hi all,
i was wondering if anyone is using a Toyota Tacoma (dub cab short bed) tonneau cover and laying a bike on its side.
and how is the truck on a long trip (8 to 9 hours)?
Thanks
Mike
I don’t have a Toyota, but have the Ram 2500. It’s great on longer trips, but I definitely would NOT lie my bike on its side in the bed. The Toyota is a much lighter duty truck, (smoother ride) so you may get away with it, but I still would not risk it.
x2
I have 05+ Tacoma and not planning on lying my tri bike down. I am waiting for some special bolts that will slide into the bed rail system, then I am planning on using bolts to attach some inexspensive fork mounts. They also have a bed divider system that you may be able to mount the fork mounts and that would allow you to stow gear bags in between the cab wall and bed divider. Just got my Tacoma and working out the bike transport part.
I have a Tacoma (double cab long bed) which I have taken on several long road trips (20+ hours each way). No complaints at all. It’s a great truck for trips.
I don’t lay my bike down tho. I have a tool box in the truck, and I bolted fork mount racks to the top of the tool box. I reinforced the underside of the tool box lid with a piece of steel from Home Depot. The fork mounts are lockable. I also designed a cross bar out of 2x4, pvc pipe cut in half as a tray for the rear wheel, eye hooks for bungee cords to hold the bike in place, and J hooks to secure the cross bar to the bed. This way I can still have luggage underneath without any damage to the bike. I throw a padlock and a few cable locks on for good measure.
(That’s the base of Mt. Shasta in the background. Top of the mountain washed out with the clouds)
I also have an '05 Tacoma - extra cab, long bed. You can buy QR adapters from Toyota that bolt onto the bed rail tie-down’s that hopefully came with your truck. If you’re talking about the cargo gate thing that also mounts into the bed rail system, I have one and I slide it back toward the tailgate so that it’s just behind the rear wheels - use bungee cords to secure the rear wheels in place while the forks are mounted in the QR’s behind the cab. There’s still about 18" of space for storing coolers and bags between the gate and the tailgate. Alternatively, you could very well slide the gate forward toward the cab so that you could stow gear bags - it easily clears the downtube/BB with the bikes clipped in. I’ve traveled alot of miles with bikes in the bed with no worries - although I also run a heavy cable through the frames and wheels and lock it to the bed-mounted tie-downs near the tailgate.
I also have an 05 DC short bed with an Access tonneau (velcro on the sides and rolls up to the front of the bed). My trips are only short so I usually lay my tri or MTB in the bed with the cover rolled up. I also have the Toyota fork mounts that I use from time to time, but if I’m concerned with security I will put the bike in the back seat. Not sure if any of this helps…
I am looking for a way to utilize my tonneau with my Yakima rack system. I’m sure it’s out there, but I haven’t really looked. My goal would be to use the bed rails in the same way roof mounts are used.
Ray
02 Tacoma single cab here. Note my model is before they make it a full sized pickup. (Id take the compact over the full sized any day)
I took a standard 2x6 board and wedged it between the sides of the bed (measure the width and add 1/4 of an inch then cut) and bolted a simple Thule fork mount into it. Its much cheaper then buying a metal bar that goes across and works just as good. I also have a bed liner that isn’t smooth so I can wedge the wheel in the grooves, never had a problem with it moving around. For safety I throw a bike chain through the Thule. If anyone wants to steal it, they will have to take the whole contraption with them. Im sure your short bed would be fine if you let the tailgate down.
As for 8-9 hours. Well I did a 2 day 24 hours total driving trip with it. It was fine with the exception of not having cruise control, you really learn to drive with both feet.
thanks Rokko
I like your idea.
Mike
I’ve got a Tundra with an Undercover tonneau cover. The cover will support up to 500 lbs and can be drilled to mount racks. For short trips I lay the bike on it’s side on a thick moving blanket, but I plan to drill the tonneau and add the Yakima “Landing Pads,” which will allow me to mount Yakima crossbars and ski/bike carriers onto the cover.
I am currently doing this with my Undercover tonneau cover. and replace the bike mouts with the fork mounts.
I am currently doing this with my Undercover tonneau cover. and replace the bike mouts with the fork mounts.
Yup, that’s pretty much what I’m talking about, except Yakima makes some feet that you can screw to the tonneau instead of having to use the rails.
Update
this is the finished bike rack on the truck cover
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