Thoughts on Bedracks; heights, lengths, fitment...GO!

So I've searched and gathering information, called companies, and tried to get a good idea of what I want on my crewmax. After a couple weeks of researching, I've become even more conflicted, so....

I've looked at numerous bedracks, and keep coming back to the RCI rack (if anyone else has any other comparable options that are roughly in the $1k range, send away, voodoo, caliraisedLED, etc). The 58" inch rack (meant for the 6ft bed), will fit on the 5.5ft beds, which is what I'm planning on running with an extra brace ($850 total).

I want something that has a decent load rating and that fits on the truck, I'm also going to be running a Tonneau cover (RCI makes brackets to run with the BAK cover) so the rack will be approximately 3 inches taller, this leaves me with 2 options;

To run the 12 inch rack (with adapters making it 15"), which puts it just at the top of the rear window and under the third brake light, so the brake light remains visible-ish, any gear would remain semi tucked behind the cab for that super sweet Tundra aerodynamics, or...

....the 18 inch rack, which makes it 21 inches with adapters, which puts it a half inch below the third brake light, rending the brake light useless, and not quite giving me the clearance to run any lumber, tents, cartop carriers over the top of the cab (unless someone has this setup and can prove me wrong, please do).

What are the opinions on here? What have people ran in the past, or currently running that works for them? I'm planning on using it to haul gear, snowboards, lumber (Or I just roll the window down and stick it through the opening, done that before), RTT, etc.

Thanks for the insight and opinions in advance.

 

I have the 12"H/58"L RCI bed rack on my Tundra. It's a great rack and I have had no issues with it. You can view it in the link in my sig. Also have the bike rack and awning racks mounted to it. With adapters making it 15" I think it would just about perfect for rear view and still keeping aero in check if that is possible on a brick.
By the way, I'm changing things up due to changes in life...I do not know where you are located but I am selling it and my tent, if you are interested PM me.

 

Have a Voodoo steel rack, with tonneau cover brackets. I will be replacing that with a Leitner Designs rack here shortly.

 

Uptop overland!!!

 

that’s a good looking setup, what RTT is that?

 

a buddy of mine just got a Leitner rack, what’s the reason you’re switching?

 

@Spyker
https://www.areabfetents.com/product/hard-shell-roof-top-tent/

 

Victory4x4 rack with the roll up tonneau support.

https://youtu.be/n5yEuMmMdXo

 

I like the low profile of that roll up cover, he makes it seem like you kind of have to ‘make the cover work’ with that rack, which I don’t like if I’m spending $2k on a cover and rack, but I do like the setup.

 

Those are some good looking tents, how’s the customer service, have you ever had to deal with them?

 

@Spyker Luckily I have never had to deal with them. Top notch product so far. They are however located here in Colorado, so if anything were to arise at least I could head down there I suppose.
https://opengovus.com/colorado-business/20171258948

 

Once I get a rack and cover setup I’ll start exploring what tent to get, I like the ikamper series, but they are pretty expensive, the areabfe tents seem like a good option too.
Roofnest are nice, but keep hearing how shit their customer service is.

 

https://www.uptopoverland.com/collections/tundra

 

Do you mind if I ask why? Just order their crossmembers and uprights for my tundra bed w/ soft roll bed cover. wanting to use it for RTT.

 

I have the Voodoo 10" with tonneau brackets and a bakflip mx4. you would need a retrax type cover to open. tri-folds wont work with any racks I researched tent is tuffstuff alpha II

 

more pictures

 

I just pulled the trigger on this rack and the rollup cover for about $1500. Guess I'll find out how much work is needed.

 

Definitely let us know, build quality looks top notch though.

 

How did you connect the tent to the cross bars? Since it doesn’t look like the tents bottom bars reach your front & rear bars on your rack?

 

This rack has front to back cross bars. So bolted directly through them. this picture should show the front to back cross bars. They are adjustable so line up right inline with the rails on the tent platform.
.

 

I see, that’s good to know, thanks for all the photos and info.

 

Yw. hope you find a good choice for YOU...

 

All depends on what your goal is. I have two setups winter and summer. I got the ADARAC since the rail connects with the stake pockets and is compatible with the tonneau cover. It does stick out a tiny bit at the end but I can live with that for the convenience. Winter I go ice fishing and since my popup shelter doesn't fit in the bed I have the shorter uprights and a cargo box to stuff it in. Summer I swap the upright for the taller ones to carry lumber and my canoe, I did have to get saddles for the canoe as flipping it over would hit the cab. If i wanted I could put both on, and have a cargo carrier basket mounted on the shorter one and carry the canoe on top. Was thinking of getting even shorter ones but that would prevent me from rolling up the cover.

 

My Eeazi Awn...I don't think it will ever break. Oh it's for sale also. Needs have changed

 

you have it for sale on the forum? If so I’ll check it out.

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/fs-eezi-awn-blade-rtt-and-rci-bed-rack.91749/

 

LFD Off-Road; I was super happy with their rack and bumper on my 4Runner, and don't regret their bed rack for the Tundra at all.

It can slide forward/back to fit wherever works best, compatible with all the bed sizes, and available in a few different heights. Happily holds our CVT Mt Hood, ARB 2000 awning, lights under, on the back, and the sides; traction boards, hi lift, shovel, axe, etc, etc. With the CVT Mt Hood, the tallest point on the truck is the top of the sharkfin antenna on the roof. Also, I added a dual color LED to act as a 3rd brake light and dust light as the tent does block the 3rd brake light, but the rack itself does not.

Edit: It'll be for sale in a few weeks, along with the tent!

 

PM sent

 

Details please. Their Condor XL is the top of my list right now, so any customer service issues would be nice to have heads up on.


On that note, Victory 4x4 used to be a vendor on here, but their customer service regarding a few issues, and one big one, wound up getting them booted. If customer service matters to you, I wouldn't buy from them.

 

This is just from word of mouth, and buddies of mine that run their tents. The tents are constructed well and have some great features, but when they’ve called them for extra hardware, questions, etc, they have all agreed that dealing with their customer service was a pain.

I guess you could always call them and just pretend to own a tent with an issue and see how it’s handled, just a thought.