What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

20% tint on front windows...looks a little darker than stock rears...

 

Installed CMP Box Bar and bed mat lock (bolt)

 

Ohhh mann, I have a ton of questions for you. I've never even seen a CMP Box Bar. I've got 2 motorcycles I'll need to be moving soon, a harley sportster and suzuki vstrom 650, and seeing something like this looks promising.

How much does that KTM weigh? My Vstrom probably runs around 500 with luggage. My sporty is a little more but not much. Do you think these bikes would be too large for this application?
The dealer tried to convince me that the new Tacoma tailgates were a lot sturdier and would suit my motorcycle hauling needs a bit better. Does it feel at risk for bending?
My 2nd Gen TSS would squat with just a few hundred pounds in the bed. Do you see that kind of thing with your bike in the bed?

Sorry to play 20 questions but I was really hoping to find somebody that's loaded bikes in the bed of the 3rd gens before I tried it and jacked something up.

 

@JimJustJim
No worries on the 20 question but I don't think I have a lot of good answers for you RE: the CPM Box Bar.

First off I haven't actually moved the bike anywhere with while I still recover from knee surgery.
My KTM weighs about 230lbs stock and I estimate another 30lbs of add ons. Compared to your bikes it would be a feather weight.
I would say the bar is going to be fine for your bikes but the composite head board of the Tacoma box is where I would put the weak point.

I removed the bed rail to gain better access while doing up the box bar bolts during install and was shocked at how flexible the head board was. Without the bed rail installed the head board would easily have contacted the cab if one tried to strap a bike in. Flex may not indicate weakness but there is no way I would move my MX bike without having added the Box Bar to beef it up and provide a more solid point to anchor to.

2 bikes the size of yours even with the bed rail installed and the box bar would make me very nervous. One aggressive stop, start or swerve and the bike and truck could soon part ways... Based on arm chair engineering (I am not one but I do manage professionally, LOL) , I would feel comfortable putting 2 MX bikes in there for a long haul and maybe a 3rd for short haul.

I am sure you are looking at all sorts of options but I would go for Pingle wheel chocks. I have a set of removable ones in my cargo trailer and think that mounting them to the box floor would be a much safer choice for heavier bikes. Maybe even put them on a 'crib' you could take in/out as needed. That crib will load up the head board low enough to give support and straps to the forward tie down locations will keep the rack and bikes in place.

Tailgate strength? I weigh about 270 and noticed no flex even while loading the bike.
I didn't specifically look to see how much the rear suspension lowered but with my bike weighing half of what your does it would be very representative.

Hope that gives you some info.

What I did note was that I will have to use the extender piece if I want to run a Bakflip cover and not remove to haul the bike.

 

Great info! Thanks so much!!

If I were to get this setup, the plan was probably just to haul one street bike at a time in the bed. I figure 1x500lb street bike should equal 2x250lb MX bikes. The sporty and I are parting ways soon (looking at hauling it to TN and giving it to Dad), so if I could save money and space by hauling the vstrom in a truck bed versus a trailer, a setup like this would be ideal. I'm also looking at getting a tiny little dirt bike of some sort to really just beat around and wrench on to keep me entertained, so this setup appeals to me even more for that reason.

I was wondering how installation would go, and that's surprising to hear about the strength of the headboard, gulp. Looks like if I even consider this, I'm gonna need to do a bit more engineering. Was hoping a bolt in solution existed since I don't have a lot of skills/tools.

The suspension thing still leaves me curious. I wonder if anybody else has piled a load in the bed and seen the suspension flex.


I'll check out the Pingle wheel chocks.

 

Did vinyl inserts on the tailgate, plasti dipped badges, and experimented with plasti dipping the chrome portion of the door handles. I chose to remove the plasti dip from the door handles. I will get the whole handles and side mirrors painted black in the future.

 

why do you have chrome on your door handles? I've only seen painted handles, is it adealer installed option?

 

The limited has chrome handles

 

oh snap, ok, cool, i learned something today

 

I have a set of these for sale, came with the truck, got home and switched them out with the Weathertechs.

 

Where can I find those boards?

 

Good job on the plate

 

Are those the universal mudflaps and how how well do they fit. They look awesome.

 

Installed the bed rail attachments from my old truck. Shovel and axe mounts, Maxtrax mounts. Also installed D-rings on the bed bolts.

 

Yes from their mid-grade UR line. UR-Plus just means it's the larger 11.5"x19" size; all cut the same.
Model# MF20-URP-BLK/GY.
Install went all right...
I made stiff paper templates first.
There is a screw located 6-1/2" from the bottom of the front and rear fender flares. They also sit in the same distance from the edge. I used this as my reference to get them to hang at 10" all around.

They are very flexible. So much so, I'm going to have to add a trim screw fastener, L-bracket or the like, on the insides.
Their top grade mSpec line is supposed to be stiffer and thicker. I don't know if that would necessarily help or not.
I think it's just a given with universals and the geometry of the mounting position.
I'm thinking that's why the Rockblokz have that gap in them.




Front


Rear

 

I love the steps, I'm 5'7 on a good day and these are going to be my first mod after the holidays to prevent me from screwing up my new seats!

 

Where did you get these shovel mounts?

 

Almost finished some extra lamps

 

Not sure if this is where he got his but this is where I got mine: http://www.4xinnovations.com/Double-Quick-Fist-Mount-for-All-Toyota-Bed-Rails_p_138.html

I'm actually interested in what shovel that is

 

4xInnovations