Every truck I have had has this problem. When tying down a motorcycle, the front of the bed 'bows'. I had a '94 toyota with same problem, but drop in bed liner seemed to offer additional support against bowing. Now I have a 2001 Tundra with Rhino, and this troubles me, the front of the bed will bow to the point it is almost touching the cab. I would think manufacturers would make this part of the bed very rigid. Anyone have any ideas to prevent this? I am currently using a piece of plywood which is cut to ~1.5'highx3'long to put at the front of the bed and give extra support when I carry my bike, but this is a temporary solution. I was thinking of something like a metal bed rail which could be mounted to the front of the bed, but haven't been able to-find anything like this. Anyone else with similar problems and/or solutions?
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2001 2WD Silver Tundra: 4x4 TRD springs, Daystar 1", Carson AAL, red/blue Bilsteins, 265/75 Revo's, IS kit(minus bumper) and rims(hand polished), RF851X amp, Alpine HU, JL 6.5"XR comps, Qlogic with JL 8W3V2 subs. 185k miles and counting......
2005 Silver Sienna LE with 12" Overhead DVD
where can ifind the solution to fixing the front end of my bed. i dented it hauling a lawnmower. ive alredy armacoated it in my ignorance about the fix for the dents, but i still may be able to get it back into shape. mine doesnt touch the cab, so thats good...but i still want to fix it. location of the solution?
aika,
The only fix I can offer was already in my post, sorry. The fix mentioned BC was to sit in the bed, facing the cab, with your feet propped up against the front wall of the bed. Then reach forward with both hands, and pull the front bed rail toward you until it resembles its original position. Hope this helps.
PS--Since you're in San Diego, are we gonna see ya at the SoCal mini-jam this Sunday?
EDJ
I too haul M/C's and have reinforced both the front and the tailgate with a 2x3x1/4 aluminum angle. It fits so well in the front that it looks factory. The front fits flush to the bed caps and I used flat head socket caps in those 2 existing holes. In the rear I used the existing holes and ditched the plastic screws that held on the plastic tailgate cap. I Knew that I needed the protection but was suprised how well it looks. ...kp
wheres the minijam? im not sure if i can make it or not, and to tell you the truth its a little depressing how few mods ive been able to do with my truck. that whole student thing really ruins your budget! if i can get some directions that would be great to see if i can go. where the heck is corona?
You're not alone with the front of the bed weakness issues. BC we had a discussion about how to fix it. I dented mine hauling a trencher. I was afraid that, with time, it would rub through into the cab. Solution (as posted by Bugser, I think) was frightening and simple. Frightening because it showed how poor the front end of the bed is. Simple because all I had to do was put a thin piece of board back there and use a flat crow bar and it pulled back into place pretty much without effort. I think its common because the guy at the snuglid place said putting a lid on my bed would be no problem because he could just bend that front bed rail back into a straight rail.Frightening, eh?
HTH,
EDJ
I got a Summit catalogue this week that has a front bed protector in it made by Deflecta-Shield. They carry a front protector, front cap, full tailgate protector, and a tailgate cap for the Tundra. The front and tailgate protectors are $69.95 and the caps are $19.95. I've been thinking about getting the front protector and full tailgate protector for when I haul my ATV. The front protector may make the bed more rigid. The tailgate protector would keep me from scratching the tailgate with my ramps. Deflecta-Shield has a web site with some good pictures of their products.
Maybe this helps.
Mike,
When I checked Summit's site online, the front protector was priced at only $19.95. I can't see where you found $69.95. Also, their online site doesn't have one listed for the Tundra. I wonder if one of the listed models actually will fit the Tundra. I have the Line-X bedliner and would like to have a protector like this coated so that it matches the bed nicely. If you've bought one, let us know what you think. Thanks
The M/C wheel chocks are a good solution but I went with 1/4" alum. angle and just recently added a 3/16" sheet to the lower panel as it too was getting dents and dings from stuff coming forward. I dont have more than 80$ in the materials. Here is a pic of the cab and next will try to post a tailgate shot soon ...kp
I like the rail you added, with the aluminum angle. I noticed you seem to have it held with 2 screws. I assume you had to drill these holes? What types of screws did you use? I just order an aluminum front rail from Putco but is only tapes on, I like the idea of being able to secure it with screws.
Longwoodklon, I did not drill any holes, they were existing (go look) I used 1/4-20 s/s socket cap flat heads, the hard part was getting the nuts on as the bed is tight to the cab. I zip tied the wrench to an extension to reach them.
Here is a picture of the tailgate, I also used the existing holes.
It was getting dented just from walking on it and moving some furniture. The angle really stiffens it up and now have no problem riding the bike up the ramp. Riding the bike up really puts a lot of stress on the tailgate with the combined weight of me and the bike and the force at which you hit the ramp. ...kp
KP,
Thanks for the info. I had looked for holes previously after hearing of a similar solution. My truck has Rhino in the bed, maybe the holes were plugged when they did this. Anyway, I will check for them tonight, I really would like to securely attach the rail protector. And I like your tailgate protector. Too bad, I started this post because my KX500 was bending the bed, but now I have sold it and am 'bike free' for the first time in 20 years. What kind of bike are you carrying?
Longwoodklon, I could measure the location of those existing holes on the front of the bed if needed (lemme know) . Also I have used 3M VHB tape in the past and it holds VERY well.
Sorry to hear of your bike-less situation, I ride a KTM LC4 and love it. For years I rode XR's but made the switch when Honda delayed releasing the new water-cooled XR's a couple of years back. I wanted something street legal as my local forests have signed many dirt roads "street legal only"
I also run the divide down from Corona thru Elsinore and ending up in Fallbrook which also required being street legal. ...kp
Can someone offer a repair solution on a dent to my cab? The front steel bar of my quad dented the middle cab part under my sliding glass window, causing the cab to slightly dent forward on my 04 trd 4x4 tacoma truck. The dent has caused the sliding glass window to stay, stuck and closed. The dent is in the middle, made from the front steel bar part of my quad going over bumps off roading too fast. I felt like such a lame *** for not securing the quad better. The dent is rippled and has pushed the steel into the middle top part of the truck, under the window.
Any experience with repairing this kind of problem?
Thank you,
Rick
Last edited by tacomarich; 11-28-2006 at 02:32 AM.
Reason: year incorrect on 1st post
Front of bed is bending
Re: Front of bed is bending
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