Toyota Tacoma and Tundra Bed Stiffener Brackets

Whether you are blasting down washboard roads with an empty truck bed or installing a bed rack with a tent and extra gear, the 2005-2015 & 2016-2023 Toyota Tacomas along with the 2007-2021 Tundras are prone to sheet metal cracks where the tail gate latches to the C-channel of the bed. TOTAL CHAOS bolt-on bed stiffeners were specifically designed to reinforce this C-channel. We also integrated tie down points and an additional tab to offer more ways to keep your cargo secure and bolt on a radio antenna or sand whip accessories.

What Is A Bed Stiffener?

Bed Stiffeners reinforce the rear tail gate truck bed C-channels that are known to crack and tear with added camper shell weight, bed racks, tents, and off road use. TOTAL CHAOS bed stiffeners are designed for any 2005-2023 Tacoma that wants to prevent sheet metal damage.

Why Do I Need Bed Stiffeners?

We designed the bed stiffener to add structural support for added weight placed on the side bed rails from aftermarket accessories. Bed Stiffeners are essential because they reinforce the sheet metal structure of the bed and can prevent cracking, flexing, or damage caused by added bed weight from aftermarket camper shells and bed racks. The factory sheet metal on the Gen 2 and Gen 3 Toyota Tacoma trucks is prone to cracking where the tail gate latches to the bed sides at the tail lights. Blasting down washboard roads, installing a bed rack system with a tent and extra gear that adds weight to the bed rails are known causes for cracking the sheet metal.

How Do I Know If The Sheet Metal On My Truck Bed Is Cracking?

The gap at the top of the tailgate will become wider than at the bottom. Inspect the tail gate and tail light gap. In some cases, a visible crack may be apparent.

Key features of TOTAL CHAOS Bed Stiffeners

TOTAL CHAOS was the first company to offer a solution to the sheet metal cracking truck bed issue. And we are the only bed stiffener brand that extends vertically to the top of the bed rail providing maximum reinforcement while maintaining the contour of the bed. TC bed stiffeners are constructed from 3/16-inch thick mild steel that has been laser cut to exact specifications for a precision fit. They include a 2 stage powder coat process and reuse the existing factory tail gate channel mounting points. TOTAL CHAOS bed stiffeners are designed to offer three additional vertical tie-down tabs as well as 1 horizontal tab on both brackets. Grade 8 mounting hardware is included.

What Sets TOTAL CHAOS Bed Stiffeners Apart From The Competition?

The low profile shape of TOTAL CHAOS bed stiffeners is designed to allow full use of your truck bed – for maximum clearance when installing Decked overland vault drawer systems, to transporting supplies from the hardware store. Our bed stiffeners are designed to extend vertically to the top of the bed while maintaining the contour of the bed. Other brands are bulky and stick out into the floor of the bed preventing dry wall or ply wood to lay flat. TOTAL CHAOS bed stiffeners feature three additional vertical tie down tabs and 1 horizontal tab that makes a perfect spot to install a radio antenna, dune flag, chase light, or whatever else you want to add to customize your truck.

Do TOTAL CHAOS Bed Stiffeners Fit The 2nd Gen Tacoma?

Yes. Part# 48675 fits the 2005-2015 Tacoma. 2nd Gen Tacoma bed stiffeners are designed to bolt-on and reinforce the C-channel of the truck bed when additional weight from camper shells, bed racks and roof top tent has been added. They also feature three additional vertical tie down tabs and one horizontal tab.

Do TOTAL CHAOS Bed Stiffeners Fit The 3rd Gen Tacoma?

Yes. Part# 48676 fits the 2016-2023 Tacoma. 3rd Gen Tacoma bed stiffeners are designed to bolt-on and reinforce the C-channel of the truck bed when additional weight from camper shells, bed racks and roof top tent has been added. They also feature three additional vertical tie down tabs and one horizontal tab.

Do TOTAL CHAOS Bed Stiffeners Fit The 2nd Gen Tundra?

Yes. Part# 48677 fits the 2007-2021 Tundra. 2nd Gen Tundra bed stiffeners are designed to bolt-on and reinforce the C-channel of the truck bed when additional weight from camper shells, bed racks and roof top tent has been added. They also feature three additional vertical tie down tabs and one horizontal tab.

What Is The Origin Of TOTAL CHAOS Bed Stiffener?

Like most TOTAL CHAOS products, our bed stiffeners were originally designed to be a solution to a personal problem we encountered with our 2013 Project Tacoma. We push our fleet of Toyota vehicles to the limits playing at high speeds pre-running in the in the desert, scouting on hunting adventures and when exploring out on remote trails. We built a Tacoma with a Sung Top camper shell on it that TOTAL CHAOS founder Matt Vaughan used for overland scouting and hunting in remote locations. Over time, the Tacoma started to show signs of damage – the gap at the top of the tailgate was wider than at the bottom. The fiberglass camper shell also showed signs of damage when the sheet metal began cracking. We designed the first bed stiffener to add structural support for the added weight placed on the bed rails these brackets double as a tie-down anchor point for your gear while re-using factory mounting holes. When we realized our 2013 Project Tacoma bed was showing signs of damage TOTAL CHAOS devised a solution to the problem.

Bed Stiffener installation instructions here.