Mobtown Bed Rack for Softopper

So I recently received my Mobtown Offroad Full Height Bed Rack that is designed to work around the softopper bed rack and I figured I'd do a little install experience walkthrough. I'm in the process of setting this up so it'll be over a few days. I have a lot to say so please excuse the explosion of text.

To start I received it about 17-18 weeks after purchasing it which I pretty much expected from the disclaimer on the website, which I was cool with. I'm going on a trip in a few weeks so the timing worked out ok.

Unfortunately, they didn't include any instructions on install, which is alright since it's a relatively simple install but at least some more close-up photos would have been nice. I think if they would have made some instructions they might have seen some of the hiccups I'm running into mentioned below.

When I received it I learned that the crossbars are the aluminum 80/20 extrusion that prinsu uses for their roof racks which was awesome! I have a prinsu rack on my truck so it's going to look great together. I am a little concerned about the sturdiness with an RTT up there and aluminum extrusion cross bars though. I'll have to see how it looks when installed.

Without test fitting the parts, I sent them to powder coating, which was a mistake. Turns out that the welded brackets are not located properly to align with the Tacoma bed bars in my 3rd gen. The holes in the brackets are either too high or too low. Literally a single set of holes right in between the ones in them would be perfect. Also, the welded-on brackets themselves aren't located properly to utilize all of the holes. It ends up with one hole off the end of the rail and it's essentially useless. But hopefully, these brackets aren't really holding any weight and they are just there to keep the plates in position and the bedsides are taking most the load.



Additionally, the plate that goes over the bedsides isn't long enough to fit the softopper rails on so I'll have to find some kind of plate material to add in and probably sand off the powder coating and weld it on or maybe just fab up some kind of bracket to hold an extension plate in. I noticed on the mobtown website you can even see where they welded on an extension to work with the softopper rails. This is kind of lame in my opinion since this is advertised to work with the softoppers and it really doesn't without the customer modifying it.
(This is from their website it's not my image.)


I thought I would receive a painted set but I didn't; Although, this wasn't promised in the listing when I purchased it. At the time the listing didn't have a powder coating option so I assumed I would receive what was pictured. I usually prefer to not have it painted until I receive it anyway, so it doesn't get dinged up in shipping. Nevertheless, it was kind of a bummer.



They were nice enough to drill and tap the bars to work with the new accessory panels they just came out with before they shipped it. I was happy to be able to purchase those panels to make the rack even more functional. This is a new addition to the bed rack product line so I caught them right before they shipped mine out. Super thankful they set me up to use these although I haven't received the panels yet. Should be soon though, hopefully.

Sorry it's hella blurry, My phone is about to kick the bucket. I'll get some better photos soon.

So right now I'll have to drill some new holes so the plate will sit flat on my bedsides and make some sort of extension piece to make a seal with the softopper rails. So far this is turning out to be more fabrication than I had hoped. In the future, I'd probably recommend just having mobtown send you the un-welded parts and weld it yourself or take it to a shop and have them do it for you so the brackets are aligned properly. The welds look ok but they weren't cleaned up and the powder-coating shop used a wire brush on a grinding wheel to clean the spatter off before they painted it.

I think this is a new product for Mobtown and I'm in no way trying to make them look bad. I've heard good things about their armor and I'm sure this isn't their main line of business so it's a bit rocky still. I'll post up more info as I get things modified and installed and maybe the Mobtown folks will chime in and maybe I'm missing something. ‍

I'm a big fan of the overall design. The welded bolt brackets that slide into the rails are nice so you're not trying to fish around for a T-nut. Having only a few fasteners with welded on nuts to attach the main bars makes it super easy to take it on and off and this was a big selling point for me. The single bent tube one each side looks really clean too. It's all steel except for the aluminum crossbars. All in all, once it's done I think it'll be a kick-butt setup and I'm excited to use it on the trails!

I'll add more photos once I get a chance to work on it in the daylight.

 

So today I got it all installed with just a few bolts to pickup from home Depot to finish it off. I think the fastener kit that was included was missing the larger bolts needed to secure the tubes to the bed rails. I head to use some clamps to get the holes to line up right but this is to be expected with welded and bent assemblies.

I drilled out the t-slot bolt holes between the existing ones and it lined up perfectly. I was going to fabricate some adapter plates instead of drilling the existing ones but I have a trip coming up in a week so I just went for it with the drill and then spray painted over the exposed metal.

I still need to come up with a spacer idea for the softopper rails so any suggestions would be appreciated.

The cross bars seem really heavy duty and I'm not worried about the rtt up there at all now that it's all installed. The design is awesome! I do wish the execution was a bit more refined but it's working for me with some minor mods.

More photos to come once I get the softopper installed.

 

Would be nice to know if it will allow the softtopper to collapse with the rack in place or if it fits over the top only. Looks good though.

 

I’m pretty sure it doesn’t allow for the topper to collapse without removing the rack. It looks like too little clearance.

 

Finally got the softopper on and it looks great!

 

Killer work on making it all come together!

 

Thanks! Just took it out to some family property this weekend and it held up nicely.

 

It worked out really well. So far haven’t had any issues. Using the Frontrunner quick detach brackets. Had to drill some new holes to mount those to the bed rack but it works out nicely.

I do wish they had some drain holes in the bottom of the tubes since water can get into the little tapped holes.

 

Front Runner Quick detach mounts for your tent?

 

@Mobtown Offroad @EatSleepTacos

 

When you said this, what part specifically are you talking about? Thanks for your patience as the kinks are worked out on the new product. The part where the rack bolts to the tacoma rail has already been updated for future ones.

The extension piece you see at the back in the product pic is just some foam so water doesn’t get in. Think the stuff you use between the bed rails and a camper shell.

The accessory panels are aluminum too once you get them in.

I think that’s all I saw that I wanted to comment on. It looks great on your truck!

 

It doesn’t allow that due to how the softopper has the one central pivot point. The rack would need to be like two feet higher. You can still unsnap the sides, undo the straps, and undo the topper at the pivot points for complete removal. Slightly more of a hassle but still doable.

 

Yeah! Sorry I should have specified.

 

thanks!

As far as the brackets, I was referring to the tabs that are welded onto the main steel flat bar. Where the bolts go through to attach the base plates to the inside bed rails. If you need more clarification let me know. I can get some more images for ya.

That was my second guess! I got some steel flat bar from Home Depot and rattle canned it black to help make a seal on the softopper rails. I think foam would be better though. Might change that on my truck now that you mention it.

so far it’s looking and performing great! Can’t wait to mount the side panels.

 

So far it’s looking sweet! Can’t wait to mount my batwing awning onto it and the new side panels.

 

Some more photos.

 

You wouldn't happen to have a picture of the rack built before mounting it on the bed, would you? Rack looks great!

 

I am in the market for one of these, looks like I can cross this off from my list. Not sure I want to pay this much for a rack to kinda fit....thanks for the review.

 

Really looked into this too at one point. Communication and trying to get any info from them was non-existent. Hopefully OP is enjoying it though. Appreciate you posting something up on it too! First I’ve seen outside of their own guys posts about it.

 

Glad you made it work out. I am still waiting for my bed rack. Sucks that you had fitment issues. At the price I paid, I am a little disappointed in the quality of the rack. From your pictures, the welds on the tubing ends could be cleaner.. Also, noticed that the holes for the crossbars screws don’t look lined up.. Hope mine come powder coated which was an option when I ordered mine...

Anyways, how is your rack holding up with a rtt? Would bed stiffeners be required ?