Tundra bed rail strength for ATVs

Alright so I don't expect anyone to have a direct answer to this question, but maybe I get lucky. Otherwise looking for thoughts and opinions.

I have a setup for hauling 2 ATVs on the back of my old 7.3 and it does great. It's also ancient and built like a brick poo house. I am wondering what people think about using one of these on my 21 Tundra double cab. Do you think the rails would hold it? I was unwilling to even attempt it on my aluminum body ford I got rid of for obvious reasons. I don't feel like destroying my newish Tundra so trying to see if anyone has attempted something like this before.

It is two ramps (per ATV but I'll only use two) that clamp from rail to rail and you simply drive the ATV up them from the side. Pictures below since I suck at explaining. ATV dry weight is about 700lbs but I always estimate 800lbs just to be on the higher end.

Thoughts? Opinions? Experience?

Thanks!

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/mgm16trdpro-build.17183/page-4#post-397190

Look at that post and the ones after that one.
Maybe Mike @mgm16trdpro can answer more.

 

That post goes for days. I only made it a couple pages through but looks primarily dedicated to the diamondback cover, which I totally dig but don't really wanna spend that money. I know those will hold the weight but they also transfer it pretty evenly over the entire bed. Mine is more directed at the wheels alone is my bigger concern.

 

Damn that's crazy. I would think the diamondback would do similar though unless they have a much smaller and lighter ATV.

 

This is true. I like to assume a 3/4 or 1 ton could handle it but these days I'm not so sure. The old 90s beast doesn't bat an eye. It's just not ideal on long trips and when the roads turn bad. Been there.

 

You could put some post from the ramp to the bed to help spread the load. Or add a brace between the bed rail and bed floor. Also, not certain a tundra is rated for 1400+lbs in the bed. Also also, if you sell that f350 give me a call.

 

As my French friends would say, il y a du monde au balcon!!

 

I've thought about welding some adjustable feet to the bottom to help take some stain off the rails themselves. I need an old tundra to test on if anyone has one haha!

The bed may be rated for 1400lbs but I can guarantee the rails aren't.

The F350 isn't going anywhere any time soon. It's not prefect but I love that old bugger. Put a ton of money into it. Should've kept my other one too.

 

There have been people who damage the bed with crossover toolbox. I would definitely not put 1500 lbs on the rails of the tundra.

 

How about 800lbs?

 

If you’re just taking 1 why not use the bed?

 

It would be needed for other purposes. For instance going ice fishing, I need somewhere to put my gear. Or better example is I'm hauling 3 machines on my trailer, one in the bed of the pickup, multiple people, and need room to put other gear. That would be the extreme but very possible.

 

Ahhh. Can you re purpose the runners for in bed use, perhaps making a layer above the wheel wells kinda like a decked system. With space underneath?

 

I did do that in the F150 at one point and it does work for some things. Gives me limited clearance under the center of the ATV and I can fit a couple shorter bins underneath it. So for smaller things like luggage it would work. My ice fishing setup would be too tall. But maybe that's the way to go. Figure out how to make that stand a little taller without being too unstable and reduce the height of my ice fishing stuff. I'm always game to tinker with stuff.

 

Even if the rails had the strength, the suspension would suffer and handling would be horrific, might even cause a rollover in some situations. For that reason, bed floor bracing shouldn't even be considered. Just use a trailer with the Tundra.

 

That's what airbags are for.

I have several trailers, the most I can haul on one is 3. And sometimes you just don't want to take a trailer with. Or another example would be my redneck special. I have a cargo trailer that is a converted toy hauler/camper, i called it my mobile tent. One week I wanted to go camping, riding, and fishing. I stuck my tiny boat inside the cargo trailer because it's about 16 feet long, put 2 ATVs on the F350, and hauled it all up the mountains. Worked great. Without being able to get ATVs on the bed, I was hosed. Not sure I'd try that with the tundra but you never know, I do dumb crap all the time. Did something similar last summer and ran into serval fun problems with the old F350 which is what prompted me to buy something newer. No intention of doing the exact same thing, but trying to figure out where my limitations are.

 

I wouldn't trust the bed rails of a tundra for that weight. Even if I did attempt it, I wouldn't want to drive with it like that. The center of gravity just greatly changed. I know not comparable but there was multiple threads in Tacomaworld.com about tailgates bending because of people loading ATV's into the bed.

 

Well that's not good, now you just made me nervous to drive my ATV up on the tailgate.

 

It was a common thing on the 2nd gen tacomas 2005-2015. Obviously not to everyone too though.

 

Never had an issue with my tailgate and driving atv’s up it.

 

Good to know!

 

Beware OP, airbags can and do burst at unexpected times. Just a fact.