Does Tacoma Bed Sway?

[SNofRANDY]

Not sure if this question should go to Running Board/Rock Slider or this part of forum as it's kind-of both.

I remember few years ago where they ran a Tundra into this obstacle course where it's going high speed over bumps, and you can clearly see the bed wobbling. Granted this I have a Tacoma, and it might have been a 1st or early 2nd gen Tundra. I recently purchased and test-fitted a running board/step for my as I have the Off-Road, not that tall so needed a step to assist. However, I noticed that in the back, it's very close to the bed already. It's not touching, but less than 1/2" clearance:

I'm not planning to go fast off-roading or anything like that, just trails here and there, but will this be a concern if the bed does move?

Thank you!

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[bitflogger]

Every one of several pickups I've owned or used had the bed move because the frames flex.

 

[SNofRANDY]

Every one of several pickups I've owned or used had the bed move because the frames flex.

Thank you for confirmation! Alright will remove this and replace to be safe then

 

[bitflogger]

Thank you for confirmation! Alright will remove this and replace to be safe then

I don't and can't know if your accessory will be safe and just wanted to comment that for off road use my gen 4 long bed has movement between bed and cab like every light truck I've had before it. Maybe you can test with with care like go over a curb, rock or branch???

 

[Cabby30]

Every bed will move because the frame flexes. The TNGA-F frame used on the tacoma should be stiffer than previous versions due to the boxing of the frame.

The only way you'll know if this is an issue is by trying it... Articulate your suspension & frame by driving up on an obstacle slowly and see if it touches. That will tell you if you have enough clearance due to the frame stiffness/flex.

If these steps are body mounted then I wouldn't rely on them as sliders for impacts but rather as rocker guards against gravel and brush, etc.

If they are frame mounted, then I'd use a jack on them to see if they will flex enough to touch the body. That would not be desired if they did.

 

[LincolnSixAlpha]

I think the frame stiffness, especially the amount of flex in the outgoing Tacoma, vs the new generation has been shown on a few videos on YouBoob as an fyi. In fact, from what I watched, the frame is quite strong. Fully boxed, vs C-Channel on the outgoing model.

 

[SNofRANDY]

I tightened everything up, moved it as far forward as possible and it's actually a lot closer to the bed now. Personally, it's too close for comfort and I don't want to regret it down the line.

Plus, I measured the ground clearance and it was at 11". Then I measured my 01 4runner's OEM running board and it's at 14" (w/ 1.5" lift). So definitely want something with higher ground clearance

 

[MT-Taco]

I tightened everything up, moved it as far forward as possible and it's actually a lot closer to the bed now. Personally, it's too close for comfort and I don't want to regret it down the line.

Plus, I measured the ground clearance and it was at 11". Then I measured my 01 4runner's OEM running board and it's at 14" (w/ 1.5" lift). So definitely want something with higher ground clearance

Yeah… Good call that’s way to close!

 

[TacoFreak]

Yeah… Good call that’s way to close!

I agree. My RCI sliders sit under the bed just a bit, and they would touch if they sat as high as yours do. Here are a couple of pictures showing that I have about 1.5" clearance between the sliders and the bottom of my bed side.

 

[Carolina Buckeye]

I wouldn't feel comfortable at all with it like that. I'd be fearful of even trying to test it.

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