Topper or Bed Rack for Rtt cross country.

My lady and I are taking a trip across the county and I’m still building out my truck. I can’t decide on a topper or a bed rack to support a RTT. Looking for pros and cons from anyone that may have experience with either, going long distances.
Thanks!!

 

the lower bed bars wont affect your Fuel mileage much.. I drive full time now with a ARB simpson III on KBvoodoo hi rise bed bars.. I get roughly 17.8 in town, and aroun 19-21MPG on highway.

 

I have an RTT under the Softopper on bed bars made by @GHOST SHIP and still have full the bed.

 

I have had both.

Tall Relentless Fab bars





Current Leer 100R topper



The topper setup is, by far, my favorite. More storage space for coolers, gear, etc. Everything stays dry and out of the elements. For what you are looking to do, I think the topper is the best choice.

 

Sweet ride my friend

 

Back atcha my guy

 

Do you have a picture with the topper up?

 

Digging this softopper and RTT combo.

 

The tent is not fully open, that was install day then it was folded up

 

If you think you'll be able to camp in the bed with the topper I'll be the first to tell you that you're going to hate it, get the RTT instead. I tried Softtopper camping for about 6 months and it sucks. Sure you can make it comfortable with an air mattress and what not, but you have to remove everything from the bed every time you need to set up your sleeping area.

A compromise would be to do a topper with a bed rack system over it to mount an RTT. Then you get the best of both worlds, separate tent for sleeping and you can keep your stuff safely hidden/locked up in the bed.

 

Bed rack with enough secure storage? Nope.

Sleeping with all your stuff inside the shell? Nope.

That’s why I went with a MX shell and RTT over the cab.

 

Yes I have an Rtt, just haven’t decided how I’m going to mount it. A shell is the priciest of the options and have to buy a rack to mount the tent as well!

 

I would just do a bed rack then. But take into consideration the height of the rack...if you value the height of your usable bed space then you're gonna want a rack that goes higher up. I like low profile racks that keep the tent level with the cab, but you do lose valuable bed space.

 

I have to do this. Lol
Do you know what size tents can fit under there?
Or better question. What tent do you have.

 

If you don’t fill the back up with too much gear (that doesn’t happen for us), you could get a bedrack for the RTT and Tonneau cover to lock up gear...

 

I have the smaller Smittybilt RTT

 

Here’s my mobile home with tons of storage sleeps 4-5:

 

Looks great! Is that the Are Mx or leer 180? I am about to order a 180 for my short bed.

 

ARE MX. Get at least one side access opening window and the pet screens if you buy it. Also do your own interior lights, they charge way too much. We just have a battery LED velcro stick-on light in ours.