Total Chaos bed stiffeners with Amp research bed extender

Question:

If I can slip these tubes to make the extender narrower to clear the stiffeners, why do I need to cut 2" off? I'm considering doing this, so I'm just trying to understand it ahead of time.

 

It's been awhile since I did this and I don't even have the truck anymore (which is also why I'm responding so late haha). But if I remember right mine wasn't adjustable width wise. If yours is then you should be good. You will need to add some spacers to allow the extender to fold inside the stiffeners but other than that it should work out.

 

Thanks. I haven't attempted it yet, but just trying to make sure I know what I'm in for.

 

I just finally completed this on my 3rd gen with the factory bed extender. I did not have to cut anything and she fit! But barely.

That being said, there are a couple of things to note:

The screws holding the joint clamps together are facing inward and get pretty close when the extender is narrowed up. The screws are a T20 torx head and I could not get the rachet in after narrowing up the extender. Hand tight won't do in this case because the screws are hard to turn without proper leverage and need to be fully in for the clamps to work. Unfortunately you also cannot just reverse the clamps to get the screws facing outward. The way I got these together was with a T20 drill bit and a 1/4" wrench to turn the bit.

It fits, barely and with some rub on the top of the bed stiffeners. However it's not a lot and honestly provides a little extra security to keep that from bouncing over bumps.

I could trim down the plastic, but I figure it'll wear over time and not enough to cause any issues to the extender. I'll just have to keep an eye on the paint as a just in case, but I don't anticipate many issues, if any.

Also, keep in mind that the straps that attach to the tailgate latches will be a bit tighter when attached. But they still reached no problem.

Thank you for the idea and how to, OP!

 

Looks great! I'm glad this was able to help out.

 

In order to do this, did you have to drill holes into the bed stiffener?

 

Yes, I drilled one in each bed stiffener. I was able to get the others in without drilling into the stiffeners.

 

Can someone link me the parts I need. I do have the OEM bed extender. I need the link for the spacer and screws
Thank you

 

Like this...?

 

If only someone could make a bracket that would achieve this same result as these spacers so that the original drilled holes in the bed for the bed extender could be used. Would look a little bit cleaner.

 

A few years ago I installed the Total Chaos stiffeners and had to decide how to retain my Amp bed extender. Yes, I saw this topic back then but opted to make it work by another method.

Rather than extend on standoff spacers the Amp mounting plate, I fabricated a spacer from aluminum plate and shimmed the Amp mounting plate to set flat against the bed stiffeners. Next I loosened the extenders center plastic clamps and narrowed the extender by sliding the extender ends and center tubes to a shorter position.

Next, using aluminum round bar, I fabricated two grooved pivots that replaced the original Amp posts that insert into the Amp mounting plates. By doing it this way, I do not have those mounting plates on spacers protruding when the extender is removed. So far it has worked well and lasted for many years.

 

I was actually wondering if someone had managed to do it this way.

Could you post some decent pics when time allows?

Thank you

 

I contacted ttacodan, he said even his mini ones wouldn't work with the factory bed extender. The truck I just got is brand new and had the bed extender installed so I was just trying to avoid having to plug holes. That and I really like the option to be able to use the extender. PMK's idea sounds very interesting. My other idea would be to have someone fab up a stiffener with an extended piece that allows the factory bed extender brackets to install right to it. (This would also cover any visible holes) Then all you would have to do would be to shorten the tubes of the extender a bit to clear the stiffener, and add the extended grooved pivots. It shouldn't be too hard to figure out. I'm just not a machinist.

 

Has anyone used the total chaos bed stiffeners with the oem bed extender. (Not bed mat)

 

Pretty certain the post before yours shows it being done. My post, my truck since new in 2010 and bought it with the oem accessory AMP extender.