Inexpensive bed extender (less then 100 dollar kit)

You guys know me, I don't like buying expensive stuff and I like feeling like I got a good deal.

So, I had this amp research bed extender in my garage from when I had my 2017 Nissan titan. I was going to sell it but why when I can use it for something good.

So all I needed was the universal amp research bed extender brackets from Amazon (less then 20 bucks)






And my left over amp research hd bed extender. I have bought these for 50 bucks on marketplace and see they can still be found for less than 100 bucks all day long. this fits a full-size bed, per amp research. pn, 2293-12.



So, those inner two braces and 3 bars are movable parts. The bars are actually thinner then the outer curved bars and fit inside the outer ones by removing these three screws on each inner brace. (My fingers could only point at two crews at a time but you can see the third in the pic)




So you unscrew those screws which are torx head and pop out the little pieces they screw into and then the width of the bed extender is super easy to slide in or out.




And if you can't get the little plastic pieces to pop out, you can use your little friend, Mr. Dead blow. Mr. dead blow will break everything loose because you may have grit or something in there making the bars stick.



So anyways, break them loose and you can adjust the width or even take it apart to clean it up.




Here you need to measure where you want the pivot point to sit so the bed extender sits straight and level, and allows you to properly open the tailgate, or lock the tailgate and not allow someone to just walk off with your bed extender. The pivot point is not round. Its a button head with flats on opposite sides of the bar that goes into the universal mounts so you can only install or remove by lifting the bed extender up while in the 90 degree upright position, which is impossible to do when the tailgate is locked. See, the universal mounts won't go on in the bottom pic.




So anyways, once you have the bed extender cleaned up and moving smoothly, you have to drill and mount the universal brackets. They are held on with three screws each. For my set up, the center of the pivot point is 9" up from the bed floor and 2" forward of the tailgate surface. I marked it with a tape measure and a sharpie and then eyeballed the bracket to be centered and stuck the sharpie in each screw hole.



Then i started with a tiny drill bit and went larger till it was the size for the screws . This is the first tiny drill bit hole picture and I failed to take further pics of the bracket. I know, unfortunate, but it was 109 out and 97% humidity and I was sweating my butt off.



So once you finish the holes, put some paint in them so they dont start rusting. Then put the brackets on with the screws and paint again to fight rust some more.



Now, you adjust your bed extender and drop it on and make sure the extender swings properly. Also, adjust your tie down straps that lock into the tailgate latches.





So you should be here now:




and think you are good to go, But, make sure your tonneau actually latches. My super cheapo ebay/amazon trifold has really long latches that hit the bars when the bed extender is under the tonneau and they won't pivot to the locking position now.

So, not being one to give up on such an inexpensive, easy, and super useful mod, I went and got my handy dandy pvc pipe saw, though you can use any saw, and cut the latch handle to clear the bars.



And i sanded the edges so no one gets hurt on it.



Then i reinstalled the locks so the latch handle stays tight.




And now I have my light weight net to hold small light items and my cage to keep heavy items in the back where I can easily reach them and I have less then 100 bucks total in this hide away hd bed extender.

Very cool, I can share my custom extender if interested

Nice kit and job! I knew you were from Texas when I saw that Rudy's cup!

Nice write up. Looks like something a retired person would do.

I actually first did this in my 04 ranger before I retired, .

This one has had the same set up for 4 or 5 years

ATestBishop said:

Very cool, I can share my custom extender if interested

Click to expand...

Share it on here so we have multiple options for people

The last time I did this, to the 04 stepside ranger, I actually had to remove the whole center section and used some schedule 40 1.5" pvc to fill in since the bed was so thin on that red truck. So I have this piece still laying around, and the Nissan brackets. I wish I had the ford rail system so I could have possibly used that attaching system.

So this started as a pre-fab re-designed unit based on a old design Curt gated extender for a full size bed. It was custom fit by narrowing it precisely by sectioning and then sleeving the gate cut halfs with pre made box section sleeves. Anyway I feel it was quite lucky I believe to make it work based on educated guess. The bed is 7.5' long with this installed. Not shown is gate in down position, but the idea was to have gate lockable in both up and down position. Some other modifications helped the process as well

I didn't even know curt used to make something like that. That looks heavy duty and definitely gives you every inch of room available

It took some good research but not only is it solid, it was the maximum as far as capacity without going full custom, here is a small detail I added which are nylon spacers press fit on the 4 sliding/latching hinge bolts to give a nice finished look and comfortable grip.

Looks factory.

ATestBishop said:

So this started as a pre-fab re-designed unit based on a old design Curt gated extender for a full size bed. It was custom fit by narrowing it precisely by sectioning and then sleeving the gate cut halfs with pre made box section sleeves. Anyway I feel it was quite lucky I believe to make it work based on educated guess. The bed is 7.5' long with this installed. Not shown is gate in down position, but the idea was to have gate lockable in both up and down position. Some other modifications helped the process as well

Click to expand...

You mean you can close the tailgate with that thing in place, extended?

There's no possible way to close the factory gate with my extender installed, it all latches and locks in place. Now the gate on the extender I would like to latch... and be lockable, in 3 different orientations/positions. Being fully up/down and midway 90 degrees

In other words my extender doesn't stow in bed via a hinge with the tailgate up, in fact my extender does not rotate on a pivot point as a unit at all, but certainly the extender gate rotates 180degrees on stainless steel hinge pins and can be used as a ladder, which I haven't shown yet but could take a photo with gate down