05+ Tacoma Over Cap Racks

[Zwoehr]

Hello, I'm the proud new owner of a 2005 Tacoma 4x4 4.0 Accesscab. The truck has a canopy on it and I have been trying to find a rack to fit it. I don't want to risk leaking or stress risers by drilling or attaching anything to the top or sides of the canopy, so I am looking for a cantilevered design. It seems as though everyone who makes one of these types is so concerned over the composite bed that they will not even sell one to a tacoma owner, nor will they even say which model would fit if the truck had a standard bed. I've seen other trucks with these racks and am wondering what you have done to get around this (custom?).

Thanks,
Zach newbie

[Crooked Beat]

Start here

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/64974-brand-new-building-ladder-rack-advice.html

[WASURF63]

Hello, I'm the proud new owner of a 2005 Tacoma 4x4 4.0 Accesscab. The truck has a canopy on it and I have been trying to find a rack to fit it. I don't want to risk leaking or stress risers by drilling or attaching anything to the top or sides of the canopy, so I am looking for a cantilevered design. It seems as though everyone who makes one of these types is so concerned over the composite bed that they will not even sell one to a tacoma owner, nor will they even say which model would fit if the truck had a standard bed. I've seen other trucks with these racks and am wondering what you have done to get around this (custom?).

Thanks,
Zach newbie

Welcome Zach,

There "are" ways to get around this. I've put a bed rack/canopy setup with RTT etc... on both a '00 Tundra and a '08 Tacoma (composite bed).
Sent you a PM.

WS

[Zwoehr]

Thanks for the input. I ordered a Kargo Master rack today. Found a deal online for only a little more than the Renegade shipped. Will let you know how it works out. They were the only rack manufacturer who even lists a 05+ Tacoma application, at least that I could find. The kit has a bar that ties the front cantilever plates together. I might get some gussets welded to the back uprights to minimize spreading.

[WASURF63]

Thanks for the input. I ordered a Kargo Master rack today. Found a deal online for only a little more than the Renegade shipped. Will let you know how it works out. They were the only rack manufacturer who even lists a 05+ Tacoma application, at least that I could find. The kit has a bar that ties the front cantilever plates together. I might get some gussets welded to the back uprights to minimize spreading.

PM sent.

WS

[Zwoehr]

Well I got the rack installed and am pretty happy with it. Installation was easy with the most time consuming part being modifying the bed rail caps (I used a Dremel with sanding disks). In retrospect I could have probably ditched them and just used some thicker weatherstripping between the canopy and the bed. It is designed well,all loads are transferred straight down. I was worried at first that it would not be rigid enough and that the joints at the cantilever plates and junction between the vertical and horizontal would act as hinges turning downward pressure into outward and spreading the bed of the truck. It turns out my fears were unfounded, the thing is pretty bombproof, and heavy (probably between 150-200lbs) So next up... some Wheelers 3 leaf progressive AAL's.

[dodecagon2000]

can you post ups some more pics...i am thinking of getting a set myself.

[austintaco]

Looks good. I am looking for something like this for my 03.

[WASURF63]

Well I got the rack installed and am pretty happy with it. Installation was easy with the most time consuming part being modifying the bed rail caps (I used a Dremel with sanding disks). In retrospect I could have probably ditched them and just used some thicker weatherstripping between the canopy and the bed. It is designed well,all loads are transferred straight down. I was worried at first that it would not be rigid enough and that the joints at the cantilever plates and junction between the vertical and horizontal would act as hinges turning downward pressure into outward and spreading the bed of the truck. It turns out my fears were unfounded, the thing is pretty bombproof, and heavy (probably between 150-200lbs) So next up... some Wheelers 3 leaf progressive AAL's.

Looks good Zach. Very stout with a nice custom fit.
Now it's just waiting for a RTT... :victory:

[Expedition Key]

Hi guys, I thought I'd post some info as this is something I know a good bit about. I'm a general contractor and have had many different racks on many trucks, and I see all the other various kinds of racks being used everyday on other contractors trucks.

IMO, bolt together racks are not very durable and tend to rust a lot more as water is entering the tubes at bolts other joint. They are also not as stout. I would recommend a good quality welded steel or aluminum rack. The only exception would be System One http://www.ladderracks.com/ . They are Aluminum bolt together, and really a well engineered, very stout rack.

I'm on my third Rack-It http://www.rackitinc.com/ rack (three different trucks), and I am totally sold on their product. I've had well over 2000 pound on one of them and it never flinched, though my truck swayed like a drunken sailor.

On the Tacoma with the composite bed, it is imperative that the rack is bolted to the load points, and not supported by the bed rails.

Here is a pic of my current Tacoma with Rack-It rack.

Kyehttp://img638.imageshack.us/img638/6228/img1102l.jpg (http://img638.imageshack.us/i/img1102l.jpg/)

[Expedition Key]

Here's a shot from the rear. The rear bar is removable so you can easily walk in the bed when the cap is off.
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/5880/img1071d.jpg (http://img291.imageshack.us/i/img1071d.jpg/)

[Expedition Key]

Here's a pic of my Dodge:

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/3368/img0612g.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/i/img0612g.jpg/)

[Zwoehr]

The rack comes with silicone to seal all the joints and bolt holes plus the rack is galvanized and powdercoated. I live in the PNW so it is wet but the roads are not salted in the winter. Still I am sure it will rust, I think the only way to be sure your rack does not rust is to get one made of aluminum or $tainless $teel. It's rated to be able to carry 1000lbs which is way more than anyone should be carrying up that high. Dodecahedron what do you want pictures of?

[dodecagon2000]

anyone with experiance w/ tacomarack.com they seem to have a neat way of attaching the rack.

[Expedition Key]

anyone with experiance w/ tacomarack.com they seem to have a neat way of attaching the rack.

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

[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.
:oops: , 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 (http://www.off-roadweb.com/adventures/0611or_2004_toyota_tacoma/photo_01.html)

http://image.off-roadweb.com/f/8313998+w750+st0/0611or_08_z+2004_Toyota_Tacoma+autohome_maggnolia_ roof_tent.jpg

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