Bed Stiffners on a 4th gen

[Romer]

I read a lot about needing Bed Stiffners if you do any offroading.

This was a problem on previous generations. The difference here is the full boxed frame likely wouldnt allow as much flex idependently to the bed.

I see the venders still say they are needed. Anyone research this in detail to see if that is the case? If so, is the need reduced due to the frame change?

Still 6 bed bolts for the frame to the bed

PLUS I have the steel ARB rear bumper on the rear, would that do the same thing?

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[BoboForShort]

I think if you have a bed rack with a tent or a lot of weight on it they would be useful. Heard of people having trouble with the automatic tailgate because of weight on a rack pushing out the bed sides. Not sure they're needed for just off-road flexing. Haven't heard anyone have issues that didn't have weight on a rack.

 

[Jeff11]

Yeah I think it's for if you're top loading the bed sides. I off-road as well as fill my bed with 1000+ pound of dirt and mulch for landscaping and have no problems or any evidence of outward flex.

 

[Toyotimothy]

I got a pair just to be safe. Probably didn’t need them but I never know what I might be doing in the future. I went with the up top overland /R4Tacos no drill bed stiffeners. Just remove factory hardware and install. If you want it to be more secure you can drill and add more. If I remember there’s a video on YouTube.

 

[Jeff11]

I got a pair just to be safe. Probably didn’t need them but I never know what I might be doing in the future. I went with the up top overland /R4Tacos no drill bed stiffeners. Just remove factory hardware and install. If you want it to be more secure you can drill and add more. If I remember there’s a video on YouTube.

Yes definitely would get the no drill. For my application, if I were to get them, drilling would cause more damage to the truck than anything the stiffeners are designed to prevent lol

 

[Toyotimothy]

I felt the same way. That’s why I looked for the no drill bed stiffeners. Plus they give some extra tie down points.

 

[ThatBronze4G]

i installed some Bulletproof Fab bolt in stiffeners just to be safe. the bed is still composite so it seemed worth the money spent for bulletproofing

 

[TFOUTS]

On my first serious blue trail on Medano Primitive Rd, it seems that with the weight of bedrock and RTT, my tailgate latch sprung slightly and now jiggles with warning light on instrument cluster display. On the way back to Florida, I have just stopped in at the Alabama dealer I bought the Trailhunter, and they are performing the 15k service and diagnose the tailgate warning light. They say I need bed stiffeners if I go one any more serious trails. I guess when Toyota was developing the TH, only the sport bar on the bed was used and not extra weights like racks, tents or caps. Who knew?

 

[Romer]

I got a pair just to be safe. Probably didn’t need them but I never know what I might be doing in the future. I went with the up top overland /R4Tacos no drill bed stiffeners. Just remove factory hardware and install. If you want it to be more secure you can drill and add more. If I remember there’s a video on YouTube.

These?

https://uptopoverland.com/collectio...p-overland-4th-gen-tacoma-2024-bed-stiffeners

 

[ATacoInAZ]

I read a lot about needing Bed Stiffners if you do any offroading.

This was a problem on previous generations. The difference here is the full boxed frame likely wouldnt allow as much flex idependently to the bed.

I see the venders still say they are needed. Anyone research this in detail to see if that is the case? If so, is the need reduced due to the frame change?

Still 6 bed bolts for the frame to the bed

PLUS I have the steel ARB rear bumper on the rear, would that do the same thing?

These are only needed if you are carrying weight on the bed sides like a tent

 

[Toyotimothy]

Yes, except mine has the R4T logo on it and the uptop logo.

 

[Toyotimothy]

 

[bluecrush.taco]

I got a pair of the Millercat MCX. They’re bolt on and more affordable than others. They’re pretty solid. Although the bolt hardware they provided was crappy. One of the bolts broke during install. Probably because I over tightened. Luckily I was able to remove it by hand.

 

[Toyotimothy]

Those Millercat bed stiffeners look great. They didn’t have those when I was looking (not that I know of) or I might have went that route.

 

[Romer]

Those do look good and no drill is certainly easier. It would seem to me they wouldnt be nearly as effective as ones that have several attachment points up the side, meaning dril.

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