Did I install my bed rails incorrectly? (08 Tundra)

[phobos512]

I just picked up a set of bed rails for my 08 DC off of EBay. They didn't come with instructions as they were takeoffs.

Last night I installed them onto the truck. Took no time at all. Lined everything up, bolted em on, etc.

However, I came online last night and was reading about them and found that I may have done something incorrectly. I was unable to insert the sliding grey cleats into the bed rails after they were installed, I had to loosen them up and slide them in. I read in the instructions from Sparks Toyota that the cleats don't come from the factory installed in the rails, and I also read that if you put the rails on in a particular way the cleats will be non-removable.

I'm planning on taking off one of the rails when I get home to find the directional indicator that the Sparks instructions mention so I can see, but does this sound like what I did (put the left rail on the right side upside down and backwards, and vice versa)?

They look really cool though, glad I got 'em.

[ramoine]

Thanks for the install tips !

[08CREWMAXX]

thanks for the heads up since i will be doing self install also

[Deznutjob]

Originally Posted by phobos512

I just picked up a set of bed rails for my 08 DC off of EBay. They didn't come with instructions as they were takeoffs.

Last night I installed them onto the truck. Took no time at all. Lined everything up, bolted em on, etc.

However, I came online last night and was reading about them and found that I may have done something incorrectly. I was unable to insert the sliding grey cleats into the bed rails after they were installed, I had to loosen them up and slide them in. I read in the instructions from Sparks Toyota that the cleats don't come from the factory installed in the rails, and I also read that if you put the rails on in a particular way the cleats will be non-removable.

I'm planning on taking off one of the rails when I get home to find the directional indicator that the Sparks instructions mention so I can see, but does this sound like what I did (put the left rail on the right side upside down and backwards, and vice versa)?

They look really cool though, glad I got 'em.

Phobos, it sounds like that's exactly what you did! Let us know for sure when you find out will ya?

[phobos512]

Ok I figured it out.

The rails themselves only go on one way. I would have saved myself lots of trouble if I had waited to put the cleats on until after I had the rails all done.

The cleats will go on two ways but only one way will allow them to be removed (or inserted) AT ALL once the rails are mounted. If you look at the mounting rail on the cleat itself, you'll see that on one end of the rail the rail just starts, whereas on the other end of the rail the cleat material extends as a block for about 2 inches in front of where the rail starts. I had them in with the block end toward the rear of the truck. If you put them in that way, the block comes out and hits the side of the bed before the rails can disengage. However, if you flip it over and put the block part to the INSIDE of the truck rail (in other words, pointing to the front of the truck), they come on and off with ease, even with the tailgate up and locked (which is how people come to be concerned with theft).

In summary (looking at a cleat from the top down, forgive my Paint skills):

[Mickey]

Originally Posted by phobos512

I just picked up a set of bed rails for my 08 DC off of EBay. They didn't come with instructions as they were takeoffs.

Last night I installed them onto the truck. Took no time at all. Lined everything up, bolted em on, etc.

However, I came online last night and was reading about them and found that I may have done something incorrectly. I was unable to insert the sliding grey cleats into the bed rails after they were installed, I had to loosen them up and slide them in. I read in the instructions from Sparks Toyota that the cleats don't come from the factory installed in the rails, and I also read that if you put the rails on in a particular way the cleats will be non-removable.

I'm planning on taking off one of the rails when I get home to find the directional indicator that the Sparks instructions mention so I can see, but does this sound like what I did (put the left rail on the right side upside down and backwards, and vice versa)?

They look really cool though, glad I got 'em.

I have the bed rails. I bought extra cleats also. To remove or install extra cleats there is a small black end cap that comes off to open the rail. Now on the cleat you have to loosen the slide up a bit by turning black knob to either compress spring or the other way decompress spring. Then to slide it on you need to make the small metal oval slide into the rail and you can compress the spring bypushing on the big black knob. Now the cleats can slide to each end of the rail but you have a couple of areas that the cleat snaps into place. These are preset areas where most likely you will use them. You can by pass those by compressing the spring pushing on the black knob. Hope this helps. I only used mines twice so far.

[Toxarch]

If you install the cleats backwards before you install the rail, then nobody can steal your cleats without removing the entire rail.

[YB929RR]

I have the bed rail system too....haven't even used them yet but they were a snap to install...saved $80 doing it myself as the dealer forgot to install them before I picked up my truck.