Alert the tundra 3rd Gen cannot support a topper

Basically a L bracket like affixing a table together.

I was able to ratchet strap both anchors from end to end together and bring in the side panels. Drove all day yesterday with it. Soon I removed the strap, bang the panels visibly moved.

So the L brackets may not be so far fetched for a solution. But you got to love how the toyota recharge just recommends removing the whole thing.

 

Thats about all I could find outside those shinny $$$$$ billet ones.

https://www.victory4x4.com/product/...tr1EwS4G7VoeZcdk6iIQ25Ux2vSKvwRRoCWn4QAvD_BwE

 

I don't have an answer or suggestion, but I immediately thought of the XOverland crew...their 22 Tundra is built out with an Alucab canopy and I don't recall hearing them complain about bed issues. Surely they're carrying more weight than a Leer with a couple fiberglass ladders.

 

It could be a quality control issue? Between this one and the owner that got one with the bed panels so misaligned he couldn't shut the gate, it makes you wonder.

Also is there a guide on weight that can be supported by these beds and is that the same, better or worse than previous and the competition?

 

A truck should support a shell. If it does not I'd argue it breaches a few implied product warranties. I'd get a good lawyer and get my $ back if Toyota does not address it.

 

I mean I never had an issue with my composite bed. I was actually impressed because I put a yard of gravel in the bed of mine 3rd week of owning it and was impressed with the strength and it held up. My previous truck was an F150 with spray in bed liner on aluminum bed, but my composite Toyota bed held up.

I don't use a pap-cap so I can't say my experience on that, and if that is the reason then that is concerning. I saw some videos of people putting larger rocks in their new tundra and it gashing through the composite, but they were pretty heavy and sharp and probably would have done the same for metal beds.

Pros to composite: It weighs less and I don't have to worry about rust

Cons: I don't know how this material will hold up in 5-6 years from dealing with my southern humid climate, also apparently it can't support pap-caps.

I am not saying you are a hater, but I personally do not mind my composite bed.

 

I agree toppers go hand and hand with a truck since I've been a kid. I'm 38 yo now I still see it dominantly on work vehicles. How can toyota take a step back from a structural standpoint.

Imagine your driving down the road you don't know about the sides buckling and everything falls flat like a sandwich. That would be the biggest lawsuit ever faced with toyota

 

I am not trying to defend Toyota, but I have noticed that truck manufacturers as a whole are all doing this. Ford uses aluminum which I feel like gets cheaper every year, to the point where you HAVE to rhino line your bed. GM beds are not much better but you get the added bonus of an over-engineered tailgate that will most definitely break on you at some point. Not too familiar with dodge.

But these companies follow trends of "If that company got away with it, hopefully I can too". I also feel like Toyota did not put composite beds in KNOWING that this would be a problem. I can't imagine them like "Yeah this may not be as structural, but we will save money." They would have just kept steel beds and charged the same amount.

But it is discerning knowing that my truck potentially has a weaker frame because of this. I would be curious if any third party manufacturer makes steel bed replacements.

Edit: Also in my search for other Bed replacements I found this reddit thread. for https://www.reddit.com/r/ToyotaTundra/comments/dg9fud/3rd_gen_bed_on_2nd_gen_tundra/

It goes over how notorious 2nd gen Tundras were to bed rot/rusting because of the design. So apparently structural issues are not exclusive to 3rd gen Tundras.

 

Aluminum has a bonus trick.

 

Products have implied warranties of general merchantability and possibly fit for a particular purpose in addition to the written warranty. I would tend to agree that trucks go hand in hand with shells and if a truck won't support it, the manufacturer would need to disclaim it at a minimum.

The reality, is it appears many users have successfully added camper shells with no issue. I had one on my 07 Taco with the composite bed and it supported it no problem, though it was fiberglass, and I could see how a more rigid fiberglass shell may actually add structural support when properly mounted.

I would let Toyota know one of two things is happening, either this is a defective product (warranty should cover repair or replacement of bed) or defective design and a breach of implied warranty. And I'd have the response come from an attorney. Good luck.

 

And people compare about the sun glare off a 3rd gen hood.

 

I really hope that is illegal. I can only imagine the sun hitting that and blinding everyone around them. On the added bonus of your truck looking like a high end toaster.

Honestly I know it was revolutionary for the time, but it is crazy to me how ALL the manufacturer's dogged on Ford for using aluminum for their panels and body..... and now they ALL use it. I prefer the steel of my old Silverado. Because for all the benefits of aluminum, I feel like they are placebo. I don't get that much better MPG, it isn't quieter. Why not just go back. Just my opinion.

 

Since I've been with this company, we've outfitted for myself a

2008 taco
2017 taco
2023 tundra

In the toyota line, I've had vans from Ford and such but both taco had 0 issues but we're also talking about a 5' box I have a 23 tundra with 8ft

 

Buddy of mine bought a '22 double cab 6.6' bed right when they were released. Threw a Leer on it as soon as they were available. He has been running that with an RTT for about 55k miles, and many of those are unmaintained, back country 2 track. I see him a couple times a week. Bed is perfect, tailgate is still aligned like it should be, truck is holding up great. He is the reason I sold my '21 and just bought a '24. I would guess your truck has something else going on.

 

As I mentioned above the tacos which had shorter box I had 0 issues now the 8ft box giving both of us in the fleet grief my coworker sent me pics of his matching truck and he just got his installed and it's already off by at least half an inch

 

8' bed, gotcha...I'm still working on my reading comprehension skills! I could definitely see an 8' bed being more prone to flexing than the shorter beds.

 

This F150 self identifies as a Cybertruck

 

My fiberglass leer 5.5ft bed bowed my sides, used rago fan stiffeners to straighten it

 

You can search Tacoma bed flexing and read till your heart is content....it applies to the Tundra just the same....maybe more so since the bed is wider and longer. If you are not putting your truck in those situations that cause flex you are probably fine, as lots of Tacoma owners have been. If you are putting it in situations that can cause an issue then stiffeners might be the trick for you.

I have no idea why people thought that the composite bed on the Tundra would be any different than the composite bed on the Tacoma.

This is what the bed looks like (this is a tacoma but same thing) skin quarter panels on the out side and you can see why in some situations it needs a little help flexing.

 

Ugh that looks like a condom plastic cover for the actual sheet metal, why isn't the sheet metal itself more rigidly built before throwing this over it, is my main concern

 

There is no sheet metal underneath, it is a composite box.sits on frame. ..the quarter panels (outside bed panels) skin the outside of the box. Like this...the Tundra bed works the same way.

 

Wow, this indeed screams you need to reinforce your bed if your strapping things to the top of it.

Guess me loading motorcycles 500lbs in dead center is where they design the load to be shared, down the core of the bed instead of the side rails

Also, I remember in the late 90s using a 1/4 ratchet and like 10mm socket to unbolt a 1ton GMC dually bed and it literally was able to be folded by hand, the rust is no joke

 

I got DCU MAX this time, it has thicker aluminum panels, and seems like has more thicker frame... I recommend it

 

I have a big boy metal bed too on my town truck! We’re like kindred spirits! Or my forum big brother at least.

 

When trucks were trucks...

 

This is a cool skin removal! but it proves at the same time that metal was the best route to go back then, clearly topper MFG's are ignoring this is what trucks look like underneath nowdays.

 

I used bed stiffeners on my '17 Tacoma when I added my Leer XL. My truck was in for service and using a loaner Tacoma the dealership offered me. I just happened to be building a privacy fence at the time and preferred using the loaner to haul the lumber. Needless to say loading the bed to the ded rails with 6' fence boards really showed me how much the bed bowed under weight. Granted, it was probably just slightly over a few hundred pounds . Anyway, I'll definitely be adding stiffeners to the Tundra when I get the new cap

 

Will not help long term. From the stiffeners pictures I've seen they just concentrate stress around the newly introduced holes. Having bed slightly bowing under load and flexing back when unloaded is better. If you often need bed loaded that much - get a better suited truck.

 

Wow, this is a pretty disturbing issue to read about. I'm looking to pick up a 24 Tundra with 5.5' bed and one of the first things I had planned to do was add a Leer shell to the top but not so sure now. I did see where some said they had no issues but knowing my luck, lol.

 

I've only had my 24 a couple of months but I put a ARE on it right away. No problems yet.
I can see why Taco's have more of an issue. They tend to be more of a trail rig than the Tundra. Maybe they didn't stiffen their frames like they did on the Tundra