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DIY: Unistrut Bed Rails - Cheaper option than OEM

Discussion in 'General Tundra Discussion' started by csuviper, Jun 8, 2015.

  1. Jun 8, 2015 at 5:44 PM
    #1
    csuviper

    csuviper [OP] Moderator Staff Member

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    If you do not want to pay ~$200+ for the OEM bed rail system then a cheaper alternative is to use electrical Unistrut. It is virtually the same as the OEM bed rails except it is a little wider and i believe stronger.

    Rails-Unistrut

    3 sticks of 10' long Unistrut from a local hardware store: Link to website
    3@$16.34 = $49.02

    Installation Hardware
    (12) M6 x 1
    (12) 1/4" fender washers

    Mounting Hardware

    3/8” Unistrut channel nuts: Link to website
    3/8” Hex Head Bolts (length depends on what your attaching)
    3/8” Lock Washers
    3/8” Fender Washers


    DSC01519_41daf12435fa114751d59098dd61b9ad6e595759.jpg



    IMG_4836.jpg

    IMG_5019.jpg


    IMG_5106.jpg

    DSC01518_7691ff88e3c8445e3a1d1bb2130df7b0623abac8.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2016
  2. Jun 8, 2015 at 7:02 PM
    #2
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    I definitely like this. I already did the D-ring things on the bedside. Could have used the uni's, but D-rings are OK. Definitely need to do this.
     
    BravoDeltaRomeo likes this.
  3. Jun 8, 2015 at 11:00 PM
    #3
    csuviper

    csuviper [OP] Moderator Staff Member

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    I'll edit the pics of this tomorrow from my computer. Oh and edit the mounting options.
     
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  4. Jun 9, 2015 at 9:42 AM
    #4
    csuviper

    csuviper [OP] Moderator Staff Member

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    Updated description and pictures in the OP.
     
  5. Sep 22, 2015 at 1:18 PM
    #5
    Dastard

    Dastard New Member

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    Can you tell me where you got the m6-1.25 bolts?

    Thanks

    D
     
  6. Sep 22, 2015 at 2:28 PM
    #6
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Did you try ACE Hardware? My local Ace blows away Home Depot selection tens times over. The family that owns my ACE has been there since the 60's. Probably why selection is so crazy good when it comes to fasteners.
     
  7. Sep 22, 2015 at 4:49 PM
    #7
    csuviper

    csuviper [OP] Moderator Staff Member

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    I got mine at Home Depo. Ace does have more selection but I think Ace is more expensive too
     
  8. Sep 22, 2015 at 5:09 PM
    #8
    CaptTyler

    CaptTyler Life’s too short to have an ugly boat.

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    Nice write up man, gonna do this very soon.
     
  9. Sep 22, 2015 at 5:20 PM
    #9
    csuviper

    csuviper [OP] Moderator Staff Member

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    Thank you. Cheap and provides a good mounting surface for tie downs, bed rails, bike mounts, ammo storage solution and more.
     
  10. Sep 22, 2015 at 9:14 PM
    #10
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Can't be more expensive if Home Depot doesn't have what you are looking for.....just sayin. Especially when it comes to hard to find metric sizes. Brian, I guarantee, if you come to my local ACE, you will understand what I'm talking about.
     
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  11. Sep 24, 2015 at 8:21 AM
    #11
    Halfjap

    Halfjap New Member

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    I did this same DIY. I got the rails at Home Depot, the d-rings on-line, and the hardware at Lowe'sIMG_2060.jpg
     
    bulldog93 and ChucklesToy like this.
  12. Sep 25, 2015 at 3:09 PM
    #12
    alalmcgrath

    alalmcgrath Old Fart at Large!

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    My 2011 takes M6 x 1.0 bolts - NOT 1.25
     
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  13. Sep 25, 2015 at 9:53 PM
    #13
    csuviper

    csuviper [OP] Moderator Staff Member

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    1 and 1.25 is the length. Were the 1.25 bolts too long and not able to fully screw in?
    No issues on my 2012
     
  14. Sep 27, 2015 at 7:02 AM
    #14
    alalmcgrath

    alalmcgrath Old Fart at Large!

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    1.0 or 1.25 is the thread pitch - not the bolt length.
     
  15. Sep 27, 2015 at 7:49 AM
    #15
    csuviper

    csuviper [OP] Moderator Staff Member

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    Oops your correct. Weird that the pitch is different between years.
     
  16. Sep 28, 2015 at 10:25 AM
    #16
    gene3x

    gene3x New Member

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    Curious if there is a way to make them work with a flipbak cover on as well. Had to take mine off the side rails to make the cover work!
     
  17. Feb 9, 2016 at 1:53 AM
    #17
    decade

    decade New Member

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    Just wondering, will the toyota factory (tacoma) tie-down mount fit?

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Feb 9, 2016 at 10:57 AM
    #18
    csuviper

    csuviper [OP] Moderator Staff Member

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    Yes. I have one of them on mine.
     
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  19. Feb 9, 2016 at 4:26 PM
    #19
    decade

    decade New Member

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    This is an excellent thread. Instead of buying the Toyota's OEM, which is $250+shipping. And I like the idea of DIY, so you can customize the length the way you wanted.

    I went to the HomeDepot in Canada.... you know what,they didn't carry those parts. :( Guess need to cross the border sometime to get it.
     
  20. Feb 9, 2016 at 6:09 PM
    #20
    alalmcgrath

    alalmcgrath Old Fart at Large!

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    Electrical supply stores all carry it.
    It is also known as SUPERSTRUT.
     
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  21. Feb 20, 2016 at 6:00 PM
    #21
    decade

    decade New Member

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    I actually haven't problem finding the mounting bolt. Check out several local store, but they only have M6 x 1.0 or M8 x 1.25. Doesn't have M6 x 1.25.

    Mine is 2011 too. Did you say M6 x 1.0 work? Or should it be M6 x 1.0?
     
  22. Feb 20, 2016 at 6:45 PM
    #22
    csuviper

    csuviper [OP] Moderator Staff Member

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    M6x1 should work. Try it out and make sure it's not too short.
     
  23. Feb 20, 2016 at 8:50 PM
    #23
    alalmcgrath

    alalmcgrath Old Fart at Large!

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    It is definitely 6M x 1.0 thread pitch. The guys are confusing the pitch (1.0) with the length (which is 1.25).. That is why no one can find 6M x 1.25 bolts, there is no such thing.
     
  24. Feb 20, 2016 at 11:24 PM
    #24
    csuviper

    csuviper [OP] Moderator Staff Member

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    For the unistrut rails i added a fender washer
    IMG_4837.jpg
     
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  25. Feb 20, 2016 at 11:32 PM
    #25
    csuviper

    csuviper [OP] Moderator Staff Member

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    Guys. Most likely i called out the wrong bolt. The only way to know for sure is for me to pull one out and go check it at Ace. Or measure pitch myself.
     
  26. Feb 21, 2016 at 9:06 PM
    #26
    decade

    decade New Member

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    I can confirm that it is M6 x 1.0 thread.
     
  27. Feb 21, 2016 at 9:25 PM
    #27
    csuviper

    csuviper [OP] Moderator Staff Member

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    I ran by ace hardware where I got the bolts. Def no M6 x 1.5. Must have mixed it together with the M8 x 1.5.

    I tested one existing one I had in this before searching and purchasing the bolts to match.

    image.jpg
     
  28. Feb 21, 2016 at 9:26 PM
    #28
    csuviper

    csuviper [OP] Moderator Staff Member

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    Updated OP
     
  29. Apr 1, 2016 at 3:02 PM
    #29
    zcarpenter92

    zcarpenter92 Yotas and Yellow Jackets

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    May have to do this one. Need a good way to keep my Hi Lift jack from sliding all over the bed. Planning on having it on the front of the bed with a DuHa Humpster toolbox on each bedside, hopefully will have enough room to mount lights on the front Unistrut and a tonneau cover over top.
     
  30. Jul 13, 2016 at 5:34 PM
    #30
    sam_i02

    sam_i02 New Member

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    Lowes Canada carries it. It is called Power Strut and is located in the aisle with the electrical conduit. It is $15 for 10 feet, but I did not get it because it is the 2" version - a little bigger than needed. Westburne Electric carries the right size. Going to get mine in the next few weeks and do this mod to carry the bikes.
     
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