Bed stiffeners incompatible with power tailgate

[Ruffyku]

I have a smartcap and a rooftop tent installed on my tacoma so thought to get bed stiffeners installed to avoid having the sides of the bed sag over time. I got the Cali Raised stiffeners online but it turns out they can't be installed when the truck is equipped with a power tailgate, since the actuator bracket gets in the way. Did anyone get around this issue? Are there any other stiffeners out there made specifically for power tailgate equipped models?

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[doc62]

Miller CAT worked with my power tailgate

Toyota Tacoma 2024-2025 MCX Utility Bed Stiffener

 

[Mtnbikes]

Miller CAT stiffeners work and in my opinion a far superior product.

 

[Wife bought my 24 TRD]

What year is your Tacoma, i asked because my twenty four has a power tailgate, and I do not have that black clip mounted to the side. I have a smart cap, with a rooftop tent as well. I was told, I better put this bed stiffeners on it or I'll have problems down the road, so I bought, RCI bed stiffeners, along with a complete underbelly skid package that mounts nicely to the Backwoods Adventure, high clearance front bumper.

 

[Ruffyku]

Interesting, mine is a 2025 trailhunter long bed. Looks like they changed something in 2025 with the power tailgate mechanism.

 

[Wife bought my 24 TRD]

Mine is a 24 OR?

 

[TFOUTS]

I have Cali Raised bed stiffeners on my 2024 trailhunter which has a power tailgate. What’s with that clip?

 

[lauren01]

Interesting, mine is a 2025 trailhunter long bed. Looks like they changed something in 2025 with the power tailgate mechanism.

I also have a 2025 Trailhunter long bed and do not have that plastic piece.

 

[Yotota]

Others are touching on the same question - what is this clip? I don't think it's part of the tailgate mechanism. Can you post a pic from inside the bed, with the tailgate closed?

 

[Ruffyku]

I figured it out, these have nothing to do with the tailgate. I think this truck was fitted with the bed extender which I didn't get when I bought it and these are the brackets for it. I already ordered the Miller CAT stiffeners, oh well...

 

[Mtnbikes]

I figured it out, these have nothing to do with the tailgate. I think this truck was fitted with the bed extender which I didn't get when I bought it and these are the brackets for it. I already ordered the Miller CAT stiffeners, oh well...

You will be very happy with the Miller CAT.

 

[Ruffyku]

Man these brackets are attached with some kind of anti tampering bolt, already broke 2 drill bits trying to drill these out.

 

[TFOUTS]

That’s a specialty tool needed

 

[Yotota]

Man these brackets are attached with some kind of anti tampering bolt, already broke 2 drill bits trying to drill these out.

Those are rivets.

https://www.tacoma4g.com/forum/attachments/pt392-35240-install-pdf.32006/

Don't drill the middle, drill the head with a bit that is a bit larger than the hole (maybe 1/8" larger). The goal is to detach the head from the rest of the rivet.

 

[tgrneal]

Interesting, mine is a 2025 trailhunter long bed. Looks like they changed something in 2025 with the power tailgate mechanism.

Twins! I also have the '25 long bed TrailHunter. Which color did you get? I'm heading outside to see if I have those bracket things, too.

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