, 2012 at 12:55 AM
    #3
    Hook & Ladder

    Hook & Ladder Well-Known Member

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    The project @c4_fabrication-Sliders, HC bumper w/ swing out @kb_voodoo_fabrications-Bed rack @tepuitents-RTT @cali_raised_led-Fogs, ditch lights, bed stiffeners @prinsudesign-Roof rack @kingshocks-2.5 with adjuster @totalchaosfabrication-UCA @rcioffroad-diff skid plate Follow at @wicked_overland #nacrew
    Ill take plastic over anything els all day long. No rust light and well as for the slipping they make rubber matts. SO whats to not like ?
     
    cleats50 likes this.
  4. Mar 20, 2012 at 12:56 AM
    #4
    Konaborne

    Konaborne Pineapples on pizza Hawaiian does not it make.

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    con:
    the fact that it isnt metal immediately means it's "plastic", and that makes it inferior.

    I bag on them all the time, but theyre great beds.
     
    cleats50 likes this.
  5. Mar 20, 2012 at 1:12 AM
    #5
    808hiker

    808hiker Taco addict

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    Only heard of 1 case on here about someone making a hole in the composite.

    Either way, I'd take composite any day. It's tough stuff and it will hold up unless you haul something you really shouldn't be hauling.
     
    cleats50 likes this.
  6. Mar 20, 2012 at 1:23 AM
    #6
    makikid808

    makikid808 They call me unko

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    i like the 2nd gen plastic liners. those work perfect. The 1st gen one really is a POS. driving over speed bumps i could hear it rattling on the metal bed and its just to much noise driving on the road. i wanna linex mine
     
  7. Mar 20, 2012 at 1:33 AM
    #7
    makikid808

    makikid808 They call me unko

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    fabtech 6" lift, all-pro 5" rear lift springs, 17x9 ATX slot, 295/70/17 nitto trail grapplers, Borla catback exhaust system, K&N FIPK, bully nerf bars, wet okole seat covers, tints (factory tint plus 5 on back 35 on front), sounds(kenwood deck, kenwood IE speakers all around,kenwood 720W amp for mids, kenwood 1000W amp pushing orion 12" sub), LED dome map and door lights
    ohhh not my section i see now :D
     
  8. Mar 20, 2012 at 1:42 AM
    #8
    the.sight.picture

    the.sight.picture Wishes he was in the woods.

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    Check out my build thread (Beginning of Money Pit)
    ive never seen plastic rust OP. Its GRRRRREAT!!!
     
  9. Mar 20, 2012 at 2:11 AM
    #9
    crazyrzr85

    crazyrzr85 So many b!tches, so little time...now back to TW!!

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    no, i believe it's the fact that you think the 2nd gens have a liner...
     
  10. Mar 20, 2012 at 3:13 AM
    #10
    babytruck

    babytruck Babytruck, babytruck...I've got a babytruck :)

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    Link to the liner please?

    The only problem I've had was slipping of cargo. Bed mat solved that problem. Now I can't get ANYTHING to slip even if I wanted to. *sigh*
     
  11. Mar 20, 2012 at 3:19 AM
    #11
    MurphMan

    MurphMan Senility Rocks!

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    OP - it's a baseless argument that you shouldn't waste a moment on or worry over. Let the ignorant be ignorant and enjoy.
     
  12. Mar 20, 2012 at 3:22 AM
    #12
    6spdtaco

    6spdtaco Well-Known Member

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    Last time I checked, composite and plastic were two different things. Maybe people give our composite beds a bad rep because they keep claiming that they are plastic when in fact they are not. Idk, maybe I'm just potato :notsure:
     
    Tsinajinii likes this.
  13. Mar 20, 2012 at 4:24 AM
    #13
    jpmorrisvb

    jpmorrisvb Well-Known Member

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    All I know is that my 3-time Trunda owning friend is envious of my "plastic" bed ... :cool:
     
  14. Mar 20, 2012 at 7:00 AM
    #14
    2004TacomaSR5

    2004TacomaSR5 Nemesis Prime

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    Tacoma is stock and staying that way, Pickup is TBA as of now.
    This, these composite beds are the way to go, they probably cut down on production costs immensely, wouldn't be surprised if we start seeing other trucks get them in the future. I would rather have composite over metal any day, no dents, no scratches.
     
  15. Mar 20, 2012 at 7:53 AM
    #15
    ryansummit

    ryansummit Well-Known Member

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    smoke tails, safety rack, coffee stains, caulk, paint, tar, sawdust, foul odor
    pros:
    easy to clean
    doesnt dent when throwing heavy materials in it
    holds bed shape under stress/bounces back
    materials slide in/out nice

    cons:
    no stake pockets(con for contractors)
    bed rail(could be a bit stronger)
    materials/gear slide around if not tied down

    overall i really like it
    if it was an option over standard metal bed i would take it
    they just need to figure out the pockets
     
  16. Mar 20, 2012 at 7:55 AM
    #16
    badger

    badger [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I think JKD summed it up quite nicely, thanks for the replies. I think my bed is a big improvement over all the steel beds I've had in the past. I just couldn't understand why I see so many posts knocking it. I wanted to find out if I was missing something,.......apparently not. For all the complaining I have yet to see a post with a broken bed, or any other issue. I use my truck for a truck. I don't abuse it, but it gets a good deal of hard use. My bed is a joy to own and I sure wouldn't trade it for steel!

    I used the word "plastic" because that is what all the complainers use, but the bed is closer to a fiberglass material. I've drilled through it a few times to mount things and it is anything but flimsy. It is some sort of similar fiber reinforced resin composite.

    Steel beds rust. Everything you put in them slides and rattles, the mount points can fatigue and crack, and the rear of the bed can spread with heavy loads and bugger up the tailgate fit. The whole bedliner industry was born to try and fight problems with steel beds.

    For those who don't get it yet, the composite is not a liner. The entire bed box is a solid molded composite structure with sheet metal fender sides.
     
    Tsinajinii likes this.
  17. Mar 20, 2012 at 7:58 AM
    #17
    jtav2002

    jtav2002 Kenny Fuckin Powers

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    No issues with mine, i like it. Stuff does slide and it scratches pretty easy, but thats what the bed mat is for.

    As mentioned all the people that complain havent actually broken theirs. They just theoretically think they suck and act like no one else uses their bed hard.
     
  18. Mar 20, 2012 at 8:30 AM
    #18
    badger

    badger [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Interesting. Shit does happen, but even that could be fixed in 10 minutes with some epoxy paste. I once punched a hole right through the bottom of the cab of a 1973 Ford F250! I got hung up on a bent steel road marker,........long story :rolleyes: That little problem took a good bit of work to fix.

    Nobody is trying to make the argument that the composite bed is indestructable, just that it's better than steel.
     
  19. Mar 20, 2012 at 8:35 AM
    #19
    disc0monkey

    disc0monkey All right. I believe ya. But my Tommy Gun don't!

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    silverados had them in 2001 for a $800 option.
     
  20. Mar 20, 2012 at 8:39 AM
    #20
    jpneely

    jpneely Well-Known Member

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    there was one more a while back of a member who had a topper on the bed with a lot of weight in it was wheeling and a guess torqued the bed a little and it cracked the front of the bed behind the cab all the way down. but again that was abuse that woulda stressed the hell out of even a steel bed.



    someone should do a carbon fiber bed... just saying! haha it'd be expensive as hell but unique
     

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