Custom bed rack compatible with Bakflip cover

Hey TacomaWorld, this is my first post so I hope it is the appropriate forum.

My fiance and I recently bought a 2020 OR DCSB and I quickly put a Bakflip MX4 on it because we like the security and weather resistance. Soon after, we had our eyes set on a RTT and we began to shop around for tents and bed racks.

I first came to TacomaWorld of course for the best information, and found a couple racks and brackets that would be compatible with our Bakflip. However, the tent we wanted to get was ridiculously heavy and the dynamic load ratings of the brackets we had found were not sufficient to give me peace of mind. So, I decided to do a custom fab job with my awesome and capable neighbor.

Our goal for the rack was to have it be substantial enough for our tent, as well as to carry our skis, bikes, etc. In addition, we wanted to retain the utility of the truck bed to haul stuff as needed, which meant the Bakflip needed to open somehow. Last, I wanted it to be easily removable so my fiance could take it off by herself.

The solution we came up with was a side rail system that would stay in place, with removable crossbars that would then allow the cover to flip open. We considered all the options of aluminum vs steel, square vs round tubing, powder coating vs other paint job. In the end, we built two side rails and three crossbars with 1.5 inch 0.95 round tubing and coated it with truck bed liner paint. Below is an absurd amount of pictures to show our process, and I am happy to answer as many questions as I can.

Total cost was about $240 for metal, $50 for the liner paint, and probably 8-10 hours of work over a couple weekends.

We are very happy with how everything turned out, and recently mounted our CVT hybrid mt Rainier with extended fly. It is stupid heavy, but fits all our needs of housing our eventual family and pup on our adventures.

 

More pictures

 

Looks great. Did you retain the ability to open the Bakflip with the rack on? It looks like it would be tight if it did still open?

 

It does not open with the crossbars on. But it does when we remove them. I don't have them flipped up in this photo, but they do open even with that last bar on.

 

Nice! Welcome to TW.

 

Very nice.

 

This is fantastic. I love the ski rack under the cross bars. Congratulations on being you, Merry Christmas.

 

Thank you! I thought the ski rack placement was original, until I saw a guy on the road yesterday with the same thing.