05+ Tacoma w/cap Rack Options?

[maineman]

Aargh. I'm hating this composite bed more everyday. I have an 06 Tacoma xtracab with a fg cap (about 6'' higher than cab) and can't find a decent rack. The current Thule system is going to break and crack the cap one of these trips back from the lumberyard. On older generation toyotas, I've always used pre-fabbed around-the-cap pipe racks that mounted to exterior plates bolted through the top of the bed side rails. These were relatively cheap and easily handled the load requirements. They also allowed me to use the cool end of truck/cap tent system that I love so much. The truck supply places around here all say I have little choice but to build a flatbed. I'd love that, but it's out of fiscal reach for now.
Any rack suggestions would be very, very appreciated.
As always, thanks for your help.

 

[Dave Bennett]

You can build a rack that will wrap around the shell, and tie it in to the stock rail system using the OEM parts here: http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=48322&postcount=241

Use your imagination, it CAN be done!

And that composite bed is tougher than you think

 

[Spikepretorius]

I use this rack. Sorry it's the only pic I could find in a hurry. I carry ladders and timber etc for work. I just make sure not to have too much weight towards the front- that's just to support the longer stuff.

Loosen just 4 bolts and the rack comes off. The small "feet" stay attached to the canopy. The underside of the canopy was reinforced under the feet.

I can haul out better pics if needed.

 

[maineman]

Thanks for the ideas.
Tacodoc, your rack (your whole truck!) is absoluteley first class all the way. If I used your full length angle iron set-up and welded on some plates to move the rails outboard (so that the rack goes around the cap), do you think the stock composite bed and the sheet metal on the top of the bed sides would handle the weight and stresses? The jokers at my local truck accessories store don't think so.
Spike, thanks for the photo. Your rack looks great. But I sometimes have to carry several hundred pounds of green lumber and I worry that, with any rack mounted directly to the cap, my fg cap is going to crack to smithereens.

 

[Dave Bennett]

That composite bed has a steel substructure (just look where the tailgate latch pillars are, they're steel) and any rack system (including mine) places the load on top of this clamping it down on top of the bed rails. The rail system attachment just keeps it from sliding.

Obviously, side to side or "shearing forces" are of concern and this is why we used the angle iron... it acts as a backup and reinforces the top edges of the bed by tying the whole works together.

You could even fab legs that go down to the bed mounting bolts, tying the whole rack directly to the frame and that could support quite a bit of green lumber.

I have many hard off road miles on this system and so far it has been problem free.

 

[maineman]

Thank you Dave. One more time, I'm inspired by one of your ideas and then I steal it. I owe you.

 

[heeltoe989]

I love my composite bed and carry allot of rough stuff in the back as well as allot of weight and it hasn't failed me yet. I like the fact that it doesn't dent and its easy to drill through and it doesn't crack when you drill into it like steel can.

PS - If TACODOC has done it you'll know it will work!

I intend to build a light exo cage around the truck when I build my rack.