I just installed my bed stiffeners! Thanks to your video, it all went smoothly! Great info on the break down of the tools needed in the beginning! Thanks 🙏 brother! You Rock!
Just put these today. Glad I did my research before putting on the roof top tent. Good video man, it came in handy. Only thing I'd recommend is fit the mounts and mark your holes then take them off and drill. Finish them with some rustoleum touch up paint to make sure your new holes dont rust down the road.
Just finished installing my Total Chaos bed stiffeners... Broke two T-40 tips on the passenger side tie down bolt. Vice grips saved my a$$ finally. Also had to remove some bed topper hardware to get them out of the way of the stiffeners. The process went flawless. Thanks for the guidance ST4x4!!!
Thanks for the video installed mine today. The t55 big bolt on passenger side was a pain to get off, had to use some muscle. Install went pretty easy. Took about half an hour to install.
Thanks another great video! I installed a set today. I did use the extra larger washer on the first bolt with the different washers. All good! thanks and on to the next project - R4T's version of the pop snd lock.
The Tacoma bed is a composed of an ultra-durable, fiber-reinforced sheet-milded composite (SMC) surface. Strait from the brochure... So what ever that means.
@@SnailTrail4x4 I believe it means it is carbon fiber weaved into a cloth or mat and impregnated with epoxy (which is a common composite process). It creates a very strong, very lightweight component which effectively resists environmental stresses (extreme heat or cold, intense sun, ice, etc). However, unlike metals which tend to bend and warp, carbon fiber tends to resist failing very well until tolerances are reached after which it fails catastrophically, ie it cracks and/or shatters (think the Titan sub disaster). So the metal stiffeners make up for this tendency by reinforcing the fiber composite. A very sound solution, imho. It is not fiber glass (a silica based fiber/epoxy matrix), which is much heavier and not as strong or durable as carbon fiber. Thx for the excellent install video. I would add pay attention to the recommended torque settings in the install manual.
Caution about LocTite... don't get it on plastic. Over time it will degrade plastic making it brittle and leading to breakage. I am a big fan of using LocTite, but I don't think I would use it in this application.
Hi, I am trying to install them today and noticed that the left side stiffener has a bigger vertical gap than the right side. I meant the gap between stiffeners and the vertical side of the bed. I wonder if the left stiffener is bad. The gap is about 1/8 inch. The right side is almost flush. I am sure my bed is not warped or bent. Thanks again.
It might be, compare the stiffeners to each other, maybe flip swap them side to side (right on the left) to see if the fitment is better. Do you have a 📐 triangle?
@@SnailTrail4x4 I just checked with triangle. Both stiffeners are not at 90. More like 95 or something. The bed is more like 90 at the base and side wall. I have not swapped them since all the screws are blocking them. Thanks for the help.
Great video. I don't plan on off roading my 2021 Tacoma. Do you think this is still necessary? I just plan on hauling stuff once in a while. Is this mostly needed for off-road because the bed twists?
I added them for the off-road bed twist and because I have a rack with an RTT. If your just putting stuff in the bed And going around town then you probably don't need them
Found the video informative but in the long run did not go with this brand because they wanted $175 on Amazon whereas I found one that looks similar with good reviews for $68 after a $10 e-coupon.
Just did mine using your video and the pdf instructions on the total chaos page. It kinda looks like it has pulled the bed back a little bit but not completely. Definitely wish I would of know about these things sooner. But I’m sure the bed was already tweaked before I bought it since it’s a 2014.
I haul my can am outlander 570 quad on my 3rd gen short Bed a lot. Total weight is about 700 pounds. Should I install stiffeners? Also when loading the quad I ride up with ramps on my tailgate. With me and the quad it would be about 900 pounds on the tailgate. Is this bad? And also if so what can I do about it?
You did a good job with the install, but you didn't show where the drill pops through and you misspeak a TON. I would work on those two, because everything else was good and you do a good job with overall content.
@@SnailTrail4x4 the misspeaking isn’t a reference to false info, but rather to saying, or starting to say something, and then correcting yourself. That happened quite a bit. It seems you’re going off the cuff a lot in your videos and it might be a good idea to do more scripted dialogue. I know a lot of other channels even read off a screen. You can’t tell, unless you watch their eyes closely. Again, good content. Just some critiquing.
@@scottsdale4899 it’s an informational how-to video. I’ve built numerous cars and am a manufacturing engineer. We have to write part planning for manufacturing processes all the time. There are ways that get the work done, and good ways. This guy got it done, but has the ability to do it great if he puts a little more in and stretches himself to grow.
You did a great job man, turd nugget over here putting in his 2 cents being critical on your dialogue is pretty stupid keep it up and don’t mind these type of clowns
Are the oem washers absolutely necessary? They are just used to stop the bolt from protruding out the bottom right? I lost mine when I remove the hooks one time and not sure if I have to buy more for these stiffeners. I’d have to buy the whole hook assembly for them at $30 a side
I just bought an '07 Tacoma with a camper top. I noticed the back window didn't match up with the window frame - wider at the bottom. Looked at the bottom of the bed side (kinda where the tailgate rides) and noticed the plastic cover cracked on both sides, as if the bed had spread. Also when bolting up my stiffeners ($50 Amazon ones) they didn't square up with the bed so I'm going to need to pull the bed together I think. Maybe with a come-along.
The bed they supply is strong enough for 90% of their sales. But when your doing more extreme wheeling and have lots of weight on the bed rails the plastic bed wasn't made for that.
SnailTrail4x4 I hear ya there but the TRD PRO box is constructed the same way and they should improve this....but oh well it creates business opportunities for the small companies....haha
but how do you install the bed stiffeners with the pre-installed bed extender? Wondering if anyone has done it and how to do it, I have 22 OR that comes with pre-installed bed extender, but dont know how I could add bed stiffeners without losing the bed extender. tks
it definitely doesn't hurt. These don't just help w/ extra weight in/on your bed. It also helps the keep the bed strong/steady if you offroad often because the uneven terrain makes your bed twist and move around w/ the terrain. Over time, that can also make your bed uneven.
If you're putting anything onto your bed rails or above and going off roading you should install bed side stiffeners to prevent your bed sides from bending
spray painting the inside of the taillight compartment to help prevent rust is an underrated advice
I just installed my bed stiffeners! Thanks to your video, it all went smoothly! Great info on the break down of the tools needed in the beginning! Thanks 🙏 brother! You Rock!
👍 happy to help
Thank you so much!
Note: to drill those 3 extra holes on each side, i used a 1/2 inch step drill but which got through easier than the 5/16 drill bit
I love step bits
Just put these today. Glad I did my research before putting on the roof top tent. Good video man, it came in handy. Only thing I'd recommend is fit the mounts and mark your holes then take them off and drill. Finish them with some rustoleum touch up paint to make sure your new holes dont rust down the road.
Great suggestions! Thanks for the advice
How is the composite bed gonna rust? Are you drilling into metal?
Just finished installing my Total Chaos bed stiffeners... Broke two T-40 tips on the passenger side tie down bolt. Vice grips saved my a$$ finally. Also had to remove some bed topper hardware to get them out of the way of the stiffeners. The process went flawless. Thanks for the guidance ST4x4!!!
Glad to hear that you figured it out.
Cool to see. I would have never guessed the bed needed to be stiffened up like this. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Yeah, mine was already a little tweaked. I'm happy I did it when I did
I am sure why we don't see more Taco beds bowed out.
Thanks for the video installed mine today. The t55 big bolt on passenger side was a pain to get off, had to use some muscle. Install went pretty easy. Took about half an hour to install.
Great video! It really helped get this done correctly the first time.
Thanks another great video! I installed a set today. I did use the extra larger washer on the first bolt with the different washers. All good! thanks and on to the next project - R4T's version of the pop snd lock.
Awesome, ill have to look into that.
Thanks for great install video...the bed is made of painted fiberglass 🤙🏽
The Tacoma bed is a composed of an ultra-durable, fiber-reinforced sheet-milded composite (SMC) surface. Strait from the brochure... So what ever that means.
@@SnailTrail4x4 I believe it means it is carbon fiber weaved into a cloth or mat and impregnated with epoxy (which is a common composite process). It creates a very strong, very lightweight component which effectively resists environmental stresses (extreme heat or cold, intense sun, ice, etc). However, unlike metals which tend to bend and warp, carbon fiber tends to resist failing very well until tolerances are reached after which it fails catastrophically, ie it cracks and/or shatters (think the Titan sub disaster).
So the metal stiffeners make up for this tendency by reinforcing the fiber composite. A very sound solution, imho.
It is not fiber glass (a silica based fiber/epoxy matrix), which is much heavier and not as strong or durable as carbon fiber.
Thx for the excellent install video. I would add pay attention to the recommended torque settings in the install manual.
just about to install mine. i bought them for off-road but also for the convenience of extra tie down points
Absolutely
Great video. Just completed the install. Thank you!
Glad to hear
Where did you go? You have always the best content. Big fan here.
I’ve had them in my garage for over a year and my bed is so bent. Really need to do this.
Hopefully it can pull it back! Keep me informed old like to know
SnailTrail4x4 I’ll probably post it on my Instagram @mademan925
Caution about LocTite... don't get it on plastic. Over time it will degrade plastic making it brittle and leading to breakage. I am a big fan of using LocTite, but I don't think I would use it in this application.
Really, that's interesting I didn't know that about plastic. Thanks for letting us know.
glad you said something! I was about to make the same call! thanks @michaelNelson and @SnailTrail4x4
Would antirust paint on the bolts and washers be a better alternative?
YOU DA MAN! THANK FOR THE EXTREMELY WELL MADE VIDEO!
Glad to help
I put those in, well worth the $ and small effort.
Hi,
I am trying to install them today and noticed that the left side stiffener has a bigger vertical gap than the right side. I meant the gap between stiffeners and the vertical side of the bed. I wonder if the left stiffener is bad. The gap is about 1/8 inch. The right side is almost flush. I am sure my bed is not warped or bent. Thanks again.
It might be, compare the stiffeners to each other, maybe flip swap them side to side (right on the left) to see if the fitment is better. Do you have a 📐 triangle?
@@SnailTrail4x4 I just checked with triangle. Both stiffeners are not at 90. More like 95 or something. The bed is more like 90 at the base and side wall. I have not swapped them since all the screws are blocking them. Thanks for the help.
Not possible to get a slightly longer bolt and reuse the OEM tie down point?
Great video. I don't plan on off roading my 2021 Tacoma. Do you think this is still necessary? I just plan on hauling stuff once in a while. Is this mostly needed for off-road because the bed twists?
I added them for the off-road bed twist and because I have a rack with an RTT. If your just putting stuff in the bed And going around town then you probably don't need them
I’ve got wide body fender flares hope install goes right my bed also already looks bent 😂😂
Found the video informative but in the long run did not go with this brand because they wanted $175 on Amazon whereas I found one that looks similar with good reviews for $68 after a $10 e-coupon.
Good to know
Just did mine using your video and the pdf instructions on the total chaos page. It kinda looks like it has pulled the bed back a little bit but not completely. Definitely wish I would of know about these things sooner. But I’m sure the bed was already tweaked before I bought it since it’s a 2014.
Thanks for the great info brother!
I haul my can am outlander 570 quad on my 3rd gen short Bed a lot. Total weight is about 700 pounds. Should I install stiffeners? Also when loading the quad I ride up with ramps on my tailgate. With me and the quad it would be about 900 pounds on the tailgate. Is this bad? And also if so what can I do about it?
The bed side stiffeners are for things that utilize the bed sides, a quad in the bed doesn't effect this
How are those stiffeners working out so far for you? Do you see any rust on them ? Thanks for the video.
No issues at all. No rust and most importantly no bent bed
You did a good job with the install, but you didn't show where the drill pops through and you misspeak a TON. I would work on those two, because everything else was good and you do a good job with overall content.
Where did miss speak out of curiosity?
@@SnailTrail4x4 the misspeaking isn’t a reference to false info, but rather to saying, or starting to say something, and then correcting yourself. That happened quite a bit. It seems you’re going off the cuff a lot in your videos and it might be a good idea to do more scripted dialogue. I know a lot of other channels even read off a screen. You can’t tell, unless you watch their eyes closely. Again, good content. Just some critiquing.
@@scottsdale4899 it’s an informational how-to video. I’ve built numerous cars and am a manufacturing engineer. We have to write part planning for manufacturing processes all the time. There are ways that get the work done, and good ways. This guy got it done, but has the ability to do it great if he puts a little more in and stretches himself to grow.
You did a great job man, turd nugget over here putting in his 2 cents being critical on your dialogue is pretty stupid keep it up and don’t mind these type of clowns
@@xXUSMCSCOUTSNIPERXx great advice to stay the same and never improve. I’m sure advice like that is what every successful person has followed.
does Toyota have a OEM version of that?
Isn’t this what the tailgate does?
Looks like there's holes that essentially replace the rear bed anchors you removed right?
Great video/how-to!
Yes it removes the stock bed anchor and you replace it with a bolt. But now you have 3 new attachment spots on the support
@@SnailTrail4x4 Oh awesome good to know, thank you!
Thx for the idea, ima fab my own
Totally
Nice install👍
Thanks Rob, don't want those beds to warp
Are the oem washers absolutely necessary? They are just used to stop the bolt from protruding out the bottom right? I lost mine when I remove the hooks one time and not sure if I have to buy more for these stiffeners. I’d have to buy the whole hook assembly for them at $30 a side
Very informative vid 👍🏽 thanks for posting
Hope it helps
Can TC bed stiffeners be used with a Softopper on a 2022 Toyota Tacoma 6ft bed? Great video!
I dont know why they couldn't
I’ve got a canopy on my truck, should I install these you think? Don’t do much off roading.
I just bought an '07 Tacoma with a camper top. I noticed the back window didn't match up with the window frame - wider at the bottom. Looked at the bottom of the bed side (kinda where the tailgate rides) and noticed the plastic cover cracked on both sides, as if the bed had spread. Also when bolting up my stiffeners ($50 Amazon ones) they didn't square up with the bed so I'm going to need to pull the bed together I think. Maybe with a come-along.
What are the torch specs for the t55 and t40
So why does Toyota not manufacture the Tacoma with bed stiffeners?
The bed they supply is strong enough for 90% of their sales. But when your doing more extreme wheeling and have lots of weight on the bed rails the plastic bed wasn't made for that.
SnailTrail4x4 I hear ya there but the TRD PRO box is constructed the same way and they should improve this....but oh well it creates business opportunities for the small companies....haha
The same reason they put drum brakes on them lmao, money.
I noticed that the hardware looks yellow, are those grade 8 bolts that come with the kit?
good question
but how do you install the bed stiffeners with the pre-installed bed extender? Wondering if anyone has done it and how to do it, I have 22 OR that comes with pre-installed bed extender, but dont know how I could add bed stiffeners without losing the bed extender. tks
Do i need to spray anti-rust paint to the those screws and washers?
It wouldn't hurt
Don't like losing the OEM swivel tie-down.
I thought the same thing, but I haven't even missed it because there are so many more attachment points
@@SnailTrail4x4 Could the stiffeners in this video been reversed and preserve the swivel tie down?
@@michaelgeelhoed9880 not this style because of the top mounting holes.
What year Tacoma is that?
This is a 2016, but they make them for 2nd gen and 3rd gen versions
Does this help with vibration
Don't know what vibration your talking about but I am going to say no
Will I need to do this if I have no plan of putting any weight on the bed?
No, just if your putting weight on the rails
it definitely doesn't hurt. These don't just help w/ extra weight in/on your bed. It also helps the keep the bed strong/steady if you offroad often because the uneven terrain makes your bed twist and move around w/ the terrain. Over time, that can also make your bed uneven.
can i use this with decked system drawer?
I don’t get it! What’s an your point??? 🤷♀️
If you're putting anything onto your bed rails or above and going off roading you should install bed side stiffeners to prevent your bed sides from bending
increases your bed longevity
Can I just not drill and bolt them on?
For some reason these didn’t line up with my 2019 Tacoma trd pro
Really what was happening?
well G Dang! I just had mine delivered today, I also have a 2019 TRD pro. I will have to let you know how it goes!!
Is it okay if i dont put paint on it?
Yeah, but it might rust
Would you recommend these over all others or do you have a personal preference?
I like these because they go higher up the side of the bed then other brands.
Thx for the vid
Happy to help
Def came in handy. Installed mine after watching and it was seamless.
If i have a bed extender this would not work
The beds are made of metal, the bedliner is plastic.
No driling? Thats good. But you lose a tie down ring?
So I have to go spend $200 on an impact driver. Damn
Those bolts ARE insufficient. Look like good brackets but the hardware is poorly thought out.
To much loctite usage..lol
I lose a d ring? Pass