I like it I think, but I have heard that some have had issues with cracking (I'm not a contractor so probably wouldn't be too tough on it) and I would like to know if it is slippery or not. Overall, what is your take on your composite bed?
~ Fred
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I don't mind it. Not that it really matters, but I've found it to be kind of hard to clean sometimes. I had my four wheeler in there over Christmas and got the bed muddy and I still can't get all of the mud out of it. I've scrubbed it and it sits out in the rain all the time and the mud still won't come off. I guess I need to try the power washer.
I like it I think, but I have heard that some have had issues with cracking (I'm not a contractor so probably wouldn't be too tough on it) and I would like to know if it is slippery or not. Overall, what is your take on your composite bed?
~ Fred
This topic seemed to get a heated debate when the Tacoma come out between us Tundra owners and the Tacoma owner's a Few Like myself see the smc as rather week and cheap. Yes the new Tacoma is a great looking truck over the Tundra but where it fall's short is the Smc plastic pick up bed and a few owners had there bed replaced because of aftermarket stuff used on that bed like camper tops, etc ,etc. My point is this if Toyota designed a better plastic bed to start and reinforced in key area with the Tacoma owners it wouldn't be having these problem sadly I hate plastic period used On a truck kept it off the front bumper's and the Bed. Smc Pickup bed's doesn't hold up very well and Not worth it toyota should dump it and Im really glad the 07 Tundra doesnt have it either...
I use my truck like a truck, and I have not had any problems. The SMC bed can be a little harder to get mud and stuff off of and it is slippery if you don't have a bed mat. Also, there should be tie downs in the front of the bed, not just the back. I bought the add on ones for the front, but I haven't installed them because just attaching them to the sides looks like a bad idea to me.
Other than that I like it. I have hauled some pretty heavy stuff without any problems, and I like not having to worry about scratching the paint and starting killer rust. I have only heard about one or two people having problems with their beds, but there a whole lot of people posting on this forum that I have never heard any complaints from. A friend has an older Tacoma that has always had a bed liner since it was new. The liner rubbed the paint off in a few places, which have now started to rust. In the rust belt where I live I would take the SMC bed over steel any day.
I personally have not had any problems with my bed. I have hauled a few loads, wheels/tires, TVs, my wheeling stuff. Never any problems. I have not had a problem washing it either, but it is slippery.
I personally have not had any problems with my bed. I have hauled a few loads, wheels/tires, TVs, my wheeling stuff. Never any problems. I have not had a problem washing it wither, but it is slippery.
The pro's/cons on the smc Plastic are the following:
Doesn't dent/rust, Might have overall improvement's in being Lighter Vs steel thus overall Improvement's in MPG slightly. Storage space on the side (Tacoma's) doesnt have to get Line x etc .
Con's:
For heavy duty application this Plastic bed doesn't cut it with the construction industry. Doesn't have the strength the Steel bed's does and very inferior from a truck owners standpoint for Full sized truck owners. Have been number of reports from Tacoma owners on this breaking I know of about 5 cases so far and One of whom traded his 05 Tacoma IN.
I created the poll "smc over steel" because I wanted to see how well Member's reviewed the product and get an overall feel on having a choice in this madder. I do take in Mind Smc might be good for the Personal compact Truck market(tacoma) but I wanted to see how the Tundra owners reviewed this material as a decision to have this in the Tundra In the Future.
So far I like it and have no complaints. Though I was able to put some decent scratches in it, my stupidity, while removing a snowmobile with studs in the track; well you get the picture. In hindsight I should have put down some wood. Oh well it is a truck. I think it works well in the compact truck market. This is my first experience with a composite bed and time/use will tell.
Pros; No denting or rusting; maybe lighter then steel?, looks good;
Cons; Needs two-three tie downs (D-clip) up front. Kind of noisy when things roll around in the bad as well as the storage bins; slippery.
I love my bed. I think it's perfect for the type of truck it's on. Remember these are light duty trucks, not full size rigs designed for heavy-duty application. Hell the payload capacity is only in the 1300 lb range which isn't much so it's not like you're going to be loading a hole sh*t load of stuff back there anyway. For everything I've thrown at the bed though, which is considerable, it has held up very well. The bed has a higher impact rating then steel, that means it won't dent like steel, and everyone knows it won't rust like steel. The sides of the beds could be beefed up a bit to match the strength of the bed floor. The floor is really thick and can take a ton of abuse; the walls of the bed are the area's most prone to damage however unlikely that may be. I have not had any issues.
I also consider myself conservative when it comes to truck design. I like the idea of a real 4x4 shifter, I like steel bumpers over plastic, and as sceptical as I was about the bed when I first bought my Tacoma, the SMC bed has changed my mind. I prefer the plastic bed to steel, at least in this application. As Dave pointed out, this topic can get heated. Some people will always be naysayers. I must warn you that it's my experience that on this forum anyway those who bash on the bed are mostly Tundra owners who have little to no experience with it. Be mindful of that when reading others opinions. Most people are reasonable but there are some bad apples that I'm sure will chime in with their all knowing expertise depite there lack of experience. You know how it is, a couple of bad reports and people run with it like it's the gospel. I could tell you about how I managed to pierce a hole in the front of the bed-wall on my old Tacoma that had yes a steel bed and I could say boo steel, but I'm not. If you want honest opinions ask those that have lived with and used the bed for a while. I’ve had my truck since November of 04 in case you’re wondering. Third hand passenger seat driver, Monday morning quarterback type opinions don’t hold much water if you ask me.
There are pros and cons to both steel and SMC. Most of which have been pointed out. For heavy-duty applications steel may very well be the best material to use. In the Tacoma the SMC is a perfect match if you ask me. That's my 2 cents.
There are pros and cons to both steel and SMC. Most of which have been pointed out. For heavy-duty applications steel may very well be the best material to use. In the Tacoma the SMC is a perfect match if you ask me. That's my 2 cents.
I agree. I wasn't hot on the plastic after having a steel bed in a GMC Sierra that took a real serious beating (actually felt sorry for it on more than one occasion.) Can't say I've really abused this yet, in that I'm still at the stage where I just throw, or drop anything in there without thinking/caring. I have the bed mat, which doesn't let anything move and I remove it when, say hauling brush, where you want stuff to slide out with ease when you pull it off. My biggest complaint, something that REALLY drives me crazy, no D rings in the front. I go back and forth on adding them to the front, in the floor, (as others have) but then I'd have to cut the mat. The ties downs in the rails have worked out quite nicely too. Overall, I'm surprisingly happy with the SMC at this time.
By the way, I too sure as hell would like to have something to shift to get into four wheel, dials and buttons haven't shown me anything yet, but maybe like the SMC, it'll grow on me (that would happen w/ years of trouble free use/service.)
I have no problems with my bed either other than the fact that I too have had some stubborn dirt that I guess is in the cracks that doesn't want to clean. It is slippery but the bed mat takes care of that so well I can't get stuff to slide half the time when I want it to.
I agree with tbrown, the Tacoma despite it's increased size is still a light duty truck. So while the bed will take some abuse for extremely heavy duty work you'd probably be buying a full size truck anyway...
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Is there a way to repair it? I have a tear in the composite bed, can't exactly weld it, is there some sort of solution or do I need to replace the whole thing?
No complaints in 3 months of ownership. I have a toyota bed mat in the back as well, nothing slides on that thing and its a nother layer of protection from anything i may put in the back.
Is there a way to repair it? I have a tear in the composite bed, can't exactly weld it, is there some sort of solution or do I need to replace the whole thing?
A tear? Where is the tear?
Oh and it really should be noted that while yes the composite bed is new to the Tacoma, it really isn't new technology....
Noooooo!!!....Not the SMC bed debate again...
I like mine just fine, over a year of use and zero defects. One pro that I appreciate is that I didnt feel the need to run out and get the box Line-X'd before I could begin using the truck. I have had rust problems with pickup beds in the past (especially Toyotas) and now I dont ever have to worry about that again.
...Doc
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Composit Bed, Pro or Con?
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