Should I? Or is this ugly?

I agree. I really like the open bed but having the cover is way nicer than I ever imagined. One day, when I have a limitless budget, I would like to get a nice bed rack as well. But the more I use this cover the more attached to it I get. Trying to have my cake and eat it too.

 

I don't think I would use it for a RTT. That style of cover must be raised up to open your tailgate. Way to heavy with a tent up there to raise, so you give up your bed.

 

I say go for it! Not sure if it'll support an RTT, that might be a bit too heavy. Check with the tonneau manufacturer and see what the weight rating is

 

When I go camping I just take my 4 heavy duty storage bins plus a few other things that easily slide out. So I would only need to lift it enough to open the tailgate. I just don't want the fiber glass to break out from under me.

 

That is what I'm going to do right now.

I'm pretty sure I'm gonna give it a whirl. If I hate it I will take it off, fill the holes and repaint it.

 

Thinking about it a little more. Can the rails be mounted directly above the bedsides? If yes, a small block between the underside and the bed top would give you all the support the bed does.

 

I will have to look into this. Thanks for the idea.

 

I think that rack looks great. I'm surprised more people don't do this vs the roof rack

 

I like the rack, both for utility and looks. For whatever reason I think color matched hard tonneaus kinda look 'bro' and I think the rack eliminates that. I know...weird.

 

I don't think the fiberglass tonneau would support a RTT once you have it open and have weight cantilevered off the side. The weight of the tent shouldn't be too much, since your rack bars are close to being over the bedsides, but once you open it and put a person or two in it, with weight hanging out over the side of the truck, I wouldn't trust it.

 

As long as the rack don't hit your window

 

When you lift the cover up

 

Buy it. Mount the rails as far out as you can. Add an extra bar or two if you're putting on an RTT to spread the forces from "dynamic" situations in the tent.

 

Where does one get a rack/rails like that for a good price (and what brand)? I've been thinking of installing one on my undercover as well, for bikes or other light items.

 

Thank you I thought this thread was long dead. I haven't done it yet, but still plan to. Thank you for the extra motivation. I'm more convinced than ever that this is a worthwhile move.

haha I've heard weirder things since owning the truck. Such as I'm too color matched. I can't believe how many people prefer the plain unpainted fender flares and what not, compared to paint matched. I like it though and that's what matters Thank you for your input, I do appreciate it.

I didn't even consider the levering action. If anything, I thought the tent ladder would take some of the weight off of the toneau. That makes a lot of sense, though. I will re-assess before installing. To be honest, I think I'm kind of over the RTT idea. It's looks really cool and convenient but it's just too expensive for me until I pay the truck off.

haha I don't know what you're talking about My lady and I are under 300lbs combined but with downward force and side thrusts... who knows?!?!

This is the same rack (the channels pieces anyway) that is on my old 4runner. I didn't want to take mine off, so I went to the junk yard and paid about 30 for the whole rack including cross bars. I am not using the cross bars though. I took the Thule feet and load bars off of my 4runner and put the stock cross bars back on it. The feet and load bars I already owned. I believe the load bars are the 58" version if I remember correctly. The feet don't have the lock covers on in the picture. Otherwise you would have been able to tell it is thule gear primarily.