Bedrack/RTT w/ Canopy?

[chriswh86]

Hi All,

I have a 98 Toyota Tacoma with a free basic thin walled aluminum canopy. I doubt the canopy can hold a roof top tent. I was thinking about getting the allpro packrack thing which solves my concern with weight on the cheap free canopy I have.

However, I like that I can store things in the canopy! I am wondering, has anyone build a skeleton around their canopy for a roof top tent or something with weight. Is it worth it.

If not, are there some GOOD storage solutions out there for carrying all your camping gear out in the open? I am worried about easy access to all my gear from people etc.

Thanks!

 

[surlydiesel]

I've always wanted one of these, though I currently have an A.R.E Utility Shell with a ladder rack, so no need.

http://www.kargomaster.com/products...l-mini-mid-size-trucks-with-camper-shell.html

-jorge

 

[chriswh86]

What do most of you run? Do you go with a canopy like fiberglass and attach a RTT to it or go canopy-less and run a packrack style bar setup with a roof top tent? Its new to me and I am unsure if I want to remove the canopy and go that route or leave it on and build a rack around it.

I know I can lock up most everything that will be exposed in the bed but I am still wondering.

 

[Benc]

The one I built for my old truck


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mrknowitall]

The whole open bed rack thing is fine if you're somewhere dry. It's not dry on the Island, or anywhere else in the PNW for that matter. What I would do in your place would depend on fabrication skills/facilities. If you can get some tubing bent and welded to some 1/8x2" angle, you could make some nice hoops to go inside the cap, then sandwich the roof to those to carry the load. If not, I would try to sell the one you have and get a fiberglass (or other strong) cap. Many people (myself included) have carried lots of load on a glass cap w/o extra support structure.

 

[cam-shaft]

I built a aluminum cage in mine. I was not looking to see how much weight I could haul on my canopy because it is rated for 300lbs. It is more to take the extra weight off the bedsides and provide some storage and tie down areas and a mounting location for my pressurized water tank system. I have added cross pieces and working on a 2nd level but no current pics. Here is an old pic of the start. I'm not a huge fan of a bunch of heavy roof weight. As far as not running a canopy, well I just can't make any sense of the bed rack systems for me. They look kinda neat but not real practical in my mind, you cant beat the dry storage of a canopy.
Cameron

 

[Plannerman]

I built a aluminum cage in mine. I was not looking to see how much weight I could haul on my canopy because it is rated for 300lbs. It is more to take the extra weight off the bedsides and provide some storage and tie down areas and a mounting location for my pressurized water tank system. I have added cross pieces and working on a 2nd level but no current pics. Here is an old pic of the start. I'm not a huge fan of a bunch of heavy roof weight. As far as not running a canopy, well I just can't make any sense of the bed rack systems for me. They look kinda neat but not real practical in my mind, you cant beat the dry storage of a canopy.
Cameron

Love this set up

 

[Mike S]

Two simple and pratical solutions…

1. Swap your rack for a fiberglass cap (ARE is what I have on my F350). I am using Yakima tracks bolted through the top of the cap and sealed with Sikaflex. Most FG shells today have a double construction on the top with some type of stiffening between the two layers. These are quite rigid and strong enough to carry the tent and reasonable static loads when the tent is occupied.

2. Buy (or construct) an external 'ladder rack' which will surround the cap and support the tent and a significant additional load. This will rest on the bed rails and may extend forward over the cab.

Please do NOT attach a rack to both the cap and the truck cab. Due to the flexing of the truck chassis and bed section you will eventually experience problems. Could be very dangerous, in fact.

 

[Rattler]

I would love to have a commercial/utility-style cap with all the doors on the sides. I could finish the inside the way I wanted too (maybe bed drawers or something?). The one I priced out was around $2k though. I do have a contact keeping an eye out for one used. The other option would be to find a utility bed also (like what the power company may have on theirs). There was an ad in an auto trader for a place in IN that sells a lot of used ones. They were running $50-1200.