Flatbed,35’s and Mainly Parked For Repairs

getting some stuff in the mail....
Nice box from TMR customs. Couldn't believe how well they packed it. Never seen so many packing peanuts. This was after I took them all out.
Everything wrapped not to ruin the finish even though its a recovery point. Lots of pride in their stuff


And I picked up the flatbed. I will be having some work to do. Don't judge the parking. It was a long day. Nothing like driving 5 plus hours after work across border and what not.

Thanks again @Steves104x4 who met up to help and crush some burgers!

 

Hey Peter, long time! I just ran into a guy who's wheeled with you before - name is Taylor. I bought his rock sliders yesterday.
He sold his Taco and bought a chevy...

 

Hey it has been a long time. Ever since SONTT has closed shop it has been a while. Yup. He is on here too. How’s the taco? Did you get a third gen or do the sliders work for 2nd gens?

 

I still have the second gen. Looks like the frame didn't change... Haven't tried to fit them on yet - I live in an apartment now and it's a little difficult to work on the truck without pi$$ing off the old people...

 

Can only imagine. I’m finding it hard just having new borns on the street. Grinding and pounding can only be done at certain times now lol.

 

Started to get stuff mounted for the flatbed. I need to get stock threaded bolts to mount the crossbars. I also have to modify the middle crossbar to get it to fit. This flatbed is designed for a chevy colorado. I did think they made adjustments for the tacoma, but no. I was told it could be run with only two crossbars and I could drill out the stock threads to put the new hardware, but it needs to be beefy as possible for off-roading. Already ruined one bed.


In other news, I got the lights wired up using the stock harness from the taillights. Big shoutout to @1 Bored Clerk for the leg work and the idea to do this.

 

Nice! The bolts are a slightly odd thread. 12mm x1.25 (iirc) That’s very fine for that diameter. I had no issue finding them at my local good hardware store.

My bed only came with two crossmembers. I was told it only needed two for the full weight rating of the actual aluminum flatbed. I asked because everything I saw had three. I can always add a third, I suppose. But, that’s why the third crossmember doesn’t work. The distributor designed the front and rear crossmembers specifically for the Tacoma for UTE and UTE builds and tests them to make sure they meet specs. At least, that’s how I understood it to have taken place.

 

Good to know. I may modify the third as the instructions I found for the Colorado utilize three. Figured it can’t hurt.

Thanks for the heads up on the bolts. Will be searching tomorrow for them. Hoping it doesn’t give me too much trouble.

 

Also, get the bed at the angle you think you want with spacers but don’t worry if you have to add spacers to get the angle perfect after you’ve drilled the bed mounts. It’s easy to add them. I’ve dine it several times to get the angle how I want it: no spacers in the front and something like 1.5” of spacers in the back. You can stack the spacers they give you. I just happened to have some other spacers from another project that I used instead. Anyway, get long bolts so you have the option of adding more spacers.

 

Awesome. So many pro tips lol. Really appreciate the insight as you kind of go into the installation blind.

Going to be awesome installing this thing in the cold and snow. Suppose to get 5-10cm the today and tomorrow.

 

Oh, excellent! Wrenching is always more fun in the snow! If you run into anything during your install, shoot me a message.

 

Fantastic. I may or may not have sent one over Instagram. I will pm you in here. Appreciate the help!

 

So the flat bed is suppose to have two crossmembers that bolt the bed down to the the frame. I got three and I’m using them.

The middle crossmember needed two holes and to be shortened. Did this with a jigsaw, drill and a file. Wasn’t the fastest thing but it should work.

The middle cross member is too long and the holes don’t line up.
New hole. I cleaned it up after this photo. Lots of filing.

Shortened
Bam. 35” for scale.

Not much of an update but if all goes well the bed should be on by the weekend! Sucks only working on the truck for an hour here and there.

Also picked up some goodies.

Got the twin compressor for free instead of the single. No complaints here.

 

@Thyces I will be removing and reinstalling the bed in the spring so if you want to come down and take a look let me know. I kind of have to get it installed soon, and haven't messaged you for the install party. Plus a install party in the winter would suck.

 

Thanks bud. I'm down either way. I can grab a 20x20 tent and a heater if necessary.

 

Think the spring would be better. Lol. We should be able to work in my garage by then.

 

Progress. The bed is sitting there. Not bolted yet. Need to get some tube to help relocate the filler neck. I think it’s a breather tube.
Also got the gm bunpstops mounted.

No more expensive aftermarket. $100 for two in town. Bolt right in without messing with u bolts.

 

Look very good!

Are the bumpstop really from GM?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fox-2-0-deavers-1-5-aal-and-gm-bump-stops.289215/

Yup. Just need to drill one hole in the bumpstop bad. Instead of the bump hitting the pad it hits the leaf spring u bolt mount thing.