Best Overland Bed Rack

What are those pieces at the bottom of your RTT ladder?

 

I love the look of the Leitner Active Cargo System, but good god are they proud of that product. $1500 for just the dang frame, $250 for gear boxes, $20 for a tie down ring????????? Their margins are definitely not hurting. Price on the base unit is high and markup on accessories are ridiculous.

By the time I got the accessories to mount what I want, I could buy three KB Voodoos. I think that will be the direction I go.

 

Someone school me on the purpose of these bed racks. I've seen photos with items on the racks that can easily be put in the truck bed. Am I missing something?

 

Where are you located and how much??

 

it's more convenient to have some gear more readily available, i.e. on the outside of the rack/bed. Also, by keeping bulkier things on the rack(ax, shovel, jack, stands, fuel, tent, etc), the more room you have in the bed for all your gear. Additionally, roof top tents are much nicer when mounted at least shoulder height so the shelter underneath can be used well

 

And even though this is a turd gen thread, i'll leave my $0.02.

I have a KB voodoo rack and I love it. Had my bikes on it, roof top tent, shovel/ax, hi-lift, strapped all sorts of shit to it, etc. it's performed and looks sweet. Always get asked about it on trails/mall parking lots(what's the difference anyways?)

 

Someone school me on the need to sleep above ground in the United States

 

Are you under the impression that RTTs are to protect you from wild animals?

 

No need. I use a RTT for the pure efficiency of it. I can pull up to camp for the night and have camp completely set up in under 10 minutes including tent, sleeping arrangements and kitchen. I do alot of trips when I am changing camp each night and in all my years camping have not found a quicker more protective shelter.

With that said if I am using the same camp for more than a few nights I bring a wall tent.

 

Not sure if serious.

 

I think this one from Leitner design is by far the best...but its pretty pricey so not sure I'd actually buy it.
I really like the look and quality of the RCI.
I like the idea of how the @KB Voodoo one all bolts together which to me is nice for when not using it, it can be stored easily, but not entirely sure how strong it actually is. I know its supposed to be able to support a RTT but I feel with it being made out of sheet steel and bent to its design that it could break on the trail.

Really curious to know for those with the KB Voodoo one how sturdy it is to abuse.
I want the RCI one but if RCI doesn't offer it as full height of cab (so I can mount my kayak on it) or offer Kayak mounts for it, I might have to go with the KB Voodoo one for the height option.

 

Just quoting Nevadabugle to expand on this. RTT is probably the best for one night camps. Only other thing I find works great in place of a RTT is a swag which is the route I usually go, 2 person swag is usually enough for myself and the girlfriend and the pooch should have enough space to sleep at our feet (more so her feet since she's much shorter than me)

 

what gauge steel do you use for it?

 

Check out o-spec. They're based in chilliwack, BC and make KILLER aluminum bed racks.

 

RCI and CBI are first in line for me.

Theyre collapsible and can be taken apart for easy storage.

Allpro has one too, but they dont advertise it

The CBI has brackets available for carrying bikes ON THE SIDES. So you can carry an RTT and mount a bike on each side, plus your rotopax and hilift.

 

I love my @rcioffroad bed rack.

 

I've had a KB Voodoo rack and now an All Pro rack (so it was shorter).

The KB Voodoo rack was really light and way easier to mount my tent. I had a fairly heavy tent that I loaded up a few times. It never failed. Had a couple scuffs when I sold it. But that was due me solo loading my tent with a lot of sliding.

The All Pro looks cooler I guess (tubes vs. bent steel). But it easiler 3x heavier. I had to add a bunch of metal to it for mounts where the KB one has rails and mounting holes for everything.

 

Would it be hard to make brackets with a slide on the outside so that it fits flush on the tonneau and helps distribute weight instead of trying to bend the brackets?

 

You aren't going to bend those brackets.

 

is it full structured with reinforcements?
Just thinking 14 gauge can be bent by hand if it isn't structured properly