Easy on off bed rack?

I don't want a permanent bed rack since I like having the bed free for biking and supplies hauling etc. What I'd like is a rack system for the bed that supports a rooftop tent and easily comes on and off and does't break the bank and I can install and take off around the time of a trip. Any recommendations?

 

Build one. Sounds like you need a platform base basically crossbars. Hang them on upper rail with a bracket to the rail system. Probably make from scrap in a industrial park dumpster.

 

Not a bed rack but KB Voodoo crossbars are quick to take off and on.

 

Very Nice idea, but I've never worked with Metal and load would be a concern so I'll stick to what I know.

Thanks for the suggestion - I just took a look and they look quite inexpensive. May do the trick.

 

Any bedbar setup will be pretty easy to take on and off. I got the tacomapocolapse low setup and it probably takes 5 minutes to get the tent off.

 

All racks mount the same - via some bolts onto the bed rails. Unbolting the rack is easy, lifting it all off is the harder part. I pulley system in the garage would be the quickest and probably the easiest method for constant on/off.

 

Not cheap, but I use the Yakima Overhaul rack. I just keep the tent permanently attached to the tent and lift the whole thing up off its mounts in my garage with a Harken Hoister (that I'd used for a small sailboat previously). I just back in, drop it down, "lock it in" and go. Whole thing is about a ten-minute operation. It stores up against the garage ceiling when not in use, with the bottom of the rack up just high enough not to hit my head on it when walking around the garage.

I suppose any rack that quickly would connect to your bed rails could also be made to work in a similar manner (possibly with some bracing if the rack isn't a single connected structure).

 

I personally like bedbars because you can access your stuff in the back of the bed from the side, most racks have panels you can mount stuff to but it blocks the functionality of the bed.

 

I actually already have a RT Tent on a pulley. I realized after I bought the tent that it was far heavier than I thought to manually put it on the roof so needed a bed rack that would allow me to back out of the garage. And a bed rack isn't as high so easier to get in and out also.

 

This may fail the "doesn't break the bank" column in your decision matrix but have you considered the Leitner ACS Forged setup? Leitner designed this rack because he needed a rack that could adjust quickly to allow him to load his dirt bike in his truck. The rear cross member has hand screws so you can easily loosen the cross member and move it to the cab to allow loading of oversized items. Here are a few pics of my rails moved forward.



If you want to learn more about the design philosophy and how this product came about there are a few YT vids out there. I like to learn the why behind a company before buying from them. Could not be happier with my rack. $$$ but well worth it IMO.

 

Yep, I already have my tent on a harken hoist. I like the idea of permanently having the racks on it and lowering carefully into the bed.

 

Agreed - I looked at panel ones and realized I just needed crossbars.

Thanks for that, didn't know about it - looks like an excellent product. Unfortunately it looks too high, my truck can't back out of my garage and why I'm not using my rooftop rack I already have.