Toyota 4Runner: How To Protect Rear Cargo Mat Plastic Trim

1st generation Toyota 4Runner rear cargo mat plastic trim reinforcement.

Used 1 piece of 1/8" x 1-1/2"W x 48"L aluminum flat bar from Home Depot along with 5 - 10-24 flat head machine screws, 1/4" nylon spacers and thread inserts to beef up the 38 year old plastic trim piece.

Cut in 1/2" from each end approx. 2" towards the center and bend the ends up to match the curve of the trim. Then mark, bend and trim the ends to fit over the trim, file the edges smooth. Mark and drill 5 holes to line up with the screw holes in the bed.

I found the original barbed plastic thread inserts were very loose. I had tried gluing them in place many times over the years, but they always broke loose. So I drilled out the square holes with a letter N drill bit and popped some 10-24 rivnuts in place. Be sure to add some 1/4" tall spacers on top of the inserts to support the plastic trim. Now, the screws through the aluminum can be screwed down tight to make the whole rear trim piece very solid.

Aluminum flat bar:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-1-2-in-x-48-in-Aluminum-Flat-Bar-with-1-8-in-Thick-801987/204273937
https://amzn.to/3t1wSj3

Rivet-nuts:
https://amzn.to/3PNQe4b
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/rivnuts/thread-size~10-24/

Spacers for the screws, ~1/4" tall:
https://amzn.to/3Rv7s7C
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/spacers/nylon-unthreaded-spacers/screw-size~no-10/

Killer Toy Tops:
https://killertoytops.com/

Some web archive links to soft top companies mentioned.
Kayline Mfg.:
https://web.archive.org/web/19990428193849/http://www.kaylinetops.com/
Specialty Top Co.:
https://web.archive.org/web/20010819040832/http://www.specialtytopco.com/
Can-Back:
https://web.archive.org/web/20010202070000/http://www.can-back.com/

#4Runner #softtop