*Please note these are modifications and photos provided by the customer, and are not in any way tested buy Squareone Creations.
]]>Here is a continuously updated list as more an more compatible* bed covers and accessories are discovered.
*These are all based on customer, and not explicitly tested by Squareone Creations, so results may very and compatibility cannot be 100% guaranteed.
]]>I also needed the ability to use my bed while bringing my bikes with when going on camping trips. Basically keeping the bed free and clear while having the ability to have a bike with me was one of the main goals for developing the SideRide
]]>The front bed rail is needed with our SideRide Bike Mounts because it provides a secondary anchor point for the mount to attach to. Also, the mounts act as an additional and very sturdy tie down point for your bed.
To add the rail (part number PT278-35100-BH) simply source one from Amazon or your local Toyota parts dealer. Some folks even scavenge them from 2nd gen Tacomas (2005 - 2015) in junkyards.
The install is quite simple once the part is obtained:
So I moved onto using a hitch rack. This made the truck's departure angle atrocious while at the same time adding several feet to an already long rear end. I also didn't like the fact that a hitch rack blocked my tailgate for easy bed access.
After ruling out a tailgate pad and hitch rack, I experimented by transferring my roof mounted bike trays from my car to my truck's roof rack. That was a great spot for bikes except that the overall height of my truck was very tall, and that lifting your bike up over your head after a long ride wasn't always fun.
So after all the experience using existing methods I decided to develop a new place to put bikes. I decided the sides of the bed were perfect, as it wasn't too tall to lift a bike up to, and it wasn't going to take up any bed space. After some measuring I knew I wanted to keep these as close to the side as possible, so they didn't protrude too far when a bike is not mounted. I had to balance mounting them too close to the bedside that a pedal would hit my Softopper or other accessories. After a lot of time measuring, developing, and testing, the SideRide was born!
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