Chase racks & roll bars for 3rd gen tacoma

I am wondering if I should add either a roll bar or chase rack on the bed of my tacoma. I’ve seen a few go by in my area but all were on short bed Tacoma’s and didn’t look as good as I thought. Any chase racks that are appealing to the eye that won’t break the bank?

 

rather than respond with a weird emoji... I'll say, yea I too would be interested to see if anyone has some good looking options for an access cab.

 

Here are the bolt-in options I've personally had.

Black Horse Off-Road
This was the RB-TOTASS bar, not their universal (though I don't know if it matters, as I think their universal has the same mounts). I wanted the RB-TOTAB one which came factory powdercoated black, but when I was purchasing, they only had the stainless one available. Mine is (poorly) painted with a rattlecan bedliner. It's held up through two spring-summer-falls, but I pull it off for the winter. There are absolutely no instructions with this bar, so I had to get creative on how to mount it, but it utilizes the factory rail system and screws for the rail system. IIRC I use the bolt on a T-nut (described more below on the N-Fab one) for the front mount and then one of the bed rail bolts for the rear.

IMG_2566 by Mike M, on Flickr
IMG_2575 by Mike M, on Flickr
IMG_1804 by Mike M, on Flickr

N-Fab
I got this while N-Fab was still selling these exclusively on the T-Force trucks in the Southern US. I had to send a check and couldn't buy it off their website. It was an adventure. I originally bought it for my 2013 AcessCab. I had custom mounts made by N-Fab to fit the bed rail system. This bar uses the front rail bolts and the side rail bolts to secure. It should use the a bed rail bolt for the rear, but due to the AccessCab having bolts in the different locations, I had a bolt on a T-nut designed to work. It was quite sturdy. When I mounted it on my 2016, I found the tubing to be too small for the heft of the Double Cab.

Picture2 038 by Mike M, on Flickr
Pic-1 by Mike M, on Flickr

Test fitted to my 2016 Double Cab
IMG_0590[2454992]-edit by Mike M, on Flickr
IMG_0587[2454990] by Mike M, on Flickr
IMG_0588[2454991] by Mike M, on Flickr

I liked the added heft of the thicker bars of the Black Horse. I don't love the horizontal pieces on the bars, nor do I like the horizontal piece across the back window but at some point I'll wire up a set of rear-facing cubes. I've done a bunch of pre-wiring but I haven't completed it.

Your other options if you don't like these are Vanguard which is similar design with some extra doodads or the GoRhino bar, which admittedly like more than my Black Horse bar, but it requires drilling the bedsides and installing a rivnut, which was a non-starter for me.

I believe Vanguard and Blackhorse also make other designs that have more tubing along the bed rails, but this is the "classic" rollbar design.

 

These are almost as bad as push bars!.

 

Looks like the 70's all over again

 

how many more people will reply to this thread just with a popcorn emoji? Are people doing that because they're interested or thinking their being witty? It's gotta be the most used emoji on this forum(read overused).

 

OP,

Good luck in your search. I offer no emojis. I thought the whole point of this forum was to build community by being helpful. But I have been told I am old fashioned that way.

I must admit that I don't know the purpose of the chase bars or the roll bars. Are they purely aesthetic? What is the function that they provide that you are looking for?

In any case, the folks at Extreme Terrain have quite a few options on their site for Tacomas. Here is a link. Note. I am only linking to this because they have a wide selection. I have heard people who order from them have trouble (I have not ordered so I have no personal experience). See if this helps gives you some ideas:

https://www.extremeterrain.com/2016...V3OKGCh1keQKCEAAYAiAAEgIXvPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have seen a number of people in my area with the BackRack. Perhaps this is what you were looking for. I get the use of these -- they keep stuff in the bed from shifting forward and crushing the rear window, etc.:

https://www.backrack.com

 

Any of the ones I had on my 1993, 2013 or 2016 were strictly ornamental and it didn’t phase me in the slightest. I love my stupid “roll” bar no matter what anyone else thinks of it.

 

No judgement here ... !

 

If my plans didn’t include adding a shell to my truck I’d be interested in one. In my area I see a ton of Taco’s and get tired of them all looking the same. A retro-looking roll bar would be a nice way to stand-out a little.

 

After doing some shopping and finding nothing I liked, I’m going to build my own headache rack/light bar combo. I don’t like the chunky faux roll bar look that only attaches to the top of the bed and I’d like it to serve more a purpose than looking like Marty McFly.

https://realtruck.com/c/exterior-accessories/racks-carriers/v/toyota/tacoma/2021/

There’s the most common ones I’ve found.

 

@MikeyMcFly - That looks pretty awesome, man. This one gets my vote if @White_Cali_taco_129 needs a bar.


ALSO: obligatory sitting back to watch popcorn Emoji

 

They aren't for everyone I'm sure, but I think they look good, at least on the 3rd gens.