Use of the truck bed

What are you amused about? The tape wasn’t holding anything.

 

Getting a bed rack I think. Gotta mount my kayaks.

 

It's a Tacoma, the sky's the limit.

 

Some people don't like them, but nothing is more useful and versatile than a cap. I've had one on every truck I've owned since the 1970's. When camping my gear is locked up secure and dry inside. I can still haul off trash or firewood and hose out the back and as long as I don't need 3 rows of seating my truck does everything a much more expensive comparable size SUV does.

It's true that I can't haul big stuff with the cap, but you ain't gonna put much in a Tacoma anyway. That is what the utility trailer is for. In fact it is easier to load and haul stuff in a trailer than a truck. I can haul more volume and weight in my 10'X6' trailer than I could haul in a 3/4 ton with an 8' bed and easily pull it with the Tacoma.

 

Nice cap... I like the look of them, but I want the look of the bedrack. Both work great and Im sure the cap would allow me to hold more and be weather covered.

 

Couple things I guess. Some of the gen 3 threads are pretty funny to start with. How do I check my oil. How often should I check my oil. How do I put stuff in the Funny box thing in the back. Then seeing some dude taping stuff together as a “extra precaution” is a little amusing. I guess the idea of a thread about hauling crap in your truck is also kinda funny. Maybe I just come from a different place but didn’t you guys help your dad do this kinda stuff growing up? Then you take pictures of it like it’s your sister’s wedding or something and that’s also pretty funny. I mean don’t get me wrong great work putting some crap in your truck and then strapping it down was genius. I guess where I come from a pile of junk in the bed isn’t really cause for a photoshoot so yeah. Very amusing.

 

Cap is good but you are very limited hight wise. I had canopy when I used to do renos and had to keep my tools dry and secured. Now, canopy will get in the way for my uses.

 

So you are amused because I know how to properly secure a load, got it.

The reason I took pics is because I loaded that stuff myself and wanted show my buddy, hope that’s ok with you.

Would you like me to pull 2nd gen threads where guys don’t know how to read the dipstick?

 

A think a cap would just be in the way too often to be worth it. Plus it adds weight. It would be in the way in all of the below situations.

- hauling anything tall like furniture, dirt bikes, etc
- when power spraying or sweeping the bed
- reaching in the side to get something
- climbing into the bed to get something heavy
- climbing into the bed to get some object near the cab
- using the rear window for ventilation
- trying to see behind me
- using the bed as a platform to stand on to access the storage locker in my garage
- parking in my garage without smashing into my storage locker (only have 1” clearance over the bed rails as it is)
- various other situations where I need to stand up in the bed

If I wanted an suv, I would have bought one instead of a pickup.

 

That was me last weekend.

 

That’s nice. I found part # PTR347-35051 for the short bed. I know there are other non-OEM options as well

 

In the 1970’s they didn’t even strap down the children in the pickup bed. We have come a long ways.

 

Rode around in my daycare/babysitters truck bEd as a kid. It had a topper and bench seats (carpet no cushion and obviously no belts). That was the 80s.

 

If you get a Softopper, you can camp in it.

 

Seems safe enough

 

That last line is why i got a truck. I do like the looks of the shells but a bedrack also seems cool and fits my needs for carrying kayaks.

 

I haul a lot of camping gear and what I do is secure it all down by tieng a length of Parachute Chord to one of the Tie Downs in the bed and start weaving it across the top of the load and securing it down by using the Bedside Rail Tie Downs. A few Diagonals and across in several places an cinch it down with a good knot like a Tauteline Hitch or Truckers knot. Nothing can move.
Similar to a Cargo Net, but you can really lock things down. Roll up the P Chord when you're done and stick it in one of your Storage Compartments.

 

Did that this past May with my dad and I we took his tacoma up to mammoth. Gonna continue that idea thank you!

 

Like mentioned before, just make sure and secure everything and you will be fine.