Truck Bed Rails

Has anyone installed bed rails in the truck bed? I know we don't have the nuts in place for attachment, but wondered if anyone has done it anyways? I'd like to be able to attach some items to the side and not sure the best way to do it.

 

I have done a couple of things:

1. Took out my bed bolts, pounded out the washer, added a D ring, and put back together
2. About to add L track system to the floor for tie down support - look on You Tube and you'll see some examples

 

Those are good ideas. I'd like to have the tiedown points higher which is why the bed rail system is what I'm after.

 

Most people add the L track system to the inside sides of the bed rails - you'll see it on you tube.

 

Unistrut and rivnuts

 

That looks good. Did you look into doing that at the front of the bed?

 

I could have but I just didn't need it there.

I basically had the shelf on the right sitting on an over the wheel well base that locked for security for boxes and parts bins from thru the Windoor and the drawers on the left side all anchored in there solid.
Then I used an RV 2 drawer unit in the middle that is 6' long too with tools and parts in the drawers and ladders stacked on top too.

I drilled the sides for the rivnuts that hold the vertical strut and then the horizontal strut can adjust to anywhere along the vertical needed.
I can also attach anything else anywhere on the strut as need but I never really needed any anchormpoint on the cab wall so I didnt put them in there.

 

Thanks for the good info @ezdog I might do short horizontal struts and one set of vertical. I'd like to relocate my spare tire somewhere in the bed and not have it rolling/sliding around in the back. Thinking about mounting it behind the driver close to the cab, and then have room for some other recovery equipment on that same side.

 

The Rivnuts are what make this all so simpke really regardless of the track installed.

There are 2 different types of Rivnut too the light hand tool applied version which are not really the ideal connection point for heavy duty mounting in my experience and then the all Steel much heavier duty versions that require a socket and real elbow grease to get expended behind the panel.

I also really like the L Track and E Track options which have available all sorts of nice options for mount things too!

 

Here is a thread that uses rails, I don’t think there is any gen 1 images.

i look at it every week and then look at the truck bed and have no clue where I would drill. IV also read that if you do go with this unistrut system Nissan mounts work well.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/diy-unistrut-bed-rails-cheaper-option-than-oem.1906/

 

We mounted E Track on the floor of our old fifth wheel to tie toys down. Super useful stuff.

 

The holes are already there on non 1st gen trucks as they were setup to just attach factory rails!

 

I scored a set of OEM tracks off a guys newer Tundra on cL free a while back but have been waiting to do the Monstaliner on inside.of bed before installing. Riv-nuts are my plan.