Installing Yakima Tracks on Camper Top

OP, or anyone. What size/length track would you recommend for the short bed shell? I know someone cut to length but whats good starting point?

 

Thanks I went with Thule and it came out to right under 500 at a local truck accessory shop. That was for the tracks and bars and they installed it. So I'm not sure if they cut them or what. Sorry I'm not much help. I can get a measurement if you'd like.

 

I'll measure and post the length

 

54" should do it.

 

For those interested in putting down a rubber strip, the below link looks like a good product. Its available on Amazon prime, but their site below has more sizes. Yakima tracks are 42mm wide, 1.65".

https://rubbersheetwarehouse.com/co...trips-60a-medium-hardness?variant=21540259907

 

For a long bed, I guess the 60" track is the correct option?

Yakima or Thule pretty much the same?

Finally, what width between tracks is suggested?

Thanks!

 

Im getting the 60 in. yakima tracks for my long bed shell. They leave 3-5 inches of space on each end.

Yakima and thule are relatively the same. Yakima is a US company and seems to have better customer service.

Not sure what width to space em, but I figure I put them as wide as possible with an inch or two left before the corner.

 

Yes they are identical. The shell/bed tapers so the will be closer together towards the rear. lay them in place and use painters tape to hold them still while drilling

 

I found these rails, cheaper than the two big names: https://www.prolineracks.com/proline-roof-end-track-slats.html
They make them in 66", wondering if that could be worth it.

 

So it's better to have the rails taper and follow the sides, than stay equally spaced?

 

Yes

 

That is not what Yakima says in their installation guide. It says to align the tracks to each other (i.e. they run parallel to each other)
https://www.rackattack.com/product-instructions/yakima-60-inch-track-with-bolts-instructions.pdf

If your tracks follow the cap line and taper in, then you wouldn't be able to move the bars without also reconfiguring the tower spread each time. That wouldn't make any sense.

 

Changing the spread on the towers is 2 hex bolts and a little wiggling. I installed mine where I need them (to match my ski box) and haven't had any reason to move them anyway.

 

That might work with your specific bars, but not all bars are that easy to change.

 

True I have Thule with the old school square bars, (been running them for 25 yrs) not sure about the new ones.

 

I just measured my tracks are installed 2.75" closer together at the rear. Tacoma beds are 3" narrower at the rear that the front.

 

Yea a lot of the newer fancier ones have more security built in.

 

Mine are lockable but i didn't add the locks, I could at some point.

 

Just looked at those instructions and I only see to measure same distance from rear of shell.
Where does it say to run them parallel?

 

It says "align tracks to each and position track ends equal distance from rear of shell." Align tracks, as in, make them parallel.



And if you get too much of a misalignment (out of parallel), your feet aren't going to allow the cross bar to align either. Everything has to be "square" or it won't work.