Need tie-down flexibility-- L track

[paddlenbike]

Can anyone comment on whether or not L-track would be a good choice for tie-down flexibility inside an SUV (E-track is too large for where I want to use it.) In particular, do these fit tightly or are these known to rattle on rough roads?

 

[Ryanmb21]

It works perfect, do it! One of the most useful things about my truck. I love it.

Here is my build with it:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...t-w-pic-s-of-my-1st-mod-s?p=863131#post863131

 

[eviioiive]

Got it recently and it's great-

 

[mhiscox]

Another vote for it as a wonderful invention and a cost-effective way to hold all sorts of stuff. Totally rattle-free, in my experience. Great product. (Forgive its role as the mechanism by which airline seats can be fanatically scrunched together.)

Go here:

http://www.uscargocontrol.com/Search?search=l-track&x=0&y=0

and here:

http://www.ancra.com/aircraft/interior.html

to see all of the stuff you can attach to the L-Track. Lots of good possibilities.

From seeing the options, you'll notice that if you're going to keep tying down things in the same place and don't need all the adaptability, you can just put L-Track anchor plates and short segments in the right places and not run multiple long tracks the length of the load floor. Which makes it pretty unobtrusive, looking along with functional.

 

[paddlenbike]

Thanks for the replies. Of the various brands like US Cargo Control, Mac's or Core Trax, etc., is there one that is recommended over another? As long as the fittings aren't loose enough to rattle...

 

[Ryanmb21]

Go with macs, great customer service, better weight ratings.

 

[mtnkid85]

Wow, those are sweet setups! Ill have to keep those in mind for the bed of my Tacoma.

 

[Adventure Copan]

We're building out an 87 4R to be used also as a coffee hauling beast. Would these tracks be an issue if dirt got in them or could they just be sprayed out and move on? Thx!

-Daniel Kent

 

[fourstringfletch]

I bought mine from Mac's and I've been really happy.

As for them getting clogged with coffee, I wouldn't worry at all. Don't cap the ends and it will fall out when sweeping or blowing with air.

 

[Crom]

Went with US Cargo Control. Good customer service, great product.

Used it in the bed of my Tacoma.

 

[MANUCHAO]

Core trax. Bought it a long time ago at Costco installed it a couple of years ago and it has been great. Handles dirt, and sand w/o issues

 

[paddlenbike]

No one has complained about rattling pins and clips, so that is a good sign.

I'm sold on the product, now I'm just trying to decide how to best utilize it. I'm not sure putting it across the floor as you guys have done would work for me--my floor area is completely covered by ice chests, Action Packers and other gear. We have a new addition to our family and from now on we will be traveling with all of our gear in the cargo area of our 3rd gen 4Runner, likely with some on the roof. What seems to make the most sense to me is a 6" strip of L-track on top of the wheel wells (where you see the orange pencil in the picture) and a set of 1-position L-track mounts like the ones Crom showed toward the rear of the cargo bay where you see the blue roll of teflon tape. Both locations are accessible from underneath for tightening the lock nut and when used with a backing plate will be plenty strong. Generally my gear is arranged in two rows--first row of ice chests and action packers against the rear seatbacks, then the second row between that and the rear hatch. Or I think so anyway...we haven't camped with the little one yet, but tie-downs in those locations seems logical to me.

I considered running some L-track along the side of the cargo compartment but ideally the straps would pull the cargo down toward the floor in the event of a bad crash or rollover. Any thoughts?

 

[Crom]

^ sounds like a good plan to me.

 

[CLynn85]

Been looking at adding some and replacing the stock rails in my Tacoma. We use it at work all the time with good results. Northern tool even sells it if you're looking for a local source.

 

[paddlenbike]

Thanks guys, I ended up going a slightly different route. I realized there were some very specific places I needed tie-down points and more OEM tie-down loops were exactly what I needed while still looking like it came from the dealer that way. The 4Runner loops have friction in them and don't flop around and make noise like many of the other cargo loops I've seen, so I bought eight more (!!) and started installing them where they were needed.

One added on each wheel well:

(There were already loops in each corner from the factory):

I have some more going in on the floor of the backseat area. My wife and I now have a 2-month old baby and now the entire backseat needs to be useable for the car seat and for my wife to ride back there with the baby on long trips. If something went down on the highway I wouldn't want unrestrained cargo to take a life, so I'm currently adding more in the floor of the backseat area to restrain a few more things. For example, our daughter won't need the footwell below her carseat for several years, so that makes a good place to tie down our 5 gallon water jug. Basically, I need more space than ever before and need our stuff secure. People are too busy texting these days to do any decent driving, so it's better to be prepared for the worst.