A.R.E. CX HD — Let's see your roof rack!

I recently got an A.R.E. CX HD camper shell for my 2020 TRD OR DCLB. It has roof rack cross bars mounted on 54.5-inch centers. I want to get a basket or flat platform. The camper shell will support 550 pounds on the roof rack. What kind of basket or platform have you mounted on your CX HD? Let's see some photos!

I don't have a photo of my truck with the camper shell on it yet, but here is a photo that is very similar to what I have. (This is not my truck.)

 

why didn't you get the load bars with it? They are they only ones that mount directly through the fiber glass and into the skeletal structure inside that makes it heavy duty? My understanding is you're essentially wasting the HD part by adding a rack or bars by the rails instead of the load bars through the structure.

Disregard me if im wrong.

 

Disregard me as I read that wrong. You did get what I was suggesting. Im envious. Been eye that one for a while. What you pay for it if you don't mind me asking?

 

I did get the load bars. What I'm looking for is the basket or platform that attaches to the load bars. The load bars are fastened directly to the internal skeleton. The load bars are visible in the photo I posted of a truck similar to mine. I need to take my truck out somewhere and get some photos.

 

It was about $3,400 out the door by the time I had the options, installation, taxes, etc. I had to order it and it took about four months to arrive.

 

Yeah that's around what I was quoted. You get the aluminum wind doors with the t handles?

 

I got the glass windoors. They are similar to the front sliding window, except on the sides. The middle part opens for ventilation, while the left and right parts are fixed. There are two small black t-handles on each window, not the large chrome ones.

 

Sweet man. Cant wait to see the pics.

 

https://www.rhinorack.com/en-us/products/roof/platforms-and-baskets

 

Is the aluminum frame on the interior obtrusive at all? Looking at these, but worried about the frame being in the way. Also worried that one of my dogs may hit his head on it. He’s a decently big boy (110 lbs). I’m also prone to smashing my head into stuff like that. Haha

 

Sorry about the delay getting back to you. We've been camping at Canyonlands and Arches National Parks and just got home late last night.

Anyway, here is a photo of the inside showing the skeleton:



After spending some nights sleeping in the back with my grandson I found that the skeleton didn't make any difference to us trying to move around. If you look closely at the front section, you'll see that you can't have the fold-down front window; it won't quite clear the skeleton. You can also see where the roof rack bars go up from the skeleton, through the roof to the outside. I also got the twin LED rope lights (parallel to the skeleton where it runs lengthwise, velcroed to the ceiling) for interior lighting and they were more than bright enough to see what we were doing.

I also got the windoors on each side and they were worth every penny. It makes it so much easier to get stuff in and out of the front part of the camper shell.

You can't tell from the photo, but there is about a finger's width between the horizontal bars and the carpeting covering the fiberglass. It was useful for hanging things from the ceiling during the night. The frame is built out of t-track aluminum. I've ordered some nuts to fit the t-tracks (they haven't arrived yet) and I plan to add some mounting points for a cargo net on the ceiling and some mesh pockets like those found in tents.

After camping and traveling with it for five days, I'm glad I bought it with the options I ordered.

 

Awesome! Thanks so much for the pictures and the write-up. I hadn’t been able to find an interior picture of the frame, and there’s a lot of good information here. Thanks again.

 

Love that cap and color

 

Just got mine installed yesterday. Love it. Got it with metal lock T handle doors on the side and glass on the back so I keep some visibility.

 

Congratulations! I'm sure you'll be happy with it. Those side windows/doors are the greatest thing ever! I didn't have those on my previous trucks and I can't understand how I ever got by without them.

 

Bump. Anyone have anything else mounted besides the HD bars? Just put a deposit on mine today (15 week ETA). Had to cancel my Victory 4x4 cap rack order since apparently they won't work on the HD cap.

 

Been wondering the same thing and I’ve had mine for two years. I’m tempted to order the Prinsu cap rack and see if there is a way to mount it directly. From looking at it, the ARE bars are removable, but I’m not sure if bolting the Prinsu crossbars to it would be strong enough.

 

Are the cross bars a fixed distance apart?

 

Mine are fixed at 54.5-inch centers. The cross bar supports are fastened to the internal skeleton, then go through holes the fiberglass roof. I'll try to get some close-up photos tomorrow.