Let's talk Bed Racks for Tonneau Covers

[AdventureLab]

We have had a ton of requests to adapt our existing bed rack design to the various tonneau covers on the market. We're doing that today! Yes, unfortunately on Sunday. Raptor Rally is coming up in a few days, so I'm trying to cram this into our booth before we pull out for the show on Wednesday. We'll have the Raptor R and Ranger Raptor in the booth.

I would love to hear your input and ask you to complete the poll so we can gauge interest on what style tonneau cover you have.

Yes, this is a Raptor R in the video, but the design will remain the same and port over to the Ranger easily.

So, what would you like to see in a bed rack? What options? What would you use it for? Here's your chance to influence the design.

Vehicle balance and center of gravity is very important to us. We will have the version you see in the CAD rendering that is as low as possible, just high enough to clear the latch on the sliding covers. We'll also have slightly taller versions that will clear the roll up covers. We'll also have a version that works with the covers that sit on top of the entire rail.

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[AdventureLab]

Update for the evening.

 

[Dubfound]

Think it could fit with a lowmax?

 

[Arsenall11]

My chase rack runs on the slots, no drilling!

 

[AdventureLab]

Think it could fit with a lowmax?

Not this one, but we could definitely build one that does. That's why I put the survey up there; to see what everyone was interested in.

 

[Gravitylost]

IMO the market is lacking attractive chase racks that are compatible with tonneau covers. There are a few, but many are too vertical and are more of a roll bar than a useable chase rack. That would be really cool combo.

 

[clarke]

I measured my Bak 4XS when it is rolled up and in the process of being rolled up. When I roll mine up it is not a perfect circle and peaks at 8" tall. By the time it is fully rolled up, it is a little over 7". If full height bars are off the table, I'd want bars that are 10" on the bottom of the bar. At that height I could still get into the bed to get stuff with a rooftop tent and the rooftop tent would probably be under or in line with the cab roofline.

Things I would use bars for:
1) Canoe (That would require full height bars or some sort of adapter kit that would bolt on an increase the height to the roof line. e.g. rail for the rail.)
2) Roof Top Tent (I think that having the bottom of the cross bar at 10" would get the tent pretty close to being in line with the cab roof for aero.)
3) Mounting a 180 or 270 degree awning (would probably need something closer to full height bars though).

If you did bars at that height, would it be possible to make a kit that attaches to the cross bar to make it thicker an in line with the roof for items like canoes?

 

[AdventureLab]

I measured my Bak 4XS when it is rolled up and in the process of being rolled up. When I roll mine up it is not a perfect circle and peaks at 8" tall. By the time it is fully rolled up, it is a little over 7". If full height bars are off the table, I'd want bars that are 10" on the bottom of the bar. At that height I could still get into the bed to get stuff with a rooftop tent and the rooftop tent would probably be under or in line with the cab roofline.

If you did bars at that height, would it be possible to make a kit that attaches to the cross bar to make it thicker an in line with the roof for items like canoes?

I was planning for an 8" gap for the roll up covers. Every inch helps with center of gravity and leverage. Keep in mind it would be 8" at the bars. The rest of the rack could/would be open depending on what you had for rack accessories (ie. some of our trays extend to the bottom of the rails).

For the kayaks, if you're talking about some sort of riser, that wouldn't be a problem. We could do some really cool stuff with that much room.

 

[AdventureLab]

IMO the market is lacking attractive chase racks that are compatible with tonneau covers. There are a few, but many are too vertical and are more of a roll bar than a useable chase rack. That would be really cool combo.

That's what I'm hoping. We have the capability to design and produce these very quickly, so I'm hoping to get these going soon!

Please let me know if there are features that would be helpful for you.

 

[clarke]

I was planning for an 8" gap for the roll up covers. Every inch helps with center of gravity and leverage. Keep in mind it would be 8" at the bars. The rest of the rack could/would be open depending on what you had for rack accessories (ie. some of our trays extend to the bottom of the rails).

For the kayaks, if you're talking about some sort of riser, that wouldn't be a problem. We could do some really cool stuff with that much room.

A riser is what I was referring to for raising it up to roof level for Canoes. My Canoes are 16.5' and 19', so I need to be able to clear the roof. For whitewater kayaks, I assume that any height will work over the bed, since they would only stick out a few feet out the back.

One thing I notices from the images you posted was that you'll need to change the angle of the vertical section or somehow offset the more towards the outside of the bed rails. At the current angle, it looks like the Bak 4XS will collide with it when you are rolling it up.

 

[Gravitylost]

That's awesome to hear. So many of the racks are too vertical, sit too high, have childish welded imprints like AK-47s, etc. If there was something that could sit at exactly cab height, have an open track across the entire top length for light attachments (instead of limiting an owner to 4 light mount holes), have molle style sides for gear attachments, and be at least 1/3 to 1/2 bed in rail length like a traditional trophy truck chase rack, that would be amazing. Especially if it sat on the outside bed tops outside of the bed cover, allowing the t-slots of the bed cover to be used for an additional bed rack for cases, spare wheels, etc. -MM

 

[AdventureLab]

A riser is what I was referring to for raising it up to roof level for Canoes. My Canoes are 16.5' and 19', so I need to be able to clear the roof. For whitewater kayaks, I assume that any height will work over the bed, since they would only stick out a few feet out the back.

One thing I notices from the images you posted was that you'll need to change the angle of the vertical section or somehow offset the more towards the outside of the bed rails. At the current angle, it looks like the Bak 4XS will collide with it when you are rolling it up.

You're exactly right about the angle. I noticed that from some of the earlier photos that were posted of the rolled up cover. I'm actually looking forward to that design challenge. I have some ideas, but the last thing I want is a vertical rail sticking out like a sore thumb. I'll probably work on that in the next few days, hopefully before the weekend, but I need to see how the workload goes while I'm at Raptor Rally.

I really appreciate you sending the photos of the measurements. That's exactly the reason I like doing these types of posts/projects here. That's the reason I feel like the launch discount is warranted. You guys are helping; we should return the favor.

 

[AdventureLab]

That's awesome to hear. So many of the racks are too vertical, sit too high, have childish welded imprints like AK-47s, etc. If there was something that could sit at exactly cab height, have an open track across the entire top length for light attachments (instead of limiting an owner to 4 light mount holes), have molle style sides for gear attachments, and be at least 1/3 to 1/2 bed in rail length like a traditional trophy truck chase rack, that would be amazing. Especially if it sat on the outside bed tops outside of the bed cover, allowing the t-slots of the bed cover to be used for an additional bed rack for cases, spare wheels, etc. -MM

Thanks for the feedback!

I think leaving the track open is definitely an option, but only for some of the covers. On the F150 I'm working on now, that wouldn't be an option. The track covers too much of the bed rail. Maybe the Ranger will be different, but I haven't seen any good photos of the Retrax on the Ranger, admittedly I haven't had much time to look yet, though.

For covers like the BAK Revolver, this is probably possible. We can get to most of the bed rail with that one.

Dang, so I can't cut AK-47's into the rack???? No chance of that happening.

 

[clarke]

You're exactly right about the angle. I noticed that from some of the earlier photos that were posted of the rolled up cover. I'm actually looking forward to that design challenge. I have some ideas, but the last thing I want is a vertical rail sticking out like a sore thumb. I'll probably work on that in the next few days, hopefully before the weekend, but I need to see how the workload goes while I'm at Raptor Rally.

I really appreciate you sending the photos of the measurements. That's exactly the reason I like doing these types of posts/projects here. That's the reason I feel like the launch discount is warranted. You guys are helping; we should return the favor.

If you come up with some designs and can send me a template I can print out, I can cut out and build a cardboard vertical section for rough fitment if that would be helpful at all. For the BAK X4S, I also have an idea to that I can write up later for how to handle the side rails. I'm thinking of mocking up a 3D print gasket, that I can print with TPU. It would cover up the hole and the rail cover and would prevent scratching on the side rails for the tanneau cover.

 

[Gravitylost]

Thanks for the feedback!

I think leaving the track open is definitely an option, but only for some of the covers. On the F150 I'm working on now, that wouldn't be an option. The track covers too much of the bed rail. Maybe the Ranger will be different, but I haven't seen any good photos of the Retrax on the Ranger, admittedly I haven't had much time to look yet, though.

For covers like the BAK Revolver, this is probably possible. We can get to most of the bed rail with that one.

Dang, so I can't cut AK-47's into the rack???? No chance of that happening.

LOL - to better visualize what I mean, think Armordillo CR1 sitting on the bed sides with an EGR rolltrac installed. The bed cover sits on rails inside the bed and has T-slots, so an additional rack can be installed on the bed cover inside the reach of the headache rack. That's my current planned setup, but with how my checking account is configured, it's a 2026-27 goal.

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