DIY SwingCase Bed Stiffener

I made something for my Tundra and I figured “hey, let’s make it fun for my Tundra brothers and sisters!!” Figured I’d do it on the weekend for more user exposure.

Guess what the template below is for (you must be VERY SPECIFIC), and I’ll text or e-mail you a $25 Amazon gift card! I will only respond to the thread when I see the winning guess, then I’ll PM the potential winner to get cell or e-mail info. Contest ends at 8pm EST today 2/27/22. Good luck!

 

First of all, I need to give a HUGE shoutout to @GODZILLA for being a standup, honest member of the community. My dumbass imported the completed project pics into my media gallery before I started the contest!!He graciously PM'd me to let me know, for it was apparent what it was. He didn't cheat, and didn't even ask for the prize, but if I was feeling generous, give to the charity in his tagline. I will buy a "Ghost of Kyiv" sticker!

I wanted to get a bed stiffener for future mods, but didn't want to give up my SwingCase. So, I got a piece of 3/16" x 3" x 36" flat bar at Lowe's, and used the template to cut out the plates and the angle supports. The SwingCase bracket is about 1/8" thick (11 gauge), but with four mounting points, I feel it will be sturdy enough. The SwingCase bracket is about 11" high vertically vs. the bed stiffeners from Rago, Total Chaos, etc. being about 15" - 16" high, but still, I think it will provide enough support.

I took the parts to a buddy of mine to weld to the SwingCase bracket. Then, I painted it all with truck bed liner. It looks fine by my standards, and I believe will function well in its dual-purpose. Thanks to ALL who participated...this was fun!!

 

Cool idea!

I have no idea but I'm in for the reveal!

 

Shark-tundra?

 

Cat theft deterant daggers?

 

Bumper step bracket ?

 

All great guesses but no. Keep ‘em coming!

 

Holy shite!
Finally something to complement those dangly balls hanging from the hitch.

 

Is there an angle/bend here or is it flat?

 

It’s flat…

 

Homemade bed stiffener? Hole looks like it could be for one of the bed bolts.

 

I thought that too as a bed stiffener to use with a passenger side bed case. But not sure what it would accomplish without an upright support.

 

Does it mount to a seat bolt?

 

Getting closer!!

 

No.

 

It looks like it goes from the front passenger side bed bolt to the front passenger corner of the bed. The vertical “fin” would mate up with an angled plate that would be screwed into the tie down mount in the corner. Not sure how complete a part this is.

Can we keep guessing?

Frame for a bed-mounted spare?

 

Y’all are so close! I’ll tell you the reason I only made one template is that you can remove the “fin”, flip the template over, put the “fin” on the opposite face, and you have the template for the driver’s side…here’s a mirrored pic…
I can tell you it doesn’t screw into the tie down mount, so…

 

Chase rack

 

Previous posts were on the right “homemade” track…and I may be giving too good of a hint here, but…what does the “fin” mount to?

 

The hole looks like it’s for a bed bolt. The angle makes me think the plate goes diagonally to a corner of the bed. Thinking front corner.

 

Holden you are SO CLOSE you're on fire!!

 

It goes under the bed? To brace a larger spare?

 

No, @Squatting Pigeon is definitely on the right track as far as location goes, but again, what does the fin mount to? I really want to give another clue, but y'all are almost there...one more hint would probably give it away...

 

To the wheel well?

 

The sheet metal of the bed is too thin to be used as a weld point to the "fin"...and I did not fab my own mounting plate for the bed to used as a weld point for the "fin"...

 

Did ya get a camper for the bed and design some little stabilizers?

 

Sliding rail or swing out stow box mount