2005 Double Cab Short Bed Indecision

I have the taco mentioned in the subject line. It's fairly stock and it currently has a hard tonneau cover that is aging and cracking. I've made a couple repairs to it, but I'm at a point of wanting to swap out to something else vs. further repairs.

Some background;
Toys I own and will need to transport: Mountain Bike (quick release front wheel fwiw), kayak, and stand-up paddle board.
The roof rack I had was aftermarket and junk so it's been off since I had the oxidation/rust issue on the roof repainted last year.

In addition to using above mentioned toys, I would like to be able to camp out of the truck while on fishing or mtb excursions. I think based on some posts I've seen here, that I'm out on the RTT (Roof Top Tent) for a couple reasons, but transporting the toys on top being the primary.

I've looked at roof top racks for Yakima and was real close to pulling the trigger but then considered removing the hard tonneau and putting a bed rack on. I'd still like to be able to enclose things in the bed though.

So I arrive at the (in)decision... Should I go with a shell (low or mid?) with rack on top of it or is there a different tonneau cover that could be joined up with a bed rack for cheaper? Thoughts?

 

You could pair a Softopper with a bed rack. Softoppers can remove or fold easily while shells cannot. They still might provide decent insulation from cold

 

shell with rack to hold kayak / paddle board.

Hitch rack for bikes

Leaves inside bed free for whatever

 

How tall are you? Sleeping in a short bed might not be the most comfortable.....

 

Thanks, I hadn't looked at soft toppers because I was thinking I couldn't use a rack if I did. I'll take a look at that combo

 

This was kind of where I was originally thinking. Obviously the most costly of the options it seems though.

 

Not less than 5 feet tall for sure. I'd have to have the bed open to use it for sleeping in. More likely I'd plan to use an external tent that stays at camp and the gear would be in the bed with either a shell or tonneau enclosing it.

 

Toys ain't cheap.

Lay in the bed on the diagonal. You'll likely find you fit, allowing you to at least bunk in foul weather.

 

Love my softopper. Versatility is amazing. Folded it back the other day, loaded bikes with front hanging out the tailgate, closed the softopper back up over them to keep my stuff covered. At night lock the bikes to your truck wheels and sleep back there if needed.

 

I make a modular sleeping platform that makes sleeping in the back of a short bed doable for two 6' people, with the tailgate down of course. It's a design that's been able to accommodate all my various hobbies and uses for my truck over the years and its been so good to me that I've decided to start making it for other people. Check out the "Extended" model for sleeping 2x 6' people and the "Shorty" Model if you want to sleep diagonally in the bed with the tailgate up. Link is in my profile

 

Counterpoint: If you live anywhere with mosquitoes and you’re taller than 5’6” like me, even if you have a sleeping platform and sleep diagonally it’s gonna be uncomfortable. Live in places with rain or snow and can’t keep tailgate open? Gonna have a bad time. Keeping the camper shell closed up introduces new problems like condensation. Just keep in mind. You’ll need to do some trial-and-error to find what works.

(For qualification I spent ~30 nights inside my shell last year. Needs more tweaking but fits my crazy seat of the pants solo chicanery)

Or get a RTT or teardrop camper and sleep like a king.

 

This is the route I went with after I got rid of my tonneau cover. I got a Softopper with an @upTOPoverland Truss rack to go over it.