taco bed cage...

[MUCHADO]

Dammit it was 105 degrees here today and 103 yesterday... can we get a break??

My friend Jamie brought his taco over so we could bust out his bed cage... Figured I'd post some pics, I think it's turning out bad-ass

We built everything on the truck, welded the rear facing welds on the X bracing and put a ghetto bar in between the kickdowns to maintain it's shape while we knocked off the tacks onto the truck. Then welded completly around the tubing including the side that faces the cab--this woulda been impossible to do on the truck... It was nice also to paint the tubing before putting it back on the truck so that we didnt have to make a lame attempt at getting after the back side of the tubing while it was mounted.





Don't use a towel to cover your gas tank from sparks... it's more flamable than the tank!






Bedsides will be hung with a dovetail, Jamie is going to be bobbing his bedsides that are the same color. Maroon ones are off of a wrecked truck and are being used as mock-up...


The bed rails are notched(not shown in picture) so the kick down bar goes thru the top. Using a hole saw for a TIGHT fit.



More pics to come tomarrow with the bedsides hung... We ran out of daylight. The bedsides are going to be mounted on a 1-3/4" tube that goes from b-pillar to kick down.... I'm loving the way this project is turnin out.

[Mawnov]

Looks good, cant wait to see the finished product.

[briansc33]

Looks good so far. I'm curious to see what you guys are going to do for the inside of the bed as far as toolbox, spare tire, and Hi-lift mounting locations though.

[jorge espanola]

heres a few pics i snapped from today

[MUCHADO]

Originally Posted by briansc33

Looks good so far. I'm curious to see what you guys are going to do for the inside of the bed as far as toolbox, spare tire, and Hi-lift mounting locations though.

I'm gonna let Jamie worry about all that we just bent up the tube

[KStacoma]

I got it all painted today and bobbed one bedside, it looks like 8.5" turned out perfect. I also chopped the frame down to right behind the shackle. I'll probably have some more pics thursday or friday.

[1TONZR2]

lookin good!

[Renaud33]

Originally Posted by KStacoma

I'll probably have some more pics thursday or friday.

Can't wait to see the finishing pics. Good work Rob and Jamie.

[KStacoma]

Thanks Kurt!

I am having a hard time deciding what I want to use for material for the bed floor. I thought about sheet metal, 14ga or something but that is so boring so I thought I'd use diamond plate alum. and paint it black but it is hella $$$. Don't want to use expanded metal cause it looks sort of ghetto.
Anyone have any ideas for me?

[MUCHADO]

Thanks Kurt... Jamie and I bashin our heads together works out well!

Jamie- how about some reg. aluminum and then run some swirls in it with your flapper disc, could clear coat it after that it'd look bling... I'm gonna try to make it up to that auction at metal by the foot I can look for alum there and call you at school. I'm plannin on partyin down there with you guys this weekend if I can, I turn 22 on Sunday and I figure there will be some good lookin incoming freshman at Pitt so it's a good time to run down there... Gotta catch em before the freshman 15! lol

[Renaud33]

I say bling aluminum something like this...

FWIW we are having a heat wave here too. It sucks as I have plenty I'd like to do outside but sure don't feel like doing in 95+ temps.

[KStacoma]

Rob- that is a pretty good idea, the swirl does look pretty sick. Definately if you see any sheets of alum. up there give me a call. Also we'll for sure have to hang out this weekend if you'll be down in pitt. I can't fucking drink cause of this accutane shit but I'll hang out and shoot some pool or whatever you guys are doing.

Kurt- that looks pretty pimp but I looked into buying a piece and I only need a 5'x4' piece and it was like 150 bucks for 1/8"

[awsumdc]

Looks good man. Keep up the good work.

[briansc33]

Update's????

[KStacoma]

Well I am officially sick of working w/sheetmetal and whatnot. I swore I'd never do it again after welding up my 1/2 doors but I just am so addicted to cutting it up lol :saw:

Ignore the gas door lol, I still need to chop the filler neck.
This is all doing a test fit after trimming them up.

RIP ttora stickers





RAGE body filler is the f*cking shit, totally whoops bondo's ass any day.

Not 100% perfect but 99% and good enough for me:

[MUCHADO]

looks good Jamie much better with the color matching bedsides!!!

[KStacoma]

Originally Posted by MUCHADO

looks good Jamie much better with the color matching bedsides!!!

Hell yeah 10x better, thanks Rob!
I just painted them in the garage...or painted the part that was primered but it's a temporary thing until I can figure out getting them painted right. I also haven't figured out that removable bar we were talking about. I am getting frustrated w/it and may end up just welding it on solid

[MUCHADO]

Originally Posted by KStacoma

Hell yeah 10x better, thanks Rob!
I just painted them in the garage...or painted the part that was primered but it's a temporary thing until I can figure out getting them painted right. I also haven't figured out that removable bar we were talking about. I am getting frustrated w/it and may end up just welding it on solid

Hey Jamie instead of welding that biatch on solid... How about you give er a try wheelin' ONCE without it... dovetailed 24 inches (12 each side) you aren't gonna even come close to touching... I know you think it looks cool but damn man with just the skins it looks SOOOO clean I'd hate to see it look like a jungle gym (I know from experience i had a sweet jungle gym lmao..)

[generalee7]

I like it a lot! It kind of looks like you were going for the 01tundra bed look, I dig it

[KStacoma]

Originally Posted by MUCHADO

Hey Jamie instead of welding that biatch on solid... How about you give er a try wheelin' ONCE without it... dovetailed 24 inches (12 each side) you aren't gonna even come close to touching... I know you think it looks cool but damn man with just the skins it looks SOOOO clean I'd hate to see it look like a jungle gym (I know from experience i had a sweet jungle gym lmao..)

Rob,
I know you are right but I want a "slider" bar cause the bed is alot more flimsy now and if I do smash one bedside it will crumple like a pop can until I figure out some more reinforcements on it. I painted it tonight and got the bedsides hung w/the lights in them and everything, you'll have to see it tommorow.

Originally Posted by generalee7

I like it a lot! It kind of looks like you were going for the 01tundra bed look, I dig it

I got alot of inspiration from his Tundra, his dimple dyes were a bit too much for my taste though cause I want to have a solid floor to try and keep some crap in and out.

[KStacoma]

Here are some updated pics, I made a bumper yesterday afternoon, just need to paint it today and figure out recovery points on it.

[briansc33]

Looking good! Have you figured out what you're going to do about the inside of the bed ie. floor?
I'll be starting a flatbed cage project here in the next week and although it's pricey I will most likely go with the aluminum diamond plate material.

As for a recovery point maybe some 1" stock cut into a 2"x 2" square. Drill a 7/8" hole in the center so you can run a 5/8" shackle through it and weld it on.

[KStacoma]

Originally Posted by briansc33

Looking good! Have you figured out what you're going to do about the inside of the bed ie. floor?
I'll be starting a flatbed cage project here in the next week and although it's pricey I will most likely go with the aluminum diamond plate material.

As for a recovery point maybe some 1" stock cut into a 2"x 2" square. Drill a 7/8" hole in the center so you can run a 5/8" shackle through it and weld it on.

That is the truth about diamond plate, shit it's expensive. I will be going that route too though, just got a link to a good hook up that is sort of local.

The recovery point idea you have is great, I am thinking about going to tractor supply and getting this
http://www2.northerntool.com/product-1/200336455.htm
and then making a d'ring thing like this
http://www.keystonecustomjeep.com/in...ROD&ProdID=213

[briansc33]

The only problem I can see with that would be that you may hang up on it (depending how far it's going to stick out) going up a steep accent. Backing up if you're on the wrong line could snag it. I know that's happenen to me with my current setup.
Thanks for the link! I like these http://www2.northerntool.com/product-1/200330983.htm and will be using them instead of my 1" stock idea.

[jorge espanola]

Good time with y'all last night... The taco is looking sick, the finishing touchest you've put on it since it left here are awesome. Keep it up Jamie---that's the nicest taco I've seen. Holler at me when you're ready to 4-link

EDIT: this is Rob on Ry's name...