Alternatives for BED TIE DOWNS? Need more tie down spots.

Gents, I need some more bed tie downs. The 2 at the rear of the bed just arent enough. Im constantly finding myself needing to lash down small to medium sided items, and there just isnt a good way to secure them to the bed. Are their any aftermarket options that may make use of those torx mounting bolts? Theres gotta be something....??

 

Doesn't make use of existing Torx fitting... but a bunch of L-track mounted w/ rivnuts is a great custom designed as-you-need approach.

 

There are two popular options. One is the OEM Toyota part and then there is this less expensive Mopar part. http://www.autopartsmopar.com/oe-mopar/5104500aa?search_str=5104500AA. There are many many many threads about both of them on here.

 

I got me a set of these! They are great for corner tie-down spots. I use them a lot!
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bed-rail-corner-gusset-tie-down-brackets-gb-feeler.363734/

 

the mopar part is much more heavy duty. I installed 4 extra clips. I think I used washers also. Do a search here. Lots of info.

 

This is the way to go. Very strong, very cheap.


This is the way to go...get military surplus d rings , seat them under the bed bolts that hold the bed down to the frame, there are six unused ones in he bed.

The d rings hole needs to be bored out a tiny so the bed bolts fit through the hole, and you will need torx55 bit and a torque wrench... I added 6 in the bed, then backed out the bolts holding on the side rails and hung some there. I didnt need to bore those out, as the bolts are smaller..
These rings have 800lb working load, 2400lb strength. ..last pic shows factory and aftermarket, second hanging from side rail system. They swing out not lay flat like in the pic.

Now have 10 tie downs in the bed, and 6 in the rails, 3 on each side, not including the rail system cleats. More than enough, and adequate for very heavy loads. I'm able to crank down my atv suspension so it doesn't move at all, plus there is multi tie downs, so if one, or more fail that atv isn't going anywhere... very reassuring.

Great for securing atv so it doesn't break back window ( 600$+) don't ask me how I kno

http://frankcarparts.com/p/Nozzles/...olt-On-14-Surface-Mount-D-Ring-2400-Rated.php

P.s. these guys have then at 1.70$.... so if u own / can borrow the torx55 bit and own or can borrow a torque wrench and just do the 6 bed bolts were talking 10.02$!!!!!!!! Amazon has em too at around 20$for ten , see post below

 

The factory bed bolts fit through the hole on these without modification?

 

No you need to ream the hole in the flat part of the dring with a step bit, or trash a regular bit or two or three....reaming the hole...do so, give a shot of paint . I found this mod on here many years ago and have performed it on both my trucks, ... if you choose to hang rings from the side bed rails no reaming is required, however those tiedown will only work at a say 75° downward angle .. still better than the cleats, which really aren't appropriate for trying anything heavy down
... the bed bolts are the really useful ones. I've cranked my ATV suspension down so much that it doesnt budge an inch on trails or the freeway

Be careful with the Torx bit removing the bolts, easy to strip and you will probably need a breaker bar ( or a piece of pipe, whatever)on one or two stubborn ones.

P.s. RIP prince

 

Hey plus I'm no expert here let's make that clear, I'm sure by boring them out, and whatever angle you crank something down to it would affect the strength, but they say 800lbs working and 2400 breaking, and I've def had some VERY HEAVY loads on them like think suspension bottoming out body rolling etc, regularly for 10 years..lumber, atvs motorcycles etc. remember the loads are spread out of course.. but YMMV...

My experience, this is the BOMB


RIP PRINCE

 

Here is a mini dump of pics from my build thread. Hopefully it helps you.

Drill some holes in the bed and lay down some l-track.

They are mounted between the ribs of the truck bed. They are almost flush with the adjacent ribs, it's about 90% flush. I I had everything bolted in, I put back the bed mat and cut it. I strategically thought this out and I wanted 12" sections of the L-Track. For each 12" section there are three mounting bolts. I used all stainless hardware, 3/4" flat head machine screws, nylon luck nuts and 1+1/4" fender washers.








Here it is with the bed mat put back and holes cut, My 4.5 year old daughter helped me every step of the way.




I store the cargo fittings in the back of the truck until they're needed and move them. So easy.



I mounted some L-Track to the front of the bed, for this I had to use special rivnuts for plastics.


Hole pattern transferred and drilled:


I held the nuts with a wrench from below and my wonderful helpful wife turned the screws with a ratchet. I used a bit of silicone under the track to form a gasket, as I didn't want any dust or debris between track and truck bed.




Test fitting one of our camping totes.


Nothing moves; ever.

 

^^^ This will give you all you need and more.

Also.... @LUSETACO

 

I hate the proprietary c-channel that Toyota uses. If I had more time I would pull it all out and replace it with heavy duty l-track.

But this works too. Eye-bolts.

In Jan 2013 I needed some reliable tie down points and decided to put some eye bolts in the Tacoma rail system.

I used some Grizzly G9513 - T-Slot Nuts, pk. of 4, 9/16" Slot, 3/8" - 16 for the proprietary Toyota track. I found some 3/16 x1/2" eye bolts at local home depot and grade 8 washers. They have served me really well when I needed to tie off a load.

Over time I figured out optimal places for the eye bolts and I have not had to move them in a few years.

 

You son of a....

 

$15 DC Cargo V-Ring Tie-Down Anchors |4 Pack | 2" Diameter Steel Bolt-on D-Rings for Cargo on Trucks, Pickups, Trailers |Flush Mount Tie-Down Anchor, Replacement for D-Ring Tie-Down w/Plastic Pan Fitting

http://www.amazon.com/Diameter-Tie-...e=UTF8&qid=1461282917&sr=1-12&keywords=D+ring


Amazon now has four packs of the military drings for 10$ edit 10 pack for 19$!!! U can't really tell from the picture but they are VERY heavy duty, when they arrived in the mail at 2 bucks a pop I was surprised at how heavy they were

$27 DC Cargo V-Ring Tie-Down Anchors |10 Pack | 2" Diameter Steel Bolt-on D-Rings for Cargo on Trucks, Pickups, Trailers |Flush Mount Tie-Down Anchor, Replacement for D-Ring Tie-Down w/Plastic Pan Fitting

http://www.amazon.com/Diameter-Tie-Down-Replacement-Attached-Mounting/dp/B01CGXSOG0/ref=pd_sim_sbs_263_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=41zFMKvrMvL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=0RD5A1DWK7SX53PBD3DW

 

This is awesome! I need to do this. Where did you get the L-track and tiedowns from? I looked online but didn't see the tiedowns you have.

 

I got mine here

http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Ratchet-Straps-Tie-Downs/L-Track-Tie-Down-Rails

 

If you dont need to go as cool n crazy as @Crom Go with the mopar / dodge sprinter d rings. Threw 4 of them on my bed bolts in my truck and they are kick ass, I use em all the time (mainly the middle ones) and they fold out of the way when necessary, and were cheap, I picked them up at the dodge dealer for like 4 bucks a piece.

What was funny was when i showed up to the dodge dealer in my very muddy sweet looking tacoma... they literally asked me, go park it around back we cant have your truck be seen up here like that. Freaking dodge.... oh and the "made in usa" placards for the jeep branded stuff had a lil * and in the fine print it stated "made in usa is in reference to the dana axles and not the entire vehicle"

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/installed-d-rings-in-the-bed-pics.28533/

Old thread with instructions d ring install, if you want follow the method that I did, follow this link.Also in my opinion and experience the military drings are superior to the toyota OEM ones.prime and paint everything because there can be some rust issues on the bolts with or without the drings installed

This current thread has shown me there is many ways to mod your tacoma bed area to your different needs. Me, I went with cheap and strong, but boy @Crom your build looks great for camping / expedition /wheeling and with the different ways to configure it. I guess, as with any mod you weigh your budget, needs, skill level and then go for it when you find that sweet spot that works for you .