Bike racks 3rd gen long bed?

For me, it's more about getting out on day rides with the bikes. When I go camping, I usually don't bring the bikes with me. I'm sure that might change though once I learn more about how I'll use the truck. I'm also in that mentality of, "I've got a truck bed, I'll just use that" after years of using bike racks.

 

I started down the “in the bed” path and ended up with a 1up…bed space needed for everything else and the cap for security.

 

Makes sense. For me I tend to take my bikes wherever I go.

 

2 bikes with the front wheels removed in a long bed with a cab high cap. No special rack.

For a single bike, I just slide it in on it's side with both wheels on.

 

I’m a big fan of Tailgate pads

 

I have a long bed and my intent was to do something similar to you, put it in the bed with wheels on and somehow anchor it down. It turned out to be a bit expensive IF I cared about how secure it was.

There is the Thule Inst-Gator that I really liked the idea of, but oh hell the price tag for what it is.
https://www.thule.com/en-us/bike-rack/truck-bed-bike-racks/thule-insta-gater-pro-_-501501

There are other solutions where it attaches to the rails, etc. As I started to digest it and I had my limited budget in mind, I decided that I was OK removing the front wheel and mounting the bike(s) to a traditional fork mount mounted onto a 2x4. I have 2 mounts, one a standard axle mount for my road bike and one is a thru axle mount for my MTN Bike. It is rock solid and once I got past the "extra 1 minute" to remove and re-attach the wheel I was fine.

Plus I later added a topper shell for camping and the bikes could no longer go in standing up with both wheels on anyway.

If my truck bed is ever full or I plan to camp and sleep in it, I have a thru hole axle mount on top of the cab on my Prinsu. See post #597 here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-prinsu-how-to-thread.412679/page-30

 

Do you know if this setup would work with 3 bikes? Looking into this same setup with the RockyMounts on the header rail.

TIA

 

It depends on the width of the handlebars. I can get three beach cruisers across in the back if I reverse the middle forks to accommodate.



I have quick release fork mounts on my truck box lid but that would be similar to three mounts on the front rail. Here's a pic to give you an idea of the clearance.

They also make a handy anchor for my cargo net.

 

Thanks for the pics, appreciate that.
Curious if you think the mounts are spaced a little further apart on that lid than what would be possible on a front rail, or could you get the same spacing on a front rail?

 

I don't think the front rail runs the entire width of the bed but you could attach the mounts to a 2X4 that does.

You could also mount the bikes rear tire first and have the fork brackets by the tailgate instead with a 2X4 mount.

 

Thank you. Great minds think alike.

 

And just to add to the mix, you can find out if the side rails are longer. If so you can get an additional side rail then cut to fit your needed length and install it on the front of the bed.

 

Also a good pointer. Thanks!

 

FYI

It would be a lot easier loading and locking bikes in from the rear if mounted by the tailgate.

Sometimes I need to stand up on my sliders to hold and lock in the bike on the middle bracket and I always need to move to the other side of the truck to mount to the outboard.

If I didn't have a bed box I'd do the rear mounts for convenience in loading and unloading.