Well, I will take the blame for you just finding the channel... I'm just barley getting started. Thanks for watching... hopefully the videos are helpful.
Thanks bud 2 years later and your videos are still saving the people money. I’ve been researching for a while now and this is exactly what I needed to hear from someone other than my self. I was starting to think I was overthinking it. Thanks again 👍🏼
I knew there had to be more to it then slapping a rack on the back of my JT. Very helpful information. Saved me.. better yet saved everybody that watched this video from making the same mistake. Thank you very much.
Glad it was helpful - Since making this video I tested a few more bed racks and was most impressed with the UpTop Overland racks... really good engineering, Aluminum so helps with weight and much better mounting. Might be worth checking out.
Congratulations! You've just sold me on finally buying a tube steel bender so I can make my own rack. I've never trusted racks that mount to the bed rails, and still have not purchased a bed rack because of it. Hopefully I can design one strong enough for a lot of off-road use. I practically live out of my truck while working all over the country, and a overland build seems to be the ticket, I've just never trusted anything that's using the sliding rails.
Hey bud i know this is late, but great video....I'm a gunsmith by trade and if i know one thing, it's vibrations and screws don't mix well.....Best thing to do, is to by some blue locktite and their "Klean n prime"....the blue loctite is a great thread locker and is easily removed with just regular hand tools (it's used to keep screws in place from extreme vibration)...just make sure you spray the klean n prime on there, anaerobic primer and activator just incase you're using stainless screws...but either way it's excellent to use to degrease the nuts and bolts before applying the loctite!...good luck sir!
Totally addicted to this channel, incredibly helpful info especially for those of us looking to get into this for the firs time. I plan to start easy for short weekend trips into the OR coast range, it'll mostly be forrest service and logging roads for now. Your videos have been fantastic for determining the right level of "crazy" I need to go - which for my purposes is pretty basic. Thanks again for this incredible content, it'll save me a ton of time and money.
I just picked up a 2021 GMC Sierra and within 24 hrs of buying it I learned about overlanding. I'm glad to have found a channel that is doing this with a full size truck and I can't wait to start my build.
I fab'd my own rack for $150 that used the stake holes on my tundra. Put my tepui tent on it - can hold over 2000lbs no issues - used 3/16 steel tube - better than anything I could find retail.
Really appreciate your videos man. Im getting into the overland scene and its really difficult to purchase the right thing without having to unnecessarily overspending
Just wanted to say, thank you. My wife, two little girls, and Tundra are diving in to overlanding. We love to camp and this seems like a great next step. We want to show them the world before they can fight back. 😂 You have been very helpful. All the videos are really awesome and informative. Keep it up!
Jason - Thanks for the feedback. I definitely understand the "get them out before they can fight back" mentality. I desperately want my kids to realize it is still possible to live an adventure and they shouldn't settle for just the distraction and busyness.
Wow, what a great video on tips to watch out for on the type of off-roading setup one plans to do and get the best out of money. These videos are most helpful to the rest of us that are planning to get our rigs setup and won't run into bad days out in the woods.....thanks!
Absolutely excellent video. This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thanks man! I think I'll go with the Thule since I just want to mount a tent and use forrest service roads. Again, thanks for posting this.
Nathan, your videos and information have been extremely helpful - thank you. I would have never thought of the issues that you brought up regarding racks, so you helped me tremendously with that. Now I won't make a mistake buying the wrong rack. Love your RTT videos as well. I have a F150 that I daily drive and want to overland with, and I don't want to make a $2-3000 mistake on a rack (or a RTT). Many thanks!
Wasn't to many options for my F250, I am by no means doing any hard off roading. I ended up with a rci metalworks 12" to keep the tent below the cab and i ordered the extra center support option. Mounted the smittybilt gen 2 overlander tent for the price because i only get to go sparingly. But for a nice little weekend getup to take my almost 2 year old son it is great, we are having a blast.
That is the beauty of overlanding... it is all about your use case... sounds like you have a killer setup for what you do... that is all that matters. Have fun with the people you love doing what you love.
Thanks for the no nonsense videos. Great information, really appreciate it. Looking to get into over landing this year. Your videos are exactly what I need to watch. Cheers! 👍🏼
There are starting to be a lot of semi "universal" racks that the width and length can be adjusted... The RCI is actually like this but would need to be bolted to the bed... I believe the UpTop racks are kind of like this too... have you looked into any of those type? I know there are other companies like Cali Raised and even some in the East as well...
I just bought the Thule adjustable bed rack. Hope it can handle my rooftop tent and going off-road to the beach. The dealer said it would be fine and not to worry about it. But he said it in a way like he was tired of being bothered.
I’ve had Leitner Designs rack on mine since late 2016. It’s uses a clamp type fastener rated for 1000 lbs static, 500 lbs dynamic. Hasn’t come loose yet. I don’t do any rock crawling, Tundra isn’t a great vehicle for that 😂 but you’re right about the weight being up higher... anytime my truck gets close to 45 deg it’s unnerving. Have run Black Gap Road at BBNP several times and The Road to Nowhere at BBRSP. Nothing compared to the stuff out west but traversing some of the washes are down right scary in a full size truck.
This is actually quite informative! Thank you! I have a ‘19 Raptor and want to do a 2025 trip to Baja. But my tent is a Kodiak canvas bed tent. So I’m currently attempting to find a rack to which the crossbars can be removed and a bed cover can go on top of. Not a small order.
I’ve been looking into these things. Thanks so much for the informative video. I’m much better prepared to evaluate whether I want to go this route with my travel and lodging.
@@OutdoorAuto if you’re open to it I would love to email you with my circumstances. I’m a road warrior turning 50k plus a year in an F150 eco boost. About 500 of those miles are on some “service roads” that can get sketchy quick.
Hey Nathan, First, I want to thank you for creating such a channel as I have a tundra like yours and I'm looking to build up to an overland vehicle and I'm going to watch all the content you have on your channel. Second, What is your thoughts on the Lietner Forged Rack, thats the rack I've been looking to get but after your explanation into the ways they're mounted. Now I'm going tome looking at that but as far as I can see, it looks like it is a good quality rack......I am looking to throw a CVT Denali tent on it to hold unto 5 people.
The Lietner Rack is a solid solution. I have avoided myself because I typically like a medium height rack and I also like racks that have more standard options for mount equipment to the sides. Any rack that uses Round Bars can be a bit hard to mount things to. The Lietner does have its own Pods options that are pretty cool but I tend to go with a more traditional rack that has numerous mounting options like the UpTop Overland, CBI or even RCI (if secured correctly). There is nothing wrong with the Lietner... if you like the Pods design it could be a really great rack for you.
I just ordered my 18" rci rack for my silverado but i am mounting mine directly to the bed sides then changing over to the cover adapters Will be mounting my mountian bike to mine along with my tent Great video going to checkout some of your other stuff
I laughed out loud when you started with the Thule rack. Same here. I ditched mine when I couldn’t keep the clamps tight and hardware kept falling out. You’re exactly right about them. Washboard kills these racks. Thinking about weight and how your rack attaches cannot be overstated, especially under sustained high vibration and dynamic weight shifting. Good advice in this video. Subscribed.
Its clear you know these things and I have done some research. I motorcycle camp a lot and have pretty good gear that fits on a GS 1200. I have a ram ecodiesel 4 door 4wd shortbox in MT and recently purchased a double cab 04 Tacoma 4x4 in AZ I want below cab height and I know the early tacomas don't carry much weight. I think I want racks that directly mount onto the side rails so I can have stuff out of the wind, so I am thinking the thule exporter or bolting directly to the rails. I would like the stuff to be interchangeable so I could use it in AZ or MT. ( I leave one truck in each place) I already have most of the gear or actually all of the gear. Light off roading is all I want to do . I have slept in the back of the truck ( bed) on a mattress with good results but in good weather. The bozeman light option is very interesting to me, a lot because its made in MT.. A thule xporter seems to check all the boxes on the high end but a direct on the rail removable rack checks them on the low end and both should be adequate if I buy good stuff. Whats wrong with marine plywood bolted onto the rack in some fashion, that you can remove when not camping? The TACO has limited weight ( stock r5) capacity. Is there a transferrable rack system? Do I need to reconsider my choices? I don't want to do a lift just to go offroading in the taco. Excellent video and probably the most fair impartial I have seen in my research since getting the tacoma.
I don't do overlanding like y'all out west, but I do go out to the beaches/mountains in VA & NC. My rack is rated at 1000 lb capacity. Mind you, I have a '07 Ram 2500 with an 8' bed. 3000 lb capacity in the bed with 13,000 lb towing. I like your reviews even if they are for smaller trucks and SUV's. I know that my rig may be able to handle more weight, but the WB is a bit much. Cool videos regardless. I pitch a tarp and have covered hammocks for overnight excursions.
Ha... I'm still not sure I really get what "overlanding" is... I feel like it is a term marketers and product manufacturers needed so they could more easily target people who go on adventures, use cars, sometimes camp, and many times cover a lot of miles. If you are using a car to go on an adventure I'm pretty sure your an overlander.
@@OutdoorAuto I use my HD Ram 2500 4x4. I get out to enjoy nature, not to see if I can get stuck. Y'all can play in the desert and on rocks. I will play on the beach and the green forestry.
I’m still trying to decide between a bed rack or a bed camper/shell (whatever you call it) for an F150. It doesn’t have any factory bed rails like the Toyotas so I’ll definitely have to check into specific mounting hardware. Thanks for the real-world info and experience.
Good info thanks. I have the Rebel Off-road half rack which I think you pictured in your video for a bit. It is heavy duty with six beefy bolts on each side that secure it into the rail system. STILL... I am worried about the whole thing shifting someday. I could be rear ended or even rear end someone else and I can see that thing shifting forward or backward. I'm seriously thinking of drilling a hole through the base of the rack that sits on top of the bed sides and bolt it from underneath. This would stop forward or backward motion. The rail systems on our trucks isn't sufficient enough to hold some of these racks, plus, if you look at some of these rail systems, they are simply screwed into the side wall of the inside bed of the truck. Mine has 4 screws on each rail that I doubt very much will hold that rail under real stresses. In fact, I am going to start drilling asap.
Well you are thinking about the right issues... a lot of people install and never think about it again. I will likely screw mine straight to the bed when I get my new rack.
@@OutdoorAuto Might be leaning towards steel, but losing 40lbs after the holidays couldn’t hurt. Thanks! (Update: RCI recommends the steel when using a RTT.)
Have you seen Mike’s set up from Last Line of Defense? He uses a Diamondback tonneau and FrontRnner rack system with an iKamper 2.0 mini over the bed of his Tacoma.
Yeah he has a great setup for his needs... nice and clean. It wouldn’t work for me with all the rafting stuff... but it’s a killer setup for most ppl. I still like how Prinsu’s rack looks better by a lot... but I also get that front runner has a massive library of accessories.
the funny thing about overlanding/ hipsters in the wilderness is the constant desire to tote more crap and still end up in a tent it is however good for those who peddle such
Hopefully it was helpful. I never really thought about actual safety concerns when I first bought a bed rack... Figured somebody ought to spell out those details.
Such a freaking INFORMATIVE video! Subscribed after watching this and your RTT vids. Question: I have a 2007 Tacoma Access Cab, only 2WD so the goal is just camping maybe a some forest service roads but no trails. I have my eyes on the GFC Superlite so I would need roof clearance. Looking for some rack options, love the Lietner ACS but the price is so damn high. What are some budget racks that will get the job done for just a little 2WD situation like mine.
I would check out the UpTop Overland Rack... The Engineering is solid and they make it out of Aluminum so it is lighter (always a good goal with a Tacoma) and it doesn't rust. They are priced really well too. Good luck with your build and camping. With 2wd just get some of those cheap traction boards like the Bull ones on Amazon... just in case and you are probably ready to go.
Thank you. I just looking at them 10 minutes ago and my main question was how does it mount. On the RCi rack. Is the weight of the rack all on the rails or on the side of the bed?
I really appreciate all the things you pointed out. I want to get into overlanding. I have a Ram Rebel. I currently have a Tonneau cover and would like to keep it on. I would like to find a rack that I can bolt to the top as opposed to how yours was on the inside. Do you have any recommendations? I’ve been researching. Haven’t found one yet.
Front Runner I believe makes a bed rack that works well with some Tonneau Covers (I think Diamondback makes one of the covers that work). But I don't know if they make that for the Ram... unfortunately I don't know too many Ram Accessories. One idea is to check out the Facebook group Full-Size Overland - they have a lot of Ram Guys - facebook.com/groups/fullsizeoverland/?multi_permalinks=2900284150200044
Great info, thanks for being so thorough in your videos. Just wondering on your thoughts of running a bed cap versus a rack. Being my daily driver I'm wanting to put a cap on and trying to weigh the pros/cons of having a cap vs a rack. It'll be my wife, two little kids and a dog on our trips. We are in MI so just kinda softsand backroads and fire lanes, no crazy rock crawling. That being said I'm leaning toward cap as then I can keep everything in the bed out of the weather since the back seat will be full of car seats and people and a dog, no real room for storage.
Nathan! Came back to this video just to reabsorb your teachings 😂 what rack are you running right now and how’s it holding up?!? Also, any input on a tonneau cover that would work? I want to find some sort of metal retractable option but none look compatible with the racks I’m interested in
I busted those adapters on mine, they send me new sets but I ended up cutting those shoe and welding new angle bar that is long enough for the bed rail.
Good Stuff. Wish I could test out all the different mounts before buying. I am getting a 2023 ZR2 in 2 weeks. No one makes a rack for it yet. So there will need to be drilling done, unfortunately. Would hate to drill holes, only to find the rack/mounting sucks later on.
Tell me what you think, Double cab tundra Uptop Overland Truss AFS Retrax w/tonneau cover bracket adapter mid height Roofnest Condor XL 8ft Rhino Rack Awning ( which may be to big)
My issue was trying to find a rack that would allow me to keep my tonneau cover. Different companies have brackets/adapters to allow it, the trick is finding out if it'll fit your cover. MAX Modular screwed me when they said it would fit my specific cover. Low and behold it didn't fit and conveniently they don't accept returns for racks....SO I've considered RCI with their adapters(assuming they don't try to screw me too). I just have to get rid of the damn MAX Modular rack.
Thanks for sharing this information. I just got a mid size truck with bed cover and am looking for ideas for tenau-top racks for additional cargo boxes. My job usually requires me to have different gear that’s convenient to have in the truck. I’m not looking for any tents or camping setup. I do have two full mnt bikes with a swagman trailer rack as well. Do you have recommendations? Thank you in advance.
What rack is that; the one you referenced with the two bolts on the longer plate? It was a still frame you zoomed in on and mentioned how it had more friction and was built better. I can't seem to find that particular rack in my searches.
I am looking at buying a buddies Uptop rack that he had on his Tacoma to put on my F250. I have to order the longer crossbars which is no problem but what I am worried about is mounting it. They do not sell an adapter plate to go from the rail mount to bed clamp so I would have to drill and bolt the rack to my bed. Do you see any problems with doing this? Awesome video!
I drill all the racks I do know... it really ends up being the only way you can truly trust it over the long run... especially if it gets loaded with weight.
For me I noticed very little difference in MPG with a full size rack, running a highly aerodynamically disadvantaged Colorado ZR2 Bison. About 1 MPG hit over 65 MPG though.
Great video. I recently got a CVT rainier tent and am wanting to haul it along with a hobie 14 ft extra wide kayak. Trying to figure out how to do both of these at the same time without loosing all my bend space for camping stuff. I don't overland really but just trying to utilize my space. I have a yakima bedrock and i'm think about getting the overhaul and putting the tent on the overhaul and the kayak on the bedrock. Do you think this would work?
I am a complete Newbie to the world of truck camping. I own a short bed F150 2WD. I really like the roof top tents! I would be the only one camping in it. But I am overwhelmed and confused about the prices for the truck racks. There's got to be something more economical, right? Maybe someone can break it down from elaborate expensive for the diehard overlander. To the solo newbie that needs something less expensive.
@@OutdoorAuto ended up ordered the full height for my Tacoma from UpTop. Want to eventually add decked drawers and didn’t want the mid height with lack of space...Your video sold an UpTop rack! Thank you Nathan!
Really great info thanks. Problem; I have a 2017 Tacoma TRD with Yakima roof racks to carry my kayaks. I've just bought a Tepui RTT but most bed racks sit so high I won't be able to keep the kayaks on top. Is there a low-rise bed rack with combined height of the Tepui that would not exceed the bottom of the kayaks height?
Question about height. I have the same tundra as you and most racks seem to be 18". Is that tall enough for the clamshell tents to go over the cab? I just dont want it sticking 18" over the back of the truck... I cant seem to find any good answers online. Videos are super informative!
I just measured my current tent... it is a t 24"..... it is a bit high so you could probably get away with 22... but definitely not less. I remember on one rack it wasn't high enough but it was close (remember you need an inch or 3 two for flex) I used round pucks I cut out of an old cutting board (plastic cutting board) and drilled the center to raise the tent about an inch.
Hi Nathan, do you have any experience with the Leitner racks? I am torn between getting the UpTop or the Leitner AC Forged. With the Leitner, I really like the storage pods that can be mounted for extra storage space. But I really like the look of the UpTop and like that it doesn't go above the top of the cab. Any thoughts? Thanks.
I am not really a fan of the Leitner racks... don't get me wrong... they are great quality and some of their Pods and stuff are awesome. I just don't like the fact that they don't offer easy mounting for more traditional gear. UpTop's rack was specifically designed to allow you to work with all kinds of accessories from other companies... With Lietner I feel like you get a little less flexibility.
That is very hard to pull off because your truck is made to flex and the cab and bed usually move independently. When you see a lot of industrial trucks... when they have a complete rack... like a long ladder rack you will notice the part that goes over the roof usually doesn't actually connect to the roof... So I could see it causing problems.
It's because most racks are not actually engineered , so many are just carbon copies of others out there. You'll find this out if you start asking the right questions regarding dynamic loading senarios, the G loads they expect, and how they went about evaluating the design using FEA. My rack will mount in the stake pockets for this reason, is custom made and by an actual engineer. (Not me, though I am also a mechanical engineer so talking with them about the design has been great)
Very good points... I was out wheeling with a friend last week and his rack was completely destroyed with just a tent and basic accessories on it. That shifting weight need proper engineering. I think some companies are starting to ge t there... but it just shows that this is a somewhat newer boom market and it will take time for the right stuff to come out and rise to the top.
I’m going to do a video soon. But I want a rack that supports a tent and some accessories, an awning...and is also flush with the cab height. Any recoms let me know please.
Alu Cab, GFC and I think they are called FlipTop or something like that all seem to make pretty cool closed campers. I think they are great options for a lot of people. I stay away from them because I want my tent below my roofline for more MPGs and I tend to use the mounting options on the outside of the racks to get stuff I don't use very often out of the way... If you are going to off road them hard... most of them need to be reinforced... but that isn't that big of a deal. I also haul a lot of wet stuff in the back of my truck from rafting... so I need it open and able to dry out. For people that are going to live out of their truck for a long time... I think the closed canopies would be awesome.
Have a long bed Tacoma. Have been looking for a cab height one for awhile. Essentially I am looking to put a cage of molle version of a topper on my bed. I dive and want to have a well ventilated and secure storage area. No RTT as I use a cot/tent setup. Once I can find one I will be sewing a canvas cover for it. Anyone have any ideas? I have seen Rago Fabrications, Endeavour, but it is not tall enough.
How is that Batwing on a mid-height rack working for you? That is the setup and look I want but being 6’4” I worry about the height where it connects to the rack.
Excellent question... The batwing has fold down legs... what I usually do is I have them at full height which means the entire awning starts at about 5'11'" at the truck and then slops up to a solid 7'. I happen to be 6'4" so if I am right next to the truck I am hunched over a bit. one other thing is when it is raining... that means the water is draining toward your truck rather than away... depending on the ground your on this can be no big deal... or it can result in a really muddy camp spot. eventually I will likely put it on a custom bracket and get it high enough to solve this... but honestly... it really isn't bugging me enough to do anything about it so far.
CHECK OUT OUR ROOFTOP TENT BUYING GUIDE - ruclips.net/video/fCXghZJ1k70/видео.html
Of all the overlanding videos I’ve seen, how did I just find this guy? Just really good, practical info.
Well, I will take the blame for you just finding the channel... I'm just barley getting started. Thanks for watching... hopefully the videos are helpful.
Just found the channel summer 2023. Same experience as you. How have I been unaware of this great of a channel for years?
Thanks bud
2 years later and your videos are still saving the people money.
I’ve been researching for a while now and this is exactly what I needed to hear from someone other than my self. I was starting to think I was overthinking it. Thanks again 👍🏼
I knew there had to be more to it then slapping a rack on the back of my JT. Very helpful information. Saved me.. better yet saved everybody that watched this video from making the same mistake. Thank you very much.
Glad it was helpful - Since making this video I tested a few more bed racks and was most impressed with the UpTop Overland racks... really good engineering, Aluminum so helps with weight and much better mounting. Might be worth checking out.
Congratulations! You've just sold me on finally buying a tube steel bender so I can make my own rack. I've never trusted racks that mount to the bed rails, and still have not purchased a bed rack because of it. Hopefully I can design one strong enough for a lot of off-road use. I practically live out of my truck while working all over the country, and a overland build seems to be the ticket, I've just never trusted anything that's using the sliding rails.
Hey bud i know this is late, but great video....I'm a gunsmith by trade and if i know one thing, it's vibrations and screws don't mix well.....Best thing to do, is to by some blue locktite and their "Klean n prime"....the blue loctite is a great thread locker and is easily removed with just regular hand tools (it's used to keep screws in place from extreme vibration)...just make sure you spray the klean n prime on there, anaerobic primer and activator just incase you're using stainless screws...but either way it's excellent to use to degrease the nuts and bolts before applying the loctite!...good luck sir!
Totally addicted to this channel, incredibly helpful info especially for those of us looking to get into this for the firs time. I plan to start easy for short weekend trips into the OR coast range, it'll mostly be forrest service and logging roads for now. Your videos have been fantastic for determining the right level of "crazy" I need to go - which for my purposes is pretty basic. Thanks again for this incredible content, it'll save me a ton of time and money.
Thanks for the info! Been trying to find info on racks.
No problem... hopefully it was helpful. If you have any other questions feel free to reach out.
Your vids are the best. The real life experience, straightforward non biased info and presentation style are unmatched. Thank you!
I just picked up a 2021 GMC Sierra and within 24 hrs of buying it I learned about overlanding. I'm glad to have found a channel that is doing this with a full size truck and I can't wait to start my build.
I fab'd my own rack for $150 that used the stake holes on my tundra. Put my tepui tent on it - can hold over 2000lbs no issues - used 3/16 steel tube - better than anything I could find retail.
That’s awesome. I wish I was better at Welding.
It's not so much the welding it's the talent of fabricating to bring it all together without turning into a hack job!
Really appreciate your videos man. Im getting into the overland scene and its really difficult to purchase the right thing without having to unnecessarily overspending
Well welcome to overlanding... hopefully you are getting out there and enjoying yourself. Most important thing is just to start somewhere.
Just wanted to say, thank you. My wife, two little girls, and Tundra are diving in to overlanding. We love to camp and this seems like a great next step. We want to show them the world before they can fight back. 😂 You have been very helpful. All the videos are really awesome and informative. Keep it up!
Jason - Thanks for the feedback. I definitely understand the "get them out before they can fight back" mentality. I desperately want my kids to realize it is still possible to live an adventure and they shouldn't settle for just the distraction and busyness.
As a new owner of s 2021 Tundra and just getting started on Overlanding research. This video is a 10! Thanks man!
Nice video, thanks and you invented a new word - "heigth"!
Super insightful breakdown! Thanks!
Awesome, hope it was helpful. We have a whole run of new videos coming… starting this week.
Great real world info love the fact that you use your truck for what it was built for.Got a new sub.
Thanks for the feedback... new stuff coming soon.
Really valuable advice - appreciate all the cautionary tales.
No problem, I hope something in there was helpful.
Wow, what a great video on tips to watch out for on the type of off-roading setup one plans to do and get the best out of money. These videos are most helpful to the rest of us that are planning to get our rigs setup and won't run into bad days out in the woods.....thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent vid on some very basic points. Keep
Up the work!
Absolutely excellent video. This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thanks man! I think I'll go with the Thule since I just want to mount a tent and use forrest service roads. Again, thanks for posting this.
Awesome, glad it was helpful. We have a whole run of videos coming… starting this week.
So insightful. Thanks for sharing this information
Awesome, hope it was helpful. We have a whole run of new videos coming… starting this week.
@@OutdoorAuto nice! Looking forward to it
Extremely helpful. Thank you.
Awesome, glad it was helpful. We have a whole run of new videos coming… starting this week.
I plan on creating a new type of overland rack system by next year and this video helped a lot, I appreciate it!
Oh awesome... keep me posted... would love to see what you come up with.
@@OutdoorAuto will do!
Great info just starting out in my Tacoma. Not going rock crawling like you, but want a solid strong mount to my bed for other reasons.
Good luck with your build. Tacoma’s are awesome.
Nathan, your videos and information have been extremely helpful - thank you. I would have never thought of the issues that you brought up regarding racks, so you helped me tremendously with that. Now I won't make a mistake buying the wrong rack. Love your RTT videos as well. I have a F150 that I daily drive and want to overland with, and I don't want to make a $2-3000 mistake on a rack (or a RTT). Many thanks!
So glad they are helpful - Thanks for watching 🙏
Everyone always forgets Chevy hahaha@8:32 everyone always forgets Chevy when talking about overlanding.
Wasn't to many options for my F250, I am by no means doing any hard off roading. I ended up with a rci metalworks 12" to keep the tent below the cab and i ordered the extra center support option. Mounted the smittybilt gen 2 overlander tent for the price because i only get to go sparingly. But for a nice little weekend getup to take my almost 2 year old son it is great, we are having a blast.
That is the beauty of overlanding... it is all about your use case... sounds like you have a killer setup for what you do... that is all that matters. Have fun with the people you love doing what you love.
Great information here. I have a Tacoma, I just ordered the Uptop bed rack, and planning on buying the Roofnest Condor. Subscribed as well.
I’m going with upTob as well... it is just so well engineered... I feel like they thought of everything.
@@OutdoorAuto, I helped my buddy put the UpTop on his Raptor, and I was immediately sold on it.
Excellent video, dude. I am not ready to get one, yet. But it is on the list. More to think about.
Thanks dude. They are nice to have when you are ready.
Thanks for the no nonsense videos. Great information, really appreciate it. Looking to get into over landing this year. Your videos are exactly what I need to watch. Cheers! 👍🏼
Glad to help
This is great information, though I don’t have to worry about this since no one makes an overland bed rack for the Dakota.
There are starting to be a lot of semi "universal" racks that the width and length can be adjusted... The RCI is actually like this but would need to be bolted to the bed... I believe the UpTop racks are kind of like this too... have you looked into any of those type? I know there are other companies like Cali Raised and even some in the East as well...
Very informative and helpful.
Glad to hear that!
I just bought the Thule adjustable bed rack. Hope it can handle my rooftop tent and going off-road to the beach. The dealer said it would be fine and not to worry about it. But he said it in a way like he was tired of being bothered.
Just the info I was looking for..thank you!
Fast, Easy Set Up
"If my math is correct"...looks at calculator.
Messing with you, thanks for the info. It's much appreciated!!
Appreciate the information! This will help guide me in my purchase of a bed rack.
Awesome... glad it was helpful.
@@OutdoorAuto I really like the Body Armor bed rack but after looking at the installation instructions, there are mounting brackets on that one too...
Very useful information. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Exactly what I was looking for before adding a rack! Thanks from Australia. Subbed.
Awesome... glad it was helpful.
Great work! This one and the weBoost video have been super helpful!
Thanks Nate... More coming soon... Just trying to get honest info out there on actual trail tested gear.
Great info !
Awesome, hope it was helpful. We have a whole run of new videos coming… starting this week.
Nice video. Great things to think about!
Thanks for watching! Don't forget to Subscribe, I have several more trail tested gear reviews coming.
All great points! Those factory bed rails were the first thing I ripped out of my Tundra. Saw they were only rated for 220 lbs.
When you put in a rack are you just planning on Bolting direct to the bed?
I’ve had Leitner Designs rack on mine since late 2016. It’s uses a clamp type fastener rated for 1000 lbs static, 500 lbs dynamic. Hasn’t come loose yet. I don’t do any rock crawling, Tundra isn’t a great vehicle for that 😂 but you’re right about the weight being up higher... anytime my truck gets close to 45 deg it’s unnerving. Have run Black Gap Road at BBNP several times and The Road to Nowhere at BBRSP. Nothing compared to the stuff out west but traversing some of the washes are down right scary in a full size truck.
This is actually quite informative! Thank you! I have a ‘19 Raptor and want to do a 2025 trip to Baja. But my tent is a Kodiak canvas bed tent. So I’m currently attempting to find a rack to which the crossbars can be removed and a bed cover can go on top of. Not a small order.
I’ve been looking into these things. Thanks so much for the informative video. I’m much better prepared to evaluate whether I want to go this route with my travel and lodging.
Good luck with your build!
@@OutdoorAuto if you’re open to it I would love to email you with my circumstances. I’m a road warrior turning 50k plus a year in an F150 eco boost. About 500 of those miles are on some “service roads” that can get sketchy quick.
@@vagabondmike5870 Any chance you are on Instagram? I am @natejmueller and I message/DM people about trucks on there a lot.
Hey Nathan,
First, I want to thank you for creating such a channel as I have a tundra like yours and I'm looking to build up to an overland vehicle and I'm going to watch all the content you have on your channel.
Second, What is your thoughts on the Lietner Forged Rack, thats the rack I've been looking to get but after your explanation into the ways they're mounted. Now I'm going tome looking at that but as far as I can see, it looks like it is a good quality rack......I am looking to throw a CVT Denali tent on it to hold unto 5 people.
The Lietner Rack is a solid solution. I have avoided myself because I typically like a medium height rack and I also like racks that have more standard options for mount equipment to the sides. Any rack that uses Round Bars can be a bit hard to mount things to. The Lietner does have its own Pods options that are pretty cool but I tend to go with a more traditional rack that has numerous mounting options like the UpTop Overland, CBI or even RCI (if secured correctly). There is nothing wrong with the Lietner... if you like the Pods design it could be a really great rack for you.
Love’n that you are paying homage to Ivan Stewart with your stickers. 👍
Ironman... that guys is a legend.
I just ordered my 18" rci rack for my silverado but i am mounting mine directly to the bed sides then changing over to the cover adapters
Will be mounting my mountian bike to mine along with my tent
Great video going to checkout some of your other stuff
Thats perfect... Bolt it direct and you should be good.
I laughed out loud when you started with the Thule rack. Same here. I ditched mine when I couldn’t keep the clamps tight and hardware kept falling out. You’re exactly right about them. Washboard kills these racks. Thinking about weight and how your rack attaches cannot be overstated, especially under sustained high vibration and dynamic weight shifting. Good advice in this video. Subscribed.
Dynamic weight and 1000 miles of jiggle... it breaks so many good products. It’s crazy.
Its clear you know these things and I have done some research. I motorcycle camp a lot and have pretty good gear that fits on a GS 1200. I have a ram ecodiesel 4 door 4wd shortbox in MT and recently purchased a double cab 04 Tacoma 4x4 in AZ I want below cab height and I know the early tacomas don't carry much weight. I think I want racks that directly mount onto the side rails so I can have stuff out of the wind, so I am thinking the thule exporter or bolting directly to the rails. I would like the stuff to be interchangeable so I could use it in AZ or MT. ( I leave one truck in each place) I already have most of the gear or actually all of the gear. Light off roading is all I want to do . I have slept in the back of the truck ( bed) on a mattress with good results but in good weather. The bozeman light option is very interesting to me, a lot because its made in MT.. A thule xporter seems to check all the boxes on the high end but a direct on the rail removable rack checks them on the low end and both should be adequate if I buy good stuff. Whats wrong with marine plywood bolted onto the rack in some fashion, that you can remove when not camping? The TACO has limited weight ( stock r5) capacity. Is there a transferrable rack system? Do I need to reconsider my choices? I don't want to do a lift just to go offroading in the taco. Excellent video and probably the most fair impartial I have seen in my research since getting the tacoma.
I don't do overlanding like y'all out west, but I do go out to the beaches/mountains in VA & NC. My rack is rated at 1000 lb capacity. Mind you, I have a '07 Ram 2500 with an 8' bed. 3000 lb capacity in the bed with 13,000 lb towing. I like your reviews even if they are for smaller trucks and SUV's. I know that my rig may be able to handle more weight, but the WB is a bit much. Cool videos regardless. I pitch a tarp and have covered hammocks for overnight excursions.
Ha... I'm still not sure I really get what "overlanding" is... I feel like it is a term marketers and product manufacturers needed so they could more easily target people who go on adventures, use cars, sometimes camp, and many times cover a lot of miles. If you are using a car to go on an adventure I'm pretty sure your an overlander.
@@OutdoorAuto I use my HD Ram 2500 4x4. I get out to enjoy nature, not to see if I can get stuck. Y'all can play in the desert and on rocks. I will play on the beach and the green forestry.
@@wannabeangler Fair enough. Enjoy getting out there... thats the most important part.
Valuable information
Thank you 🙏 brother! Great info!
No Problem... Thanks for watching.
I’m still trying to decide between a bed rack or a bed camper/shell (whatever you call it) for an F150. It doesn’t have any factory bed rails like the Toyotas so I’ll definitely have to check into specific mounting hardware. Thanks for the real-world info and experience.
Good info thanks. I have the Rebel Off-road half rack which I think you pictured in your video for a bit. It is heavy duty with six beefy bolts on each side that secure it into the rail system. STILL... I am worried about the whole thing shifting someday. I could be rear ended or even rear end someone else and I can see that thing shifting forward or backward. I'm seriously thinking of drilling a hole through the base of the rack that sits on top of the bed sides and bolt it from underneath. This would stop forward or backward motion. The rail systems on our trucks isn't sufficient enough to hold some of these racks, plus, if you look at some of these rail systems, they are simply screwed into the side wall of the inside bed of the truck. Mine has 4 screws on each rail that I doubt very much will hold that rail under real stresses. In fact, I am going to start drilling asap.
Well you are thinking about the right issues... a lot of people install and never think about it again. I will likely screw mine straight to the bed when I get my new rack.
Any thoughts on the aluminum vs steel RCI racks? Best video I’ve seen so far, keep it up! 👍
I am going to be testing an Aluminum UpTop Overland rack... so I will let you know what I think for Aluminum VS Steel...
@@OutdoorAuto Might be leaning towards steel, but losing 40lbs after the holidays couldn’t hurt. Thanks! (Update: RCI recommends the steel when using a RTT.)
So wait for the RCI update on their bed rack.
I wouldn’t get it till there is a better mounting solution. I think UpTop has a better rack anyway and it is cheaper.
@@OutdoorAuto I'll check it out. Thank you.
Have you seen Mike’s set up from Last Line of Defense? He uses a Diamondback tonneau and FrontRnner rack system with an iKamper 2.0 mini over the bed of his Tacoma.
Yeah he has a great setup for his needs... nice and clean. It wouldn’t work for me with all the rafting stuff... but it’s a killer setup for most ppl. I still like how Prinsu’s rack looks better by a lot... but I also get that front runner has a massive library of accessories.
great video,thanks for the info !!
the funny thing about overlanding/ hipsters in the wilderness is the constant desire to tote more crap and still end up in a tent it is however good for those who peddle such
Great video thank you very much 👍💪
Hopefully it was helpful. I never really thought about actual safety concerns when I first bought a bed rack... Figured somebody ought to spell out those details.
Such a freaking INFORMATIVE video! Subscribed after watching this and your RTT vids.
Question: I have a 2007 Tacoma Access Cab, only 2WD so the goal is just camping maybe a some forest service roads but no trails. I have my eyes on the GFC Superlite so I would need roof clearance. Looking for some rack options, love the Lietner ACS but the price is so damn high. What are some budget racks that will get the job done for just a little 2WD situation like mine.
I would check out the UpTop Overland Rack... The Engineering is solid and they make it out of Aluminum so it is lighter (always a good goal with a Tacoma) and it doesn't rust. They are priced really well too. Good luck with your build and camping. With 2wd just get some of those cheap traction boards like the Bull ones on Amazon... just in case and you are probably ready to go.
Very true!
Thank you. I just looking at them 10 minutes ago and my main question was how does it mount. On the RCi rack. Is the weight of the rack all on the rails or on the side of the bed?
I really appreciate all the things you pointed out. I want to get into overlanding. I have a Ram Rebel. I currently have a Tonneau cover and would like to keep it on. I would like to find a rack that I can bolt to the top as opposed to how yours was on the inside. Do you have any recommendations? I’ve been researching. Haven’t found one yet.
Front Runner I believe makes a bed rack that works well with some Tonneau Covers (I think Diamondback makes one of the covers that work). But I don't know if they make that for the Ram... unfortunately I don't know too many Ram Accessories. One idea is to check out the Facebook group Full-Size Overland - they have a lot of Ram Guys - facebook.com/groups/fullsizeoverland/?multi_permalinks=2900284150200044
Try the PUTCO VENTURE TEC RACK
Great info, thanks for being so thorough in your videos. Just wondering on your thoughts of running a bed cap versus a rack. Being my daily driver I'm wanting to put a cap on and trying to weigh the pros/cons of having a cap vs a rack. It'll be my wife, two little kids and a dog on our trips. We are in MI so just kinda softsand backroads and fire lanes, no crazy rock crawling. That being said I'm leaning toward cap as then I can keep everything in the bed out of the weather since the back seat will be full of car seats and people and a dog, no real room for storage.
I'm an old fan of Airplane the movie...what's your clearance, Clarence? 😎😂🤣
Nathan! Came back to this video just to reabsorb your teachings 😂 what rack are you running right now and how’s it holding up?!? Also, any input on a tonneau cover that would work? I want to find some sort of metal retractable option but none look compatible with the racks I’m interested in
I busted those adapters on mine, they send me new sets but I ended up cutting those shoe and welding new angle bar that is long enough for the bed rail.
I think that is a what I am going to end up doing...
Good Stuff. Wish I could test out all the different mounts before buying. I am getting a 2023 ZR2 in 2 weeks. No one makes a rack for it yet. So there will need to be drilling done, unfortunately. Would hate to drill holes, only to find the rack/mounting sucks later on.
Tell me what you think,
Double cab tundra
Uptop Overland Truss AFS Retrax w/tonneau cover bracket adapter mid height
Roofnest Condor XL
8ft Rhino Rack Awning ( which may be to big)
Very informative. Question: What rear bumper are you using? Thank you.
I’m running the expedition-one bumper. There is a walk around video on my channel that has lots more details on it.
OVERLAND TOYOTA TUNDRA TRUCK BUILD - Off-Road Toyota Tundra Bug Out Truck Walk Around
Pak Rax my rack of choice
"Think hard and long when you're looking at racks". I don't have E.D. but some may benefit from that advice.😂😂
Hah... well... I guess I kinda laid that out...
My issue was trying to find a rack that would allow me to keep my tonneau cover. Different companies have brackets/adapters to allow it, the trick is finding out if it'll fit your cover. MAX Modular screwed me when they said it would fit my specific cover. Low and behold it didn't fit and conveniently they don't accept returns for racks....SO I've considered RCI with their adapters(assuming they don't try to screw me too). I just have to get rid of the damn MAX Modular rack.
I know that LLOD (he has a youtube channel) runs a rack with a Tonneau cover... you might check out his setup.
Thanks for sharing this information. I just got a mid size truck with bed cover and am looking for ideas for tenau-top racks for additional cargo boxes. My job usually requires me to have different gear that’s convenient to have in the truck. I’m not looking for any tents or camping setup. I do have two full mnt bikes with a swagman trailer rack as well. Do you have recommendations? Thank you in advance.
What rack is that; the one you referenced with the two bolts on the longer plate? It was a still frame you zoomed in on and mentioned how it had more friction and was built better. I can't seem to find that particular rack in my searches.
I am looking at buying a buddies Uptop rack that he had on his Tacoma to put on my F250. I have to order the longer crossbars which is no problem but what I am worried about is mounting it. They do not sell an adapter plate to go from the rail mount to bed clamp so I would have to drill and bolt the rack to my bed. Do you see any problems with doing this? Awesome video!
I drill all the racks I do know... it really ends up being the only way you can truly trust it over the long run... especially if it gets loaded with weight.
For me I noticed very little difference in MPG with a full size rack, running a highly aerodynamically disadvantaged Colorado ZR2 Bison. About 1 MPG hit over 65 MPG though.
Great video. I recently got a CVT rainier tent and am wanting to haul it along with a hobie 14 ft extra wide kayak. Trying to figure out how to do both of these at the same time without loosing all my bend space for camping stuff. I don't overland really but just trying to utilize my space. I have a yakima bedrock and i'm think about getting the overhaul and putting the tent on the overhaul and the kayak on the bedrock. Do you think this would work?
What are your thoughts on an aluminum vs steel rack? I can't decide, i've been looking at RCI's.
Did you ever find out an answer for this? I was wondering the same thing.
I really was impressed with UpTop Overlands aluminum rack.
I am a complete Newbie to the world of truck camping. I own a short bed F150 2WD. I really like the roof top tents! I would be the only one camping in it. But I am overwhelmed and confused about the prices for the truck racks. There's got to be something more economical, right? Maybe someone can break it down from elaborate expensive for the diehard overlander. To the solo newbie that needs something less expensive.
Get bed bars from C4… low profile and cheap… they work great. I used them in the white truck for a while.
I like the mid height design of the RCI but now nervous about the brackets...what would you recommend that is most similar to that?
UpTop Overland... I’m installing their rack this week...
@@OutdoorAuto ended up ordered the full height for my Tacoma from UpTop. Want to eventually add decked drawers and didn’t want the mid height with lack of space...Your video sold an UpTop rack! Thank you Nathan!
Best videos
wow, thanks!
Really great info thanks. Problem; I have a 2017 Tacoma TRD with Yakima roof racks to carry my kayaks. I've just bought a Tepui RTT but most bed racks sit so high I won't be able to keep the kayaks on top. Is there a low-rise bed rack with combined height of the Tepui that would not exceed the bottom of the kayaks height?
Couldn’t help but notice the V on your plate. Are you in the county still? I live in McCall and am planning on getting a rack/ tent this year.
Awesome
What’s the benefit of a bed rack vs something like an RSI topper that can open up from all sides?
Generally they can carry more weight… I love the RSI’s… we use them in Baja.
Question about height. I have the same tundra as you and most racks seem to be 18". Is that tall enough for the clamshell tents to go over the cab? I just dont want it sticking 18" over the back of the truck... I cant seem to find any good answers online. Videos are super informative!
I just measured my current tent... it is a t 24"..... it is a bit high so you could probably get away with 22... but definitely not less. I remember on one rack it wasn't high enough but it was close (remember you need an inch or 3 two for flex) I used round pucks I cut out of an old cutting board (plastic cutting board) and drilled the center to raise the tent about an inch.
Hi Nathan, do you have any experience with the Leitner racks? I am torn between getting the UpTop or the Leitner AC Forged. With the Leitner, I really like the storage pods that can be mounted for extra storage space. But I really like the look of the UpTop and like that it doesn't go above the top of the cab. Any thoughts? Thanks.
I am not really a fan of the Leitner racks... don't get me wrong... they are great quality and some of their Pods and stuff are awesome. I just don't like the fact that they don't offer easy mounting for more traditional gear. UpTop's rack was specifically designed to allow you to work with all kinds of accessories from other companies... With Lietner I feel like you get a little less flexibility.
Mounting one rack on the cab the other rack on the bed shell can be a problem?
I’m wondering about getting a bed rack that is cab height and connects to a roof rack, I wanna hear your thoughts on that?
That is very hard to pull off because your truck is made to flex and the cab and bed usually move independently. When you see a lot of industrial trucks... when they have a complete rack... like a long ladder rack you will notice the part that goes over the roof usually doesn't actually connect to the roof... So I could see it causing problems.
@@OutdoorAuto ohhh, alrighty I’ll keep them separate then
It's because most racks are not actually engineered , so many are just carbon copies of others out there. You'll find this out if you start asking the right questions regarding dynamic loading senarios, the G loads they expect, and how they went about evaluating the design using FEA. My rack will mount in the stake pockets for this reason, is custom made and by an actual engineer. (Not me, though I am also a mechanical engineer so talking with them about the design has been great)
Very good points... I was out wheeling with a friend last week and his rack was completely destroyed with just a tent and basic accessories on it. That shifting weight need proper engineering. I think some companies are starting to ge t there... but it just shows that this is a somewhat newer boom market and it will take time for the right stuff to come out and rise to the top.
I’m going to do a video soon. But I want a rack that supports a tent and some accessories, an awning...and is also flush with the cab height. Any recoms let me know please.
Look into UpTop overland... their rack is aluminum and well designed.
Are there any "quick detach" type racks? Want a ikamper mini on my taco but I don't want it on the truck all the time.
thanks for the video, informative. Any thoughts on (open) bed racks with tent on top, vs closed canopies, (like the Alu-Cab Canopy Camper). Thanks
Alu Cab, GFC and I think they are called FlipTop or something like that all seem to make pretty cool closed campers. I think they are great options for a lot of people. I stay away from them because I want my tent below my roofline for more MPGs and I tend to use the mounting options on the outside of the racks to get stuff I don't use very often out of the way... If you are going to off road them hard... most of them need to be reinforced... but that isn't that big of a deal. I also haul a lot of wet stuff in the back of my truck from rafting... so I need it open and able to dry out. For people that are going to live out of their truck for a long time... I think the closed canopies would be awesome.
Have a long bed Tacoma. Have been looking for a cab height one for awhile. Essentially I am looking to put a cage of molle version of a topper on my bed. I dive and want to have a well ventilated and secure storage area. No RTT as I use a cot/tent setup. Once I can find one I will be sewing a canvas cover for it.
Anyone have any ideas? I have seen Rago Fabrications, Endeavour, but it is not tall enough.
Whats your thought on Kb Voodoo rack particularly max modular aluminum? Thank you
How is that Batwing on a mid-height rack working for you? That is the setup and look I want but being 6’4” I worry about the height where it connects to the rack.
Excellent question... The batwing has fold down legs... what I usually do is I have them at full height which means the entire awning starts at about 5'11'" at the truck and then slops up to a solid 7'. I happen to be 6'4" so if I am right next to the truck I am hunched over a bit. one other thing is when it is raining... that means the water is draining toward your truck rather than away... depending on the ground your on this can be no big deal... or it can result in a really muddy camp spot. eventually I will likely put it on a custom bracket and get it high enough to solve this... but honestly... it really isn't bugging me enough to do anything about it so far.