Deck Rails on 1st Gen?

I have a 2005 limited double cab. As I've perused the forums here, I've seen the unistrut/superstrut solution for deck rails. Looks like those can be installed for about half the price as the OEMs, if not less expensive. But it appears that solution may only work for the newer models?

I spoke with the local dealer yesterday, who told me OEM deck rails aren't available for the 1st gens. I'm guessing if that's the case, I may not be able to easily install unistruts or anything else? (I've looked at L-Track, too). Drilling holes into my truck is something I'd like to avoid, if possible.

I have a plastic OEM bedliner in there that I've never taken out since purchase. (I'm considering changing to Herculiner or Line-X, but that's another thread.) I don't know what holes or potential mount points are there for some unistrut or something else.

My question is: Have any of you with 1st gens successfully installed some kind of rail solution on your truck? Are there existing holes there to use the unistrut solution that is here for the newer gens? How difficult do y'all think it'd be to undertake a unistrut/L-Track/Deck Rail solution on a 1st gen?

 

1) No

2) No or most likely no.

3) Nothing is difficult with the right mindset, tools, and parts.

I’ve drilled holes in my rails to mount side boxes which stayed put from 2003 until last year. I’d suggest you use a combination of fasteners and adhesive (Liquid Nails Fuze). After all, most major airplanes in the sky today are held by adhesive.

You are on you own on this one. Draw it up and make it happen. Post pics!

 

This might give you some ideas, but unless you find awesome magnets I don't think you're getting by without drilling holes. Even if you did an epoxy, you'd still need a way to clamp the rails down while setting. Unless you can drill holes for rivets or clecos I don't see that happening.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/diy-unistrut-bed-rails-cheaper-option-than-oem.1906/

 

I was just looking at that thread today.
There are definitely no predrilled and nutted holes in our beds like 2nd and 3rd gens. I have my liner out right now and if you tried to span front to back; there is a weird indentation/pocket above the wheel wells that wouldn’t be anchorable. If I did put strut along the bed, it would be in that weird pocket above the wheel wells, so I could get solid mounting across the entire length. I’m still trying to figure out what I would or will carry on the regular, and if I need to reinvent the wheel to make it work

 

Use L bracket, mount it to the top rails and bolt the uni strut to L bracket. There’s L bracket for uni strut, you could put the side first and mount the front uni strut to the side

 

Did you ever figure out a solution for this? Miss the bed tracks on my Tacoma

 

The OP posted once and hasn’t been here in 4 years.

 

DECKED has a rail kit? Like Core Trax? https://decked.com/products/at1

Couldn't that be pretty easily adapted for the need?

 

Its been on truck 21 years and holding up great. They have all kind of need options / hooks/ toolbox tie downs. And ladder bars like the ond i have on in below pic. I would recomend. Thule Tracrax sytem

 

Better pic. Great for ladders and strapping down tall items ( dressers, gun safe ect)