2nd Generation Tacoma Bed-Rail Load Capacity?

[tcpott]

Aloha ExPo!!...wondered if anyone knows how much weight i can load onto the bed-rails of an '07 Tacoma Dbl-Cab...i'm considering various camper shell/lumber rack options for my daily-driver mode, and the word i'm getting from the camper shell sales-people is that each bed-rail is rated for only 100lbs!! (due to the composite construction)...but it seems to me that there must be a few folks in the expedition world who have required their rails to carry more gear than that...is anybody familiar with this same conundrum and can this bad news really be true?...thanks

 

[Stealth 4x4]

Mine is an '03 and is not exactly the same as your '07. But 100lbs seems awfully light to me.

On my truck there's no way I'd believe that each rail can only support 100 lbs before it would buckle. I weight 220 and have stood on the side rails with one foot climbing in and out of the bed many times, and that is putting 220 lbs on a few inches of the rail where my boot hits, not spreading the weight out the entire length of one side.

With my wooden platform on the rails which weighs 100 lbs itself and only sits on 3 rails (no weight on the tailgate) I have had 4 adults standing on the platform plus I have a Hi-lift jack mounted to the platform and I have never even bent a rail a little.

I suspect those sales people are trying to cover their butts for some reason. Sure, if you placed a weight bar across the side rails and started adding 45lb plates to each side, you'd probably gets some small dents with a few plates on each side. But a well-designed shell should spread the weight along the length of 3 rails and allow a heckuva lot of weight to be supported.

These Toy bedrails are not made of angle iron. But they aren't cardboard either.

 

[tcpott]

thanks Stealth...i'm not sure but i think that in the first generation Tacomas like yours, the bed-rails are made from something other than composite plastic...but you're right, i (185lbs) can stand on my rail too...but i sure would like to know what Toyota actually rates the bed-rails for, before i go tossing a bunch of lumber up there.....thanks for the input

 

[WASURF63]

'07 Tacoma Bedrails

Aloha ExPo!!...wondered if anyone knows how much weight i can load onto the bed-rails of an '07 Tacoma Dbl-Cab...i'm considering various camper shell/lumber rack options for my daily-driver mode, and the word i'm getting from the camper shell sales-people is that each bed-rail is rated for only 100lbs!! (due to the composite construction)...but it seems to me that there must be a few folks in the expedition world who have required their rails to carry more gear than that...is anybody familiar with this same conundrum and can this bad news really be true?...thanks

tcpott,

I have an '08 Tacoma DC 4WD (also my DD) and find it very hard to believe the bed rails can only support a combined weight of 200lbs.
I have a (100lb) steel rack mounted to steel angle iron plates at all 4-corners of the bed. A canopy that weighs about (100lbs) mounted on the bed rails as well. Next I carry a RTT that's about (130lbs) and a Hannibal awning around (40 lbs (?) bolted to the top of the rack. That's approx. (370lbs) that I carry on the bedrails all the time. Add the weight of me and the Mrs. when sleeping up top (350lbs). Do the math...
I've run this setup for one year now,over all types of terrain, and two dozen + nights sleeping in the RTT,without a single problem or any damage to the bed rails whatsoever. I've inspected the attachment points a couple of times this year;no pinches,bends,dents, or cracks found.
Conclusion = bedrails are plenty tough.
I'm sorry I don't know their rated capacity either.
My own personal experience says enough for me.
Good luck with your decision.

WASURF63

 

[Overland Hadley]

The weight of my topper plus rack system, awning, shovel, gas and water cans adds up. I am not sure of the exact weight, but it is heavy and I have not had any problems yet.

There are a few people here who have 05+ Tacoma's with a RTT back there.

Hope that helps.

 

[tcpott]

thanks folks!...i just needed some real-world idea of what i can put up top, and i am much encouraged...and right now i am so happy this ExPo community exists!...happy exploring everyone

 

[Dave Bennett]

Mine is as heavy as any and it has held up very well, no problems with the rack and RTT back there.

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