Steel rack over mid-rise topper options?

At the grocery store yesterday, I saw a 2nd gen with a mid-rise topper with a steel rack over it - looked to be two pieces, one up front, one in the back - but mounted to the bed under the topper. It didn't look like the topper had been cut or modified at all to fit. This dude also had trays on both sides to side mount bikes (I want!).

Sadly, I didn't have my phone with me to grab a pic.

I'm guessing this is a custom fab job - construction was square tube angled to match the topper, looked like it had been rattle-canned black - but I've seen an identical one on a 1st gen with a cab-height topper before.

Can anyone decipher my half-assed description and point me where to spend my money? My google-fu isn't cutting it.

 

I understand exactly, I had one built for my 1st gen over my ARE high rise. Yes, custom designed by me, built by a welder in town. I had bike wheel trays on the sides for a bit until I changed them to just short 1” horizontal bars sticking out. This way I could mount almost any of my Yakima attachments to. While I carried my kayaks on top I could change the side carriers from single bikes or my tandem or to paddle boards mounts. I wish I had pics. The whole thing welded to a flat plate all the way around the top of the bed, sandwiched between topper and bed top. Since beds are different sizes I sold when I bought my 3rd gen. I’d planned to have another built, but my new topper wraps over the beds top edge for aerodynamics. My previous design won’t work with this unless I design in a thicker divider plate. Then the tailgate door won’t mesh correctly. I’m still pondering and carrying everthing on top for now. ‍♂️

 

Sweet, thanks for this! My topper comes over the bed rails a bit too, but so did the one that I saw, so I guess there is a solution. I really wish I could have gotten pictures...

Do you remember about what you paid to have the fab done with your design, and how long ago that was?

 

Those set-ups (contractor ladder rack over a shell) look pretty cool. It might be less expensive to just go with a tray that overhangs the cab a little (frontrunner, Rhino, prinsu etc) and add some wide cross bars. The way most shells overhang the bed makes adding a ladder rack tricky... I didn't want to cut fiberglass and worry about leaks. Same with adding an outboard bike tray.
I did a lot of prep, but still get a little water in my bed. NBD.

 

Thanks! The biggest want here, however, is the side mount for mountain bikes. I have a 1up tray carrier that I can offroad a little bit with, but anything harder than a moderate trail and I have to disassemble my bike and store in the bed with all my camping gear, which tends to be a pain.

 

I think a member here offers something pretty slick...
Square One?
I'll dig around...
Again, it doesn't seem to play well with overhanging fiberglass shells. Also, I'd consider how much lateral torque might effect any outboard bike tray (stress to the fork mount, stress to the shell if it attaches to that) esp in offroad situations. You'll probably want a third attachment point up high, like saddle to a roof tray.
Let me know if you figure this out; I'm interested, too.

 

The "outboard" bike attachment I mentioned is available under Squareone Creations in the Vendors forum.
(Sorry I don't know how to add a link here...)

 

Did you find a solution? I've been searching too. I like this best so far...
Well, I can't figure out how to post a link... google "
EAG Black Steel Hauler Utility Cap Racks Contractor Pickup PN# 19601-P1-2+19601-P2-2"

What I don't like is the long pipes are in 2 parts held togwther with a clamp. I'd rather the long raols be 1 long piece.

 

FYI - this is very similar to what I saw, unfortunately I'm not sure the bed rail mounts would fit under a topper that overlaps the bed like my Leer 180 does.

https://vanguardmanufacturing.com/product/steel-ladder-rack-cap-style/