What is a good way to attach slides to a truck bed floor?
The main slide I'm having a problem with is one for my bike. I have a bin on that side of the topper, so the slide is 2 feet from the side. Plus, the handlebars make it so the slide will never be right against the side. I want space between the slide and truck too so I can store stuff under the bin.
The slide will only be 1 foot or less wide, the full length of the box, and top-heavy with the bike mounted, so it needs good securing. I also need to be able to remove it since I don't want the slide there all the time.
There are a few options I'm thinking of:
The main slide I'm having a problem with is one for my bike. I have a bin on that side of the topper, so the slide is 2 feet from the side. Plus, the handlebars make it so the slide will never be right against the side. I want space between the slide and truck too so I can store stuff under the bin.
The slide will only be 1 foot or less wide, the full length of the box, and top-heavy with the bike mounted, so it needs good securing. I also need to be able to remove it since I don't want the slide there all the time.
There are a few options I'm thinking of:
- Put nutserts into the truck bed floor and/or where access is possible put a backing plate.
- Put nutserts into the truck bed sides and back wall. The back will be easy, since the slide is planned to go right against it. But the slide is 2 feet from the side and I'll need something to support the front and middle, so I'm thinking I could build/weld up some bars that run to the side walls to bolt in. I kind of like this idea, as nutserts into the truck side seam seem like a better, longer solution. I don't think it would be as secure as bolting right to be floor.
- Plywood the whole floor with some 3/4 marine grade. I kind of like this idea as I'd like to skip carpeting the floor as I was planning and just carpet the plywood. Maine grade because I do live in wet environment and it is bound to get wet.
- I also plan to have the standard box with a slide on the right, but that is easy to figure out since it will be flush against the left side of the truck, and the weight will all be low.
- I don't want to build just one big slide or buy a truck slide. I want this to be a narrow slide that just allows the bike to slide out so I can stand alongside it. It is a heavy 50+ pound fat bike eMTB, so lifting it up will be painful with the front wheel off.
- Why not use a bike rack? Security, but also, I do a lot of winter biking, and the road salt is tough on the bike and just makes a mess. Here is a picture of my setup today before I got my RSI Smarttopper. Right now I'm just laying it down flat in the truck but I have big plans for some longer trips and it needs to be more secure and not take up the whole bed.