Over canopy rack

Just bought a mid rise canopy (not super high rise and not the level one, the mid one..)

Anyways, Im either wanting to upgrade my cab rack to support an rtt, oorrr buy one of those rack that surround the canopy.

What's your experience in either?

Cheers

 

If that canopy goes over your bedsides (which looks like it does) you won't be able to mount a rack around the canopy. Maybe if you cut it, but I wasn't willing to do that with mine.

It *should* be able to support a rtt if you mount bars on it. But I also wasn't comfortable with that on mine either. I just sleep in the bed, whole reason I bought a mid rise canopy in the first place.

From my research you can get more payload with bars that mount on the outside of the canopy (like Yakima 1A's on false gutter mounts) instead of tracks and bars on the roof part.

 

I’ve been looking into a similar rack. Actually got as far as finding a local fabricator and drawing it up. You’ll (we’ll) have to have a flat piece of metal as the base around the entire top of the bed to lift the topper , as pointed out above, enough to weld the vertical supports to. Mine isn’t for an rrt, but for my toys I bring camping.

 

Realistically, how much do you plan to carry?

There is/was a company that made a system that came from under the shell at an angle then had a flat for the rack- think of an angled L bracket kinda like this _/ (with a flat on top that sat on the bedsides, ex. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c3/9c/c8/c39cc86394b658cd166eeb260cf6e9f2.jpg ). I've also seen a custom built system which I think would be the better option given that Toyota designed the bed pretty screwy. I'd have a frame that went around the entire top of the bed then had pieces that came out from under the shell where you needed it to. It can only be so thick then you're going to start spreading the shell though (one of the guys had issues with his windoors not shutting correctly so he ended up notching his shell; https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/over-camper-racks.501605/). I think that in addition to being stronger, you'd get a much better weather-tight seal. Several people on ExPo and at least one on here have just notched their shells and been fine with it.

You're going to want bed side stiffeners as well since Toyota didn't design the bed to carry much weight and folks are having issues with spreading. I added some to mine- even with just a fiberglass shell and carrying a couple of kayaks (Yakima track system) I was starting to see some change in the gap between the tailgate and the bed side; I've had probably two hundred or so pounds up there between a couple of touring kayaks and bikes. The Yakima system has worked well for me (I'm sure Thule or whoever else would have been fine as well); I've been told that the track system helps distribute the weight across the top instead of concentrating it but I'm no engineer. I'd be hesitant to put a RTT on it if I wheeled it hard; I'd definitely add a third crossbar if I did.

Another option although I think they're pretty hideous- https://www.rackwarehouse.com/hauler-c600mini-1-hd-compact-truck-cap-rack.html It says they're rated for 600#s

And the strongest option- tie it into your bumper and sliders: https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/2012-toyota-tacoma-built-for-long-term-travel.148431/