2017 bed question

i've searched here and elsewhere but haven't found the info i'm looking for.

i'm wanting to mount brackets inside the bed of my tundra (2017 SR5 DC) just above the wheel wells (see pic below). these would be screwed in after drilling pilot holes:



i'm trying to figure out how much space there is between the interior wall of the bed and the corresponding exterior panel. i can see that there's a decent sized gap back by the taillights, but can't seem to figure out how to check the area indicated above (i have a topper on my rig).

short of going for it and drilling into the bed to find out (something i'm not eager to try) is there any way i can figure this out?

appreciate the help, hope i explained myself clearly.

 

Remove the wheel well lining above the driver rear tire. There's a ton of space in that area.

 

Stand in the bed of the truck with your hands, one on the inside and the other on the outside. You can get a general feel for how big the space is between them. It's roughly an inch at the closest I believe.

 

Just do it!!!

 

You probably already know this, but just in case...

Wrap some duct tape around your drill bit 3/8th's or so up the bit so it'll stop you once you penetrate the sheet metal. (Unless you have an actual depth stop)

 

i ended up doing what @Jack_A_Lope suggested to get a better idea how much space i had and then crossed my fingers and went at it with a drill. after the hole was made i poked around with a piece of wire ... plenty of space between the two walls ... probably an inch or two.
thanks everyone for the input!

 

Soooo, you just gonna' leave us hanging?

Whatchya' mounting to the brackets?

 

haha, sorry to leave you hanging!
mounting some of

$9 IKEA Part # 116791 - Mounting Plates - 2 Pack

these brackets for these cross-members. it's for a breakdown sleeping platform. probably not as exciting as you were hoping

 

Paint the holes after drilling, use stainless nylon-insert nuts and bolts instead of screws, and some big washers to help distribute the weight loads better, my advice!

 

Yours is probably way more useful but I'll be honest, I was hoping for a Mini-Gun or something cool.