chrisc16 is getting a new truck bed. Now, how will the bed be repaired in case of a collision? Will the entire bed need to be replaced all the time? If so, will insurance rates go up for trucks with composite beds? Hmmmmm.
Couldn't the same be said about trucks with steel beds? If it's bent up too bad then the whole trucks need to be replaced... I'm sorta happy how there IS a replacement for what I thought was a permenate part of the truck... Unlike steel beds, lets say you do scuff it up real bad over the years, I'd be happy to know that you can return it to showroom conditions with a replacement bed..
Just to set the record straight tho, I'm not 100% for the composite beds too, but I'm far enough to support it through its testing stages namely the 2005 model...
Well, in some cases steel beds CAN be repaired. And, if a bed side is damaged, they can remove the side and bolt on another one. I dunno, guess we need an autobody expert online.
I can pretty much say from reading this and looking at the pictures that the shell is responsible for cracking the bed. The shell needs to be wider than what it is to support more of the weight 700+ lbs. Since the shell appears to be sitting on the inner quadrant of the rail it will exert outward pressure on the right and left bed rails which in turn will move (flex) outward. This flexing is exxagerated with off road conditions, hence the crack. If you think that a new bed will survive this same scenario you will be disappointed.
I would consider selling the topper and come up with one that is more adapted to this width. Otherwise you will end up with a major headache!
I don't think anyone is blaming anyone... We're all a bit skeptical... Still we have yet to hear of another truck facing the same problem...
As to your views and opinion as to why the bed crack, it's still a guess just like anyone else's... I'm thinking the bed might have something to do with it, but still, regardless of what caused it, the MAIN concern is that the bed DOES crack... A truck bed is suppose to take some beating, and intalling a shell that wasn't designed specifically for the truck should be something the truck bed should take...
IMO, if this IS a common problem, then they might actually limit their sales because not too many people would want a certian type of camper for this truck while they have a used one at home doing nothing... (and I don't know how easy it is to sell a used shell)
Even My 05 tacos owners manual has pictures and instructions on how to properly load a camper chell or toper onto the bed. Toyota should replace the composite bed for free. As for why it cracked, too much weight on one given spot and enough force over and over (i.e. 4wheeling) will crack just about anything. Sounds to me like your topper wasnt fastened down correctly, boo hoo
~keep on rockin yota fans~
Is Line-x-ing a composite possible? If so then isn't this problem solved for the most part? (except cracking)
Don't know yet. My friends at Toyota of Fort Worth are waiting for the first wrecked bed. When they get their hands on one, they're going to give me a piece to play with.
I can pretty much say from reading this and looking at the pictures that the shell is responsible for cracking the bed. The shell needs to be wider than what it is to support more of the weight 700+ lbs. Since the shell appears to be sitting on the inner quadrant of the rail it will exert outward pressure on the right and left bed rails which in turn will move (flex) outward. This flexing is exxagerated with off road conditions, hence the crack. If you think that a new bed will survive this same scenario you will be disappointed.
I would consider selling the topper and come up with one that is more adapted to this width. Otherwise you will end up with a major headache!
Thanks for the opinion but... my shell does NOT weigh 700+ lbs. That is the total weight I had in the bed. The shell weighs 250 lbs. - the same weight as a Snugtop as someone posted early on in this same thread.
Of course I know a replacement bed will crack under the same conditions - I never said it wouldn't! I do not think the original bed is defective - but the design certainly is. As someone else pointed out, a steel bed would take a lot more punishment than what I did to it.
AND, a wider shell would be no better, in fact I sincerely believe it would be worse! Trust me, I have spent a lot of time with my dealer investigating alternative methods of securing the shell I don't think there is a stronger way. Securing the shell the standard way (using bolts through the metal bed rails) just wouldn't work the same way on this truck because of the thin steel.
Actually, no, my camper weighs the same as the Snugtop, as pointed out by someone else in this thread.
I "installed the cap by loading the bolts that run through the top of the composite material, and not the structural members of the truck"???? What structural members? If you can show these to me, I would love to use them. As far as my dealer and I can determine, the BED is the structural member.
And the bed did not "rip from the top" by any means. I don't know where you got this from. In fact, it never seperated at all. I never knew there was a problem until I removed the camper when I got home and saw the crack.
Despite the type of use these truck bed's get Toyota choice of material's this time around suck's..You use your truck bed for home improvment project's ,carrying a motorcycle atv, etc right ? What type of reply do you get from someone else saying your to blame on this sorry that doesn't cut it with me .The Tacoma bed is going to be used in real world abuse and if this bed can not handle that type of load it's Toyota's problem from not building it right the first time..This bed didn't come with a manual saying you cant load a camper right? so really the overall product the plastic resin supplier is too blame and if it cant handle a heavy load Toyota need to address it or go back to steel. If i was in your shoes i would trade out to another truck it's very clear to me this product is not worth it's weight in gold on the other hand you can allways trade to a Tundra at no charge
the MAIN concern is that the bed DOES crack... A truck bed is suppose to take some beating, and intalling a shell that wasn't designed specifically for the truck should be something the truck bed should take...
Completely agree... the bed of a pickup SHOULD BE designed to haul loads and take a beating. That's it. No camper shell that fits the truck should be able to crack the bed. Toyota has gone backwards in bed structure/integrity since 1989.
And what about the indentations left by the Coleman? That's another weakspot for the composite if it can't withstand abrasion.
Ryan
__________________
The beatings will continue until morale improves.
Let me pose this question to you guys. Suppose this same thing had happened to a truck with a steel bed? By that, I mean... the exact same conditions... under which Chris's bed cracked. Let's say, for the sake of argument... that the bed was steel. And the bed was still a little "wider" (as the SMC bed is) with regard to Chris's bed cap. Keep mind now, we're going with the idea that Chris mounted the cap in the exact same way to this fictional steel bed, as he did to the SMC bed. Bottom line is... what do you guys think... would have happened to a steel bed?
Even "IF" this cap is the culprit (and it DID weigh 700+lbs), if the bed had been steel, I'm willing to bet this thread wouldn't even be here right now! Fact is, I doubt much would have happened... at all! If there actually was any damage... IMPO... it would have been minimal, at best. The bed might have buckled and possibly even caused a crease or dent (maybe even a few), which for the most part, "WOULD" have been... and here's the key word... REPAIRABLE!
As it is... Chris has got to have his ENTIRE bed replaced, according to what he's stated, that the dealership has told him.
All this said... WAY down the road this "could" get rather expensive for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc., etc. owner of one of these trucks with an SMC bed! Reason being... after the warranty runs out... who's ultimately, gonna' be responsible for the cost of replacing the entire bed then, if this happens?! THE OWNER IS! And, I'm willing to bet, that it will be one hell-of-an expense, ANYWAY you look at it!!
I don't know how you can consider Chris at fault here. Chris assumed the same thing, most ANY other truck owner would have. "It worked on my other truck, why shouldn't it work on this one. After all, it IS basically the same truck and there's nothing in the owner's manual, which says I can't." Let me ask you this as well... by making the change to this new SMC bed, does this mean we ALL [truck owners in general] will have to, basically, "re-think" what we consider a truck bed can be used for?! If so... I think the burden of proof lies squarely on Toyota's broad shoulders (or any other maufacturer who utilizes SMC beds) to inform it's new truck buyers, that there are certain differences & limitations with these types of beds!! Otherwise, most people are gonna' assume everything, is... as it has been... since the invention of the steel bed! ESPECIALLY... since Toyota is using this "wonderful" new bed, as their primary sales pitch for the new '05 Tacoma!
That's my thoughts...
Dave
__________________ 2004 SR5 Double Cab 4x4 w/TRD Pkg. Mods to Date:
16" 5 Spoke Brawn Enkei Wheels, Keyless Entry, Line-X Bed Liner, Challenger Running Boards, Husky Floor Liners, Bug Flector II (painted to match), Colegan Bra, Borla Dual (Side-Exit) Exhaust System, 2" Wheeler's Coil Lift, TRD Add-A-Leafs Mods to Come:
265/75/16 BFG A/T's, Possible Mods:
Seat Covers, 3M Clear Bra (hopefully... just cost so friggin' much!)
Let me pose this question to you guys. Suppose this same thing had happened to a truck with a steel bed? By that, I mean... the exact same conditions... under which Chris's bed cracked. Let's say, for the sake of argument... that the bed was steel. And the bed was still a little "wider" (as the SMC bed is) with regard to Chris's bed cap. Keep mind now, were going with the idea that Chris mounted the cap in the exact same way to this fictional steel bed, as he did to the SMC bed. Bottom line is... what do you guys think... would have happened to a steel bed?
Even "IF" this cap is the culprit (and it DID weigh 700+lbs), if the bed had been steel, I'm willing to bet this thread wouldn't even be here right now! Fact is, I doubt much would have happened... at all! If there was any damage... IMPO... it would have been minimal at best. The bed may have buckled and possibly even caused a crease or dent (maybe even a few), which for the most part, "WOULD" have been... and here's the key word... REPAIRABLE!
As it is... Chris has got to have his ENTIRE bed replaced, according to what he's stated, that the dealership has told him.
All this said... WAY down the road this could get rather expensive for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc., etc. owner of one of these trucks with an SMC bed! Reason being... after the warranty runs out... who's ultimately, gonna' be responsible for the cost of replacing the entire bed then, if this happens?! THE OWNER! And I'm willing to bet, that will be one hell-of-an expense, ANYWAY you look at it!!
I don't know how you can consider Chris at fault here. Chris assumed the same thing, most ANY other truck owner would have. "It worked on my other truck, why shouldn't it work on this one. After all, it "IS" basically the same truck and there's nothing in the owner's manual, which says I can't." By making the change to this new SMC bed, does this mean we ALL [truck owners in general] will have to, basically, re-think what we consider a truck bed can be used for?! If so... I think the burden of proof lies squarely on Toyota's broad shoulders to inform it's new truck buyers (with an SMC bed), that this "is" the case!! Otherwise, most people are gonna' assume everything, is... as it has been... since the invention of the steel bed! ESPECIALLY... since Toyota is using this wonderful new bed as their primary sales pitch for the new '05 Tacoma!
That's my thoughts...
Dave
Dave
It's a good question to ask but i dont think steel would have these problem's period.The differance between a steel bed and a plastic one is night and day (steel being a better product for handling heavy load's).Toyota is using plastic for a couple of reason: Number one plastic is a little lighter which is turn bring's up the mpg question on the tacoma a little bit better: Number Two cost Plastic would save them a lot of money vs the current method of shipping truck's to line x etc and Number 3 plastic bed's are also a cost cutter too the differences from both these bed's would save Toyota a lot on the overall cost of production
This post is all over the internet, but as far as I can tell there are only two cases of a cracked bed. Do any of you other 05 Taco owners have cracked beds? Maybe this isn't going to be a hugh problem just a few cases.
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