Truck Cap or Tonneau (both with a canoe rack)

Hello,

Appreciate any advice or recommendations. Meanwhile we will comb this entire site for information.
We expect to take delivery of a 2023 SR5 DC 4X4 TRD Sport this Spring. We intend to use it as a tow vehicle for our next travel trailer and transport either a single canoe or two kayaks.
It’s just the two of us. No kids or pets. No bikes. The new trailer will have a rear hitch receiver if we ever decide to get bikes.
I’m considering the A.R.E. CX Revo Truck Cap with canoe rack. I’m not thrilled by the way that new rear door fits at the bottom corners above the tailgate though.
Rarely but at times we will need to carry up to the following in our truck; portable BBQ, portable suitcase style solar panels, dual fuel generator, outdoor trailer mat, small table, two lawn chairs, firebowl, 20 lb propane tank, broom, paddles, life jackets, 3 backpacks full of gear for a 6 day canoe trip.
When we aren’t camping we rarely use the truck bed. We use a small utility trailer to haul mulch, dirt, gravel, garbage etc.

 

I suspect you're going to need a canopy to fit all that stuff. I assume this is when you're not towing the trailer? Otherwise I'd throw all the light stuff in the trailer.

 

LOL. While my list is our worst case scenario for packing, I am able to fit all of it in our 2012 Tacoma (double cab, long bed) with a tonneau cover when towing our current trailer.
The new trailer doesn’t have huge exterior storage compartments but I will be storing as much as I can in them.

 

Well, if the stuff fits in your Taco with a tonneau cover now, I'd say that's the way to go, then. Cheaper and lighter.

 

Normally I would agree, except that the challenge for us is the canoe rack. While our Tacoma has a very nice OEM roof rack on top of the cab, one does not exist for the Tundra. I’d prefer to avoid installing an aftermarket rack on the cab of the Tundra, in favour of one either on the bed or the top of a truck cap.

 

I suggest have one roof bar on the cab as well for carrying a canoe, I've done it with a 12ft with just the rack on my cap and it hangs way to far off. This is my set up now and it's perfect. The bar on the cab is easily removed and I only put it on when carrying the canoe. I used a sharpie to mark where it mounts to in the door jams to make installation faster. I store all 3 bars on the sides of my cap by utilizing L brackets on top of the mounting bolts for the cap.

 

I've seen guys with tonneau covers and canoe racks. I don't know any brands you could check out, though.

 

Thanks for the great tip. We currently have a 16’ Swift Keewaydin carbon/kevlar canoe. The kayaks are shorter. I am concerned about the overhang with only two bars on a truck cap. I don’t feel we’d need one on the truck cab if we went with the bed mounted rack.
However, I’m not a huge fan of the aftermarket racks on the cab. How do you find the Thule? Secure attachment? Does it leave marks or affect the paint?

 

Thank you. I know they exist and there are several posts on this site with photos. I’m just looking for recent advice and pros and cons of either options.

 

Yeah if you have bed racks that go high enough or even better the ones that actually extend out over the cab you'll be fine. I need a cap because I keep my dogs back there so needed a way to carry the canoe with out it hanging too far off or hitting my cab. The Thule bar is great, very quick to take on and off and it's definitely secure, I have not had any issues with it leaving any marks. I make sure to clean the area before putting it on. Id use something like this if I was going to use bed rail racks.

 

Adarac kayak racks are compatible with most bed covers. Very pleased with mine i choose this setup since i can remove & install quickly.

 

If you use a set up like this with a canoe, remember that a canoe is bent up towards the ends. If you look at the post of my canoe, it doesnt actually touch the middle bar at all. So without a cab over rack there is a chance your canoe nose will hit the cab.

 

Thanks guys. Great posts.
I am concerned about the overhang using either option, although our new Tundra will have the 6.5’ bed.

@Joe333x How long have you had that single Thule bar on your truck cab?
I expect that I would have mine on from Spring through late Fall. I’ve never used them before but assumed they would eventually cause the paint issues as the area around it would fade faster and even small dents or scratches where they attach.

Maybe I should just try them and a soft roll up tonneau first. This option would be the least expensive, lightest and easiest to resell if I changed my mind. I don’t particularly need the additional storage height that a cap affords but I do prefer the cleaner look of it over the bed rack and tonneau. No offence.

 

I only leave my bars on when actually using them. If I leave that front bar on with nothing on it, the noise it creates is extremely annoying.

 

no issues with 2 canoes on these racks at one time both upside down. Racks can be removed in under 5 mins

 

I was surprised how few options there are to run racks and tonneau together... fewer still if you want a tri-fold rather than roll-up or retract.

I went with Elevate racks and T-Slot rails, and a BakFlip.

Had some Yakimas off my old Tundra so I MacGyvered the landing pads to the the cleats that came with the Elevate system, so I have the option to run the Yakima bars down low if I want. May mount bike fork mounts to that.

I bought the Elevate rails ($200) so they could get installed at the same time as the tonneau cover, then I added the racks later.

The racks come with a high and low setting, but the low was an inch or two too short to let my tri-fold fold, and the high was way too high and kinda' goofy looking, so I drilled a new set of holes for the med height you see pictured.

I wanted them just high enough that my cover would open and my SUP's and surfboards would clear the cab.

I'm real happy with the set-up so far.











This is the high position how they come outta' the box... Ummm, No.

 

I run an adarac with a roll up tonneau. To tow with our kayaks.

the adarac is solid, i like it. The roll up is fine, but a total pain in the ass if i need to open/close it repeatedly. I would never buy this combo again. I didnt do a shell because of bikes. However, a shell would have been so much easier to use for all the stuff and been able to haul kayaks, since the adarac is basically fixed, bikes are a pain to load/unload with the rear bar in my way anyways

 

Thanks very much! We’re needing to transport either a 17’ canoe or two kayaks. I like how high those elevates sit. I just don’t know if there would be too much overhang with the canoe on there. I know some folks use a bed rack and a removable cab mounted rack when transporting canoes. I’m currently considering just trying a removable cab mounted set (Rhino Rack or Thule).
Still not sure.

 

Yeah, canoes are tricky 'cuz of how much the ends curve up. The 6.5' bed will certainly help since you could space the racks a foot farther apart than mine are.

The primary purpose for mine is to carry my 14' and wife's 12' 6" touring SUP's (and my longer surfboards that won't fit in the bed.)

The Stand-Up's are not super heavy, but definitely not light. Spacing on these is pretty similar to the Yakima racks I had on a topper on my last Tundra, I strap 'em good with quality lashing straps and never had any problems.

 

I went with a prinsu rack on the cab. I see that you don't like that idea but I couldn't figure out how to make a bed rack work and get the canoe on with the trailer. The first problem was the 17 foot canoe justs hang to far over the tailgate with bed racks and is basically touching the trailer. The other issue is mine canoe is a prospector which has a lot of rocker. (Think the way a banana is shaped) So if you use a rack on the bed it basically has to be 6 inches above the cab roof or the front of the canoe will be hitting the roof. For me the prinsu and so fabricated bars was the way to go. I can run 78" bars and 2 canoes and up to 4 kayaks if needed.

I would think you best best would be to get Yakima system to no drill attached to the cab. You can do 2 bars on the cab or 1 on the cab and then one bed rail.

Sorry I don't have a picture at the moment so I know this post is worthless just wanted to point out the rocker issues before you committed to a system.

 

OP, is it the retro trailer in your avatar pic?

It appears that the nose of that trailer almost leans forward a bit, yes? (As opposed to mine for example that slopes back)

If so, that would certainly shorten the amount of overhang you could have.

 

That is our current trailer, which we may be pulling depending on when the new truck arrives. However, the reason we ordered a new truck is because we also ordered a new trailer. It also has a fairly flat front end. It’s a Bigfoot 25B25RQ Twin Bed.
Appreciate all the feedback guys!

 

I've heard the Bigfoots are nice rigs and well constructed.

Some of the Truck Camper guys on the Lance owners forum I belong to talk about Bigfoots

 

Anybody have a preference on the manufacturer of a cap for a 2023 tundra?

 

Ended up going this route by the way. First trip is today, so we’ll see how it goes. It was nice to have full access to the truck bed for packing gear, even after the I’d loaded the kayaks. Will be testing the canoe next month. It’s out for some repairs.

Bison soft rollup tonneau, Thule square bar rack from Rack Attack and generic J hooks from Amazon.

 

Saw this setup today. Looks sturdy. I’m still not currently planning on a cap but I’ll remember this if I ever change my mind.