Modding Maxzina’s Retractable Bed Tie Downs

[AbnRgr]

I just received my pair of retractable truck bed tie downs recently introduced by Maxzina. As designed, the tie downs are intended to be mounted in a fixed position ot the upper corners at the foot of the bed. For small loads I make use of an elastic mesh net that I can drape over my load and secure to multiple anchors. I would like more flexibility in employing Maxzina’s tie downs to secure oversized cargo. My goal is to mod the tie downs incorporating a fabricated bracket permitting them to be positioned and secured anywhere along the bed’s side rails. I already have that ability with my DIY anchor points.

The attached, not to scale, graphic captures my current thinking. I throw it out for comment to improve on what I have or to hear alternative suggestions. What do you think?

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[A.Bursell]

I think your idea for movable is good, but I feel like I would rather have them mounted low. Mounted high like they are, they are really only suitable for loads that are taller than they are mounted, where if they were mounted low you could use them on any load. I feel like that would be a more useful focus if you're going to customize them. Ideally it would be both! But I suppose it depends on what you carry or imagine you might carry.

 

[AbnRgr]

I think your idea for movable is good, but I feel like I would rather have them mounted low. Mounted high like they are, they are really only suitable for loads that are taller than they are mounted, where if they were mounted low you could use them on any load. I feel like that would be a more useful focus if you're going to customize them. Ideally it would be both! But I suppose it depends on what you carry or imagine you might carry.

I understand and appreciate your comments. For loads that don’t reach above the truck side walls, I rely upon my sliding Mabett bed divider and the horizontal cargo net I mentioned previously. I agree about being able to secure a strap at the lower level of the bed. I also see where, if at the rear of the bed, it would be useful in securing sheet goods or stacks of dimensional framing lumber.

 

[Blinky]

Please consider something stronger than that bracket if you ever intend to secure something heavy. You'd think 14 gauge steel is good enough but I've bent those strong-ties with my hands plenty of times, they're anything but strong.

 

[Montana]

Please consider something stronger than that bracket if you ever intend to secure something heavy. You'd think 14 gauge steel is good enough but I've bent those strong-ties with my hands plenty of times, they're anything but strong.

Nah, a piece of string is more than enough for most drivers... Apparently.

Got stuck behind one today with a snow blower in the back and rather than clean the crap out of their bed, they shoved it in as much as they could still a quarter of it on the tailgate and tied a ratchet strap around a single portion of the handle bar in a knot totally making the ratchet strap pointless. Thankfully for the rest of traffic they made the safe decisions to never get above 10mph.

 

[AbnRgr]

Please consider something stronger than that bracket if you ever intend to secure something heavy. You'd think 14 gauge steel is good enough but I've bent those strong-ties with my hands plenty of times, they're anything but strong.

I would consider doubling up on the Strong-Ties if I were to find they were flexing with use. Thanks for the comment.

 

[not null]

@dorkmatt pointed me to online part fabricator Send Cut Send. #sendcutsend

Perhaps use their part builder for your bracket, stating from something like
https://app.sendcutsend.com/customer#quote?action=builder:round_link

If you wanted to get into custom part design, I enjoyed
They have a link for 15% off https://sendcutsend.com/timwelds

Looking forward to your project

 

[Blinky]

Nah, a piece of string is more than enough for most drivers... Apparently.

Got stuck behind one today with a snow blower in the back and rather than clean the crap out of their bed, they shoved it in as much as they could still a quarter of it on the tailgate and tied a ratchet strap around a single portion of the handle bar in a knot totally making the ratchet strap pointless. Thankfully for the rest of traffic they made the safe decisions to never get above 10mph.

People are wild sometimes, not too long ago I was (far) behind a lunatic driving around in a beat up ol clunker hauling 16' roof rafters, stood up and jammed in the full width of the bed. When I passed I could only see one ratchet strap and that tailgate was hanging on for dear life.

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