To Tonneau or not to Tonneau

Dude, you might be good to stick with your backflip cover. Front Runner Outfitters makes a rack that can attach to the top of your bed sides. You should contact them and see what they can do!

 

Oh really?! That never came up in my relentless searching! I'll reach out, thanks for the tip!

 

I have a sliding cover. PaceEdwards Full Metal Jackrabbit and just placed my order for the KBvoodoo midheight rack. They should both work together pretty well. Maybe you can try selling your current tonneau and getting a rollup one. That way you can use both and still have your gear protected!

 

A lot of different ways to go, I personally have the OEM trifold tonneau on my Access cab with KB Voodoo rack, like in your first photo. I run an RTT in the summer, but in winter, I put a "Yakima Mega Warrior with extension" on the rack and it is extremely useful. I have things I want to keep secure and out of the elements below the tonneau, and the mega warrior rack becomes a second elevated storage for everything else. On a budget, it's a pretty sweet setup. But I think the topper might be the best long term solution for the needs you've mentioned.

 

I have struggled with this many times and I still have my setup as it works for me about 99% of the time. I have the factory tonneau with the KB Voodoo short bed, mid height rack, which I put an RTT on for camping. Having the RTT itself, saves on bed room simply because there is no tent, bedding, air mattress etc in the actual bed under the tonneau. It also gives me a place to store my traction boards and other items like a high lift or shovel on the sides of the rack. The only time it's a pain is when I want to carry something tall and that's normally around town. I can take the rack off and put it in my garage pretty quick but I never really do. I also travel with things like my chairs strapped to the TOP of the tonneau under the rack itself, which again gives me more space, and with the tie down points the rack creates, it works pretty well. I have found organizing the bed helps. I have totes that slide under the tonneau and a couple that can even stack under the cover which makes packing the bed easier, and puts all the most used stuff by the tailgate as I cannot open the tonneau with the tent and rack on. YMMV, but the fact I can go camping with all my gear, have it be dry, mostly dust free and not be stolen at a store on the way to the campsite, totally worth it for me.

 

First thing I did to my truck was put on a TruckCovers USA cover. Love it. Prewelded Yakima tracks for bars so you could put a basket on there easily as well. But it costs as much as a shell. Bomber as all get out but with a baby right now all the stroller/packs/playard stuff eats up that bed space fast!

 

Why not just get a hitch mounted bike rack?

 

I did the same but with a Pace Edwards ultragroove since it does Thule or Yakima. All my stuff is Thule. Plus PE/Thule are coming out will taller extensions for RTT in the next six months supposedly. If not the rails are essentially T-track so I could fabricate my own uprights or adapt an existing one.

 

Hey what style rack is that? and you must take it off and on because looks like you cant open your cover when its on? I am shopping for Tepui tent also... I like your set up... Gets the tent up high enough to use the Anix..

 

This looks great! Is it easily removable?

 

I have the premium kbvoodoo rack which is probably overkill but I have a very heavy tent(over 200lbs) and I like to off-road with it. I bought the high version and ended up getting the mid height which I recommend. I too have the annex and works fine with the mid height (dogs and kids live it). If you zoom in (just above the cover) the entire rack/tent is held on by only 4bolts to remove the entire setup. Grab a few friends and it comes off in literally minutes. Can’t open the cover with rack on by I only use tent/rack when I go camping only. I also got bed stiffeners for peace of mind.

 

I'm in a similar situation, but I don't need storage on top. I'm thinking about getting a softopper for my truck. it's significantly cheaper than a hard cover, super easy to put up and down, and gives me the protection I want which is soley from the elements and looky-lues.

 

Yeah, I went to their facility on Wednesday and I saw a truck with that set up. It looks like it's technically a canopy rack where the tracks get mounted to the top of the bed sides. You just have to specify your correct measurements when ordering. check it out... https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.c...er-slimline-ii-rack-kits-by-front-runner.html

 

I don't know why I never had a shell before. Way too handy. I spent the extra $1200 for roof rack and both windoors.... the windoors are extremely handy, I use them all of the time.

 

Can you explain what's going on here?! It looks like you have the BakFlip (same as me and best cover ever lol) with some type of cross bar mounts over the cover. How is this possible! I need to do this! I'm looking to mount a Rooftop Tent over my tonneau (if it supports the weight) Voodoo doesn't make the mounts for the BakFlip because our factory mounting rails are moved down

 

That will depend on each individual. Personally, I like not worrying about things getting dirty and/or stolen from the bed. I had the same problem with my tonneau (not enough storage room) and ended up going with a cap. Love the ability to load it up for camping and ski trips without worrying about theft and/or stuff flying out.

 

+1 but it looks like they mounted rails along the sides for run off the mill crossbars

 

To clarify, this isn't my set up, just a possible inspiration. That said, I can answer your question as I've done extensive research on the topic. I don't have a Bakflip but the OEM tonneau cover. However, it looks like what people do with a BakFlip is put a canopy rack system on the back with the rail tracks attached to the bed sides. In the picture, it looks like they put a Yakima crossbar canopy rack on with a Yakima cargo basket. I've seen a similar setup but using a Front Runner canopy rack.

 

Interesting. Thanks for the help. I called Yakima and they stated the mounting pads and sliding rack don't have a weight limit. It would all depend on what you're bolting it too.. So in other words, who the heck knows what the plastic bed rails could hold lol. Can't remember if there is s thick guage metal under them that i'd feel comfortable with

 

I’ve been happy with my soft cover tonneau - TruXedo TruXport. Was having a lot of trouble deciding between a tonneau and a camper shell. Still might go with a shell in the future, but for now this keeps everything mostly dry and easily rolls up for full bed access. So far works great for me and was fairly inexpensive.