Full rack - worth it?

Is it worth it, having a full large rack?

The last time I had a heavy rack, it mostly just sat there for looks.
Not to mention how expensive they are...

 

I'd say a full large rack is worth every penny.

 

Not for nothing, but I think if you have to ask....you probably don't need it.

For example, I hate the way roof racks look. I want to remove it every time I look at it. But I ultimately needed one for all my travels if I wanted to fit all my shit.

 

I bought the M-Rack for the lights and the other one came with the shell. Never had to use either of them but I have considered strapping stuff down every now and then. Nice to know it's there and the 8020 doesn't add much weight or wind noise.

 

Nothing like a full rack. ❤️

 

Your comment about it mostly sitting there for looks tells me you've already made up your mind.

 

Define worth it. Are you going to use it? Just for looks?

I've never seen anyone actually use those racks for anything. No boxes, no containers, no luggage, nothing. Just bolted on all pretty and dragging wind down the hwy

If you end up getting one, don't forget the "MOUNTAINS PLEASE" bumper sticker to go with it

 

2000+ messages? You should know this wasn’t going to end well.

I loves me a heavy rack. My wife would be in the camp of not worth it after 25 years of lugging them around.

 

Honestly, if you have to ask... No.
If you carried enough gear or cargo to need them, you wouldn't be asking.

But hey, if you like the look they bring, don't mind spending the loot to get them, the wind resistance and noise they may add on highway... Go for it. Every pro has a con.

 

Like above, if you don’t have an immediate need to pack something on the rack, then you don’t need one.

When might you need one?
A) Between you, your significant other and pet dog, you have started packing like an African safari and run out of space in the cab and shell
B) You want to carry extra gas but don’t want your clothes and food smelling like gasoline by carrying a leaky gas can in the bed
C) You go to use your axe or shovel or hi-lift or traction boards on a trail but don’t want to pull everything else out from under your shell to get to what you need
D) One word “awning”

Racks may be expensive but less expensive than a swing out bumper to carry much of same stuff.

 

I suppose it would depend on how you are planning on using it. I love my Front Runner roof rack and use it all the time. But couldn’t justify the cost of the full rack on the back. Wife doesn’t want to climb a ladder to get into the tent…so that is not an issue for me. I do love being able to carry my Fishcat inflated though. The Rhino Rack bars suit my needs for that and were a fraction of the cost.

Anything else that I need to carry that doesn’t fit in the truck generally goes in here.

And the money I saved paid for half the cost of the trailer. Just my opinion though.

 

I mean honestly at some point I'd love to have it for cargo,
to keep that cargo out of the bed so there is room to sleep/camp if needed.
And just additional cargo carrying ability. Mount things to it, including waterport, awning, maybe lights
They look sick. These trucks almost look incomplete without them.

I had a cheap Hooke Road before (version 1) and I did use it a couple times, but not a lot. Slapping big stuff on there without a thought of angling things like you would a bed, followed by ratchet strapping it down. Or once a big box or two. And once wood type stuff from Home Depot.
But was not like daily.
For now sold the Hooke and put aluminum tape over the threaded holes as the paint is fading and I want to use this opportunity/time without a rack to possibly have the roof wrapped in vinyl white; looks cool, less heat, will prevent further fade turning to spreading rust. Was quoted $400 for white vinyl roof wrap; may try DIY. Can always put a rack later on after that.

You are right though there are some serious cons.
-loot (Sherpa front and rear is expensive)
-wind noise; my Hooke definitely had it. I don't know how much it could help dropping the headliner to apply sound deadening mat
-worse MPG from rack itself let alone cargo; not very aerodynamic. That compounding with other mpg-droppers (bigger tires etc.) adds up

would add some functionality, carry:
-shovel, hi-lift jack, knockoff plano case with spare parts like axle(s)
-stand on top of the roof in a parking lot to look cool

 

I have a prinsu on a double cab short bed, and a soft topper. I can still haul large things like a fridge vertically or a work bench or something large. Couldn’t do that with a cap and full rack.

however, I do really want an RSI Smart Cap.

 

Used to have that setup and liked it. Honestly don't know why I switched to shell. Adds 200lb, harder to accelerate, and stays on.
So far haven't needed to rent a U-Haul trailer for anything but that's always an option, and cheaper than renting van/etc.
I don't know if the theoretical cons to a softopper actually happen in real life, such as:
-random person can cut it open with a knife (people can break shell windows too though, even if you put metal grate on the side glass, that doesn't address back glass)
-temperature insulation; when I climbed in the bed with my softopper as it was snowing, I was surprised by the amount of warmth it still had compared to outside

I know shells may be more aerodynamic cruising highway speed but I'm not sure by how much.
Maybe they exist and are popular simply due to the fact they've existed much longer than soft tops which didn't come on the market for US trucks until not long ago.

+shell w/ rack will likely require rear leafs kit (even configured to higher lift mode) vs. ST

 

Just for the shits and giggles I'm getting a rack and that sticker just for you

 

Are those front traction bars I see?

 

Nope. It’s part of the lift that was on the truck when I bought it 6 years ago.

 

I've been very happy with the soft topper. I wish it was a bit more robust for the price, but once it's set up it's pretty nice. I do agree with what you said. I think you're more likely to get a catalytic converter stolen than someone cut into the soft topper. Maybe it's happened once? But They could easily just un snap it on the sides. I was out watching a parade with my daughter and I wish I had the topper on, we could have huddled under the topper for warmth or at least been shielded from the wind. It's been great on all our camping trips and helped us extend our dry storage.

Some of the things I don't like about the soft topper:

• Tail window fogged over 4 years. Have to buy new one.
• When really windy outside, I can never tell if it's going to break or not. We were trucking back from El Paso to Houston and it was like stupid windy. I stopped on the side of the road to pop out and check on the softtop and it was fine but while driving I thought it was going to fly off. The wind caught my door though and over extended my door check, now it grinds.

Would I do the soft top again? Yeah, I just think I would like to be a bit more confident in the subframe.

 

Interesting...

 

Oh yeah even better I forgot
you can put a cage overtop the ST
there you go, functions as a roof rack on it, and can mount stuff like traction boards on the side
+ the important part: Look Cool

there's a company out of Costa Rica or something that makes their own version of ST that is strong enough to carry weight atop, but likely harder to buy/import