05+ Tacoma Over Cap Racks

[dodecagon2000]

The "Tacoma Rack" is a Rack-It rack, they just re-badged it. It's what I have on my Tacoma, the way it's attached is great

the "tacoma rack" is a bolt together though.

 

[DesertBoater]

I don't mean to hijack, but I've been wondering about a cabover rack for a while. The biggest issue that I have is that my Century cap has a skirt on it which hangs down below the bedrails. The plus to this is that my bed is always completely dry, the downside is that i'd have to modify it rather heavily to allow for an inside frame, bedrail plates, etc to fit. Is this what you all are doing with your rack/topper combination? or are your toppers not skirted?

Cheers,
West

 

[Expedition Key]

the "tacoma rack" is a bolt together though.

, yeah I missed that on their website.

 

[Expedition Key]

I don't mean to hijack, but I've been wondering about a cabover rack for a while. The biggest issue that I have is that my Century cap has a skirt on it which hangs down below the bedrails. The plus to this is that my bed is always completely dry, the downside is that i'd have to modify it rather heavily to allow for an inside frame, bedrail plates, etc to fit. Is this what you all are doing with your rack/topper combination? or are your toppers not skirted?

Cheers,
West

The options for cabover rack with cap are,

1. Order cap without skirt.
2. Cut out notches for where the tabs supporting the upright bars protrude. (This can be quite difficult with a solid rack to maneuver the cap under the rack and drop into place because depending on how deep the skirt is, you will be sliding on the skirt going in and therefore the cap is that much higher usually hitting the top of the rack. It can be done with the solid rack, but you need to maneuver the cap into the rack before installing both together. A bolt together would eliminate this problem if assembled in a complementary way.)
3. Cut the entire skirt off if you have an existing cap with skirt. This is what I did on my Tacoma (easier said than done to get a straight good looking cut, I used my Festool track saw with a multitude of custom clams to make the cut. Luckily it came out as good as or better than the factory edge.)

As you already mentioned, the benefits of the skirt are huge when it comes to water protection. If I had to do it again, I'd notch and install the two together to keep the skirt.

My .02

Kye

 

[WASURF63]

I don't mean to hijack, but I've been wondering about a cabover rack for a while. The biggest issue that I have is that my Century cap has a skirt on it which hangs down below the bedrails. The plus to this is that my bed is always completely dry, the downside is that i'd have to modify it rather heavily to allow for an inside frame, bedrail plates, etc to fit. Is this what you all are doing with your rack/topper combination? or are your toppers not skirted?

Cheers,
West

West,

I also had a canopy (Leer 100R) with a skirted edge and rack combo on my previous rig.
The mod for this is not too heavy duty.
I made a 2" x 4" template, marked the four locations for bed rail mounting plates, and cut out the slots with a Dremmel tool. This allows a snug fit and retains the dry bed quality of your skirted canopy.

WS

 

[Crooked Beat]

I am very happy with my Renegade XT.
I take it off for the winter and that will hopefully allow no rust from the salt used on roads. It will be the last rack that I have to make or buy. It adjusts from compact truck to full size.
WASURF63 helped out a lot in the planning stages last year. Thanks!!

 

[ETAV8R]

Wasurf-What kind of rack is that? Very similar to what I'm now thinking of doing but with an Undercover Tonneau instead of a cap/shell. I would prefer not to cut the tonneau or find another brand which might work better with the cabover rack to hold a maggiolina airtop. Thanks.
:smiley_drive:

edit:
Found this-
http://www.off-roadweb.com/adventures/0611or_2004_toyota_tacoma/photo_01.html

So essentially something of a hybrid between this one and Wasurfs to allow my tonneau to function and remain in place as well!