Installing factory bed rail system with factory bed-liner myself?

My 2015 DC 6.5' bed has the Toyota OEM liner installed no rail system. I found the $200 Bed Rail System Kit I want to install. I don't understand how to install the Bed Rail System with the factory bed liner? I watched a video that has both, but can't see up close enough to how they work together. Do the rails mount to the liner - or do I need to cut a section of the liner where the rails go?

 

Interested in this too

 

Do you mean the drop-in liner? If so, you probably need to cut it to have clearance, or at least to be able to see where to drill holes. They make two different liners from factory, one with room for rails, one without.

 

Yea, the drop-in liner. My liner does not have room for rails. It looks like the top edges of the liner tuck up behind the factory bed rail caps.

 

I just did this install today and really stripped all the bolts that held the strip to the bed. It looked like the holes matched up and they were already threaded but under up stripping the bolts, the bolt heads and probably the bed threats too. Agghhhh!!!

 

- Screw some studs into the existing rail mount holes.
- Drop in your liner and press it against the studs to make a visible indent in the liner.
- Drill a hole in the liner at each indent.
- Remove the studs, and install the rails with the appropriate bolts.

 

So the liner has to be removed? Is that a PITA? Do the bed rail caps have to be removed?

 

This.

 

In your situation I think so, so you can go the stud route described above.

 

Bought mine used but rail just covered the top of the liner. It finished the edge and helped hold the sides of the liner down. It's a OEM. I just placed it in and screwed in the rail system. Rails weren't in when I took delivery.

 

First thing you should do, is get rid of the plastic drop in liner, they ain't worth a shit, spend the money on a spray in liner. Well worth it.

 

This. I switched to a LineX spray in a few months ago. Love it. Well worth the money.

 

I’ve had multiple bed liners for 20 years.
I always did Line-X and Rhino, and a DIY.
To be honest - they won’t last for what I do. I live on acreage and the back of my bed will get beat to shit. Hauling a few boulders in my 1 ton damaged/dented the bed pretty bad. The dents look like complete shit.
The plastic liner prevents that, unlike the spray ins.

Just this last weekend we cut a bed full of wood for firewood while camping. It was such a nice relief to toss logs in the back without fear of denting the bed.

On top of that, the spray ins look nice for a few years, then turn gray. I never liked that.

If the factory liner is considered shitty because of fitment, that doesn’t bother me one bit. Mine seems to fit fine, sure it’s not perfect - but I’d trade not a perfect fit for peace of mind not denting or beating the shit out of my bed.

 

Did you have to take off the bed rail caps?

 

The bed rail kit wasn't in yet. Came packaged up. Dropped in the liner and then installed the rails.

 

Toyota told me the liner has to be yaken out and you have to cut it below the rail.

 

I’m almost positive this is what I’m going to have to do.

 

This^^^
A working truck likes the drop in liner!
Spray ins are for road princess’. Hahahha

 

Until you take that drop in out and see the mayhem it did on ur bed lol. I took mine out and couldnt believe how it looked.

 

If the drop in comes out, a new one goes in ;-) Always the same color and no dented bed.
There’s always the option to Linex after a drop in is removed too if that’s what the next owner wants to do.

Shoveling river rock out of the back here in the next few weekends (not big enough job for dumptruck load and the Kubota). I always hated a metal shovel on a linex bed. Looking forward to not giving a shit with the drop in

 

You could be right, but my bed is not rusting from underneath after routine inspection. I’d be stupid to think between the bed and drop in doesn’t have abrasions and surface rust from the drop liner rub so yeah you are correct again. As far as mayhem I’m sure there would be plenty more mayhem without the drop in as the spray on stuff has no cushion for gouging/pounding type occurences. Plus as mentioned by another poster above the spray in fades gray and needs touch up. I like the action of the drop liner when sliding drywall and other heavy items into/around the cargo area. The spray liner texture acts like heavy grit sandpaper that clogs up and prevents easily sliding material. Like I said a working mans truck and just personal opinion which really doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of life. And yeah as Boosted above says, shoveling with a spray liner is a pita. Each option has its place. Spray liner is not for me.

 

http://toyotaparts.sparkstoyota.com/install/PT278-34071inst.pdf

 

Have a 2019 with factory spray in liner. Seems they sprayed over the holes. How the hell do I install now? Can’t even see where the holes would be.