Unistrut bed mounts - Anyone done it?

Looking for examples of folks mounting unistrut or something similar along the side rails for their Tacoma. I want to make something similar to what 2nd gen tacomas have. Right now I can't figure out where I'd drill into the bed to mount the unistrut. The edge of the bed rail seems like weak sheet metal that would bend with enough force. Below the rail inside the bed has 2 spots (middle and back of the bed) that have depth for a bolt but the front doesn't have a spot to drill into. Any ideas?

 

a lot depends on what you plan to use it for? is it for tying stuff down or just for attaching accessary things to it

 

you don't have much of a choice really. it's either on the inside rim of the bed or along the floorboard. everywhere else doesn't have a flat enough surface to securely mount the unistrut to. maybe you can get long solid rectangular bars mounted to the inside rim to add extra strength. or just add more bolts to mount it. or both.

 

Just what is the end game here ??

Why unistrut it is nice for hanging AC and heating equipment .

Why on your truck if need be just weld it where you want.

 

I put L track on the inside of my bed rails and the front rail. I also put some matching pucks on the bed floor.

Here is the L Track, pucks, and mounts that I used.: http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Ratchet-Straps-Tie-Downs/L-Track-Tie-Down-Rails

 

I have done this exactly, and as well have made racks out of superstrut too. The price is right and its easy to get at my local big box stores. I have the side rails bolted with 3/8 grade 8 bolts in three locations. The heads of the bolts interfere with the inside of the rail, but its easy enough to work around. You can see in the pics - link below - the attachments methods I use. I made t-nuts from the superstrut hardware nuts. Since my welding is not precise there is a little bit of slack between the racks and the side rails. When I tighten everything down the rails pull 1/8 away from the truck rails at points distant from the attachment bolts (where the rails can't pull away at all). I have had the side rails on for a 18 months and use them a lot. So far no issues. I had to grind the 3/8 backing washer flat on one side to get them to fit high enough behind the rail to line up with the bolts (the curved edge of the rail interferes). Most of the force on them in my use is up or down, so I am not concerned about them pulling through. If you wanted to use them to put a lot of sideways tension on cargo, I'd recommend using some drilled flat stock as a continuous washer behind the existing bedrail, or mount full size channel on top of the rail, then the channel itself would resist the sideways pressure as much or more than the bed sides.

There's only about 3/4 of an inch of depth to work with behind the rail.

I am happy enough with the results that if I were to do it again I would grind off the paint and weld them in place. My bed is already rusty enough that I wouldn't care about any damage.

see pics here (I think this will work)

https://goo.gl/photos/KnTC2uzzL8mYdD5V9

hit the "i" in the upper right corner of each pic and you can read more commentary/explanation.