Looking for the right rack!

I have an '01 ext. cab, and I am looking for a rack that would fit on or over my Leer cap. Its main use would be hauling kayaks, canoes, and other outdoor play toys. Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

 

if you mount racks on the cap, mount the brackets on the side and not the top. If you mount them on top, they will eventually break through. Thule and Yakima are the two brands that make premium racks.

If you mount on the cap, it should be good for about 150 lbs.

If you are going to carry more than 2-3 boats on a regular basis, a welded rack is the way to go. My racks are pretty simple and hold 7 whitewater kayaks. I recommend some sort of plates down the side rails between the cap and the bed, then some square that goes up to cross bars and front-back braces. I can post pics if you want more detail. The plates give you a place to step up and stand while you tie the boats on.

If you're willing to spend, aluminum is way better than steel for welded racks due to the lighter weight.

Depending on the weight you're going to put up there, you might need to do something different with suspension to control the sway. My 2000 needed heavier leaf springs or it drove like shit with lots of boats on top. My '96 somehow handles it better and didn't need to be upgraded.

 

Thanks for the advice! I have been looking at the Kargo Master Pro iii, but I can't find anywhere local that sells them. I'm going to need to upgrade my suspension soon, so this might just be the excuse!