Rhino Rack/W BAKFLIP MX4 Mod

wondering if you could do this correctly and fab something up strong enough to support a bed rack and RTT. most put most weight onto the bedsides anyways

 

I like it! Been searching forever to see if anyone makes a rack system compatible with Undercover flex cover. So far no luck so I am looking for a solution.

 

I’m still rocking it, many trips and miles on the books with zero issues!

 

Honestly man.. I’d totally be comfortable putting a RTT on it. If you read up, i posted a link for Rhino Racks website regarding weight limitations and set up. I might have gone with slightly larger steel nurserts just to be safe.. but this exact rack system works with RTT’s mounted directly to fiberglass bed toppers using a the same rails. I ended up buying a Fleetwood Cobalt “off road” trailer and never needed the RTT. It works awesome for toting two MTB’s and two RTIC coolers weighted down. But- I’m not an expert.. just my opinion.

 

That's awesome. If I were to do it I'd probably go with a KB voodoo max modular bed rack mounted directly to the bedsides in a similar fashion you mounted your crossbars. I'm just not too sure with that bedrack specifically if it would be strong enough in that exact fashion but your work is encouraging and has got me thinking!

 

Right on!! Keep us posted on your project! I couldn’t find a whole lot out there on the topic !

 

I have been looking for a similar method of adding a rack to my truck, I am contemplating utilizing 8020 channel in place of the Rhino stuff as I have the Revolver like Doublethebass and I messaged him to see what he had come up with. Unfortunately, due to the climate he is in the Revolver no longer meets his needs.

The 8020 would allow me to customize the height of the towers unlike the Rhino stuff... Unless I have just not searched effectively enough to find different height towers.

Any case, killer mod and I will post once I figure out mine. I am currently in the process of replacing my leaking Third Brake light as it somehow got cracked... I think it might have happened in the car wash of all places.

 

GREAT JOB OP!!!

 

Nice- thinking a bit outside the box is a the name of the game. The revolver would have been a bit more ideal than my BakFlip, but they didn’t have 3rds gens at least as far as i had seen when i bought mine.

At least at the time i built this one, none of the major manufacturers, rhino, Thule, Yakima made any bars higher that would work with my build. I think Yakima makes a cab height rack that works without a cover.. maybe those could be modified.. but at that point, might as well just use the 8020 to build exactly what you want. I’ll be stoked to see what you come up with!

 

As I recall I have seen Thule racks and I think you are correct Yakima offers one as well, but I would prefer not have a cab height rack for ease of throwing my stuff up there. I really want it for my mountain bikes and kayaks. I'm hopeful to be able to keep the stuff on the truck and pull in my garage. Right now there is no lift so I'm riding stock height and I have 9' doors on my garage so I expect I will be able to meet my goals. That may all change when I get around to adding other mods lol.

 

I’ve never measured overall height.. but here’s a pic for height comparison. These are both 27.5 / 140 travel bikes. I’m lifted 3inches on basically 33’s.

 

OP thank you for the inspiration here! I just mounted the RTV tracks to my truck this weekend (through a couple of headaches and curse words albeit...) To anyone doing this and wanting to use steel rivets like myself, don't use the Harbor Freight rivet tool, it's meant for the aluminum rivnuts and I broke two of them trying to use steel rivnuts as it just wasn't strong enough, lesson learned. Other than that and one of the rivnuts just not wanting to play nice after inserting them all, this went great. I used 1/4-20 rivnuts and SS buttonheads to mount it, probably overkill but I wanted it to be secure.

After reading a few threads as well as this one, I'm going to make my "towers" out of some steel square tube that I have that will allow me to have a little bit different height @toxic_d this could be a way to customize the height by grabbing different sized steel tube, mine is 3x4 so I think I'll have it be 4" high. Then I'll likely use some aluminum extrusion for the crossbars to be able to mount all kinds of good stuff to them! Ordering that today so once it's all cut and put together I'll post some pics!

 

Me like!!! Awesome diy OP

 

Thanks OP.
I just put some racks on my truck. Easy-Peasy.
I used 10-24 ss screws on every available spot.
I can get the last 2 sections open, plenty of access for my 6ft bed.
Will be using for 2 bikes when we go camping.

 

Much delayed but took some pics of my diy set up I’d mentioned earlier via OPs example!

I’ve since removed the whole system, resurfaced and painted the steel to prevent rust, and even 3D printed some end caps for a cleaner look. Somewhat visible in last photo.

 

Nice work!!

 

Looks GREAT! Nice job!