One overloaded trailer, one hard landing, or one too many trips with 2,000 lbs of gravel and your Tacoma bed starts cracking at the front wall. These HotMetalFab 3/16" steel stiffeners lock the entire front bed wall into a solid unit no more flex, no more fractures, and the perfect foundation for our UtiliGate internal swing-out.
Why Every Serious Tacoma Needs These
- 3/16" thick American steel – overbuilt on purpose
- Full-length backside nut strip – maximum clamping surface, zero pull-through
- Reversible brackets – install left or right however you want
- Heim joint receiver tabs already welded on – ready for future trail repairs or swing-out arms
- Required base for the HotMetalFab UtiliGate internal tailgate swing-out
- Stops bed cracks even under contractor-level abuse
Install Is Stupid Easy
- 30 minutes total
- Only two 3/8" holes to drill (we mark exactly where)
- All hardware + nut strip included
- Reversible design – no wrong way to bolt them on
Frequently Asked Questions
Do these really stop bed cracks?
Yes — hundreds of Tacomas running them for years with zero new cracks, even on 37s and heavy campers.
Do I need them for the UtiliGate swing-out?
100% yes. The swing-out bolts directly to these stiffeners.
Will they fit with a bed cap or tonneau?
Yes — they sit inside the bed rail height.
Heim joints included?
No — tabs only. Add your own 5/8" or 3/4" heims whenever you’re ready.
Finish?
Ships bare steel — paint, powder coat, or bedline to match your build.
Shipping & lead time?
FREE shipping in the continental US. 2–3 weeks fabrication + shipment.
One stiffener or a pair?
Always a pair — driver + passenger side included.