Who's built a DIY bedrack that goes over a Softopper?

No I do not. Sorry.

 

yup! 5052 aluminum. It's extremely light and extremely strong!

 

Looks great. Did you TIG it or have a spool gun?

 

I ordered the LB version and not sure if I got it or if they just had one size. But when I ordered it there was 2 options

 

@Unchained 5150 pics?

 

I'll leave this here

 

Pics of what

 

@Unchained 5150 your rack

 

Post 15

 

Had one made locally this time last year, not crazy about the placement of the vertical supports though as they interfere with the button snaps on the topper. Also not crazy about the "sharp" angles of the 90-degree turns for horizontal supports. It's been a great rack (hehe) so far though.

 

If the intent is for a RTT....

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/roof-top-tent-inside-a-soft-topper.454723/

If I ever get a RTT, this is going to be my route. Bike can fit underneath the tent rack, everything is buttoned up under the soft topper out of rain/snow, still have storage space within the bed too, under the tent rack.

Here's a post of someone who did it on a short bed:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/roof-top-tent-inside-a-soft-topper.454723/page-3#post-14947114

Here's someone who really squeezed it in to a short bed, but they had a 3 person tent. A two person/single person tent would easily fit in a short bed with this setup.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/roof-top-tent-inside-a-soft-topper.454723/page-5#post-17930814

Here's Rick's, 3 person in a longbed fits a bit better:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/roof-top-tent-inside-a-soft-topper.454723/page-8#post-21324254


Not forcing you one way or another, but just giving an option. If I was setting up a RTT, this is how I would do it.

 

Would you happen to know what thickness tube was used to build yours? I'm thinking of rebuilding mine and want to go round tube instead of square but dont have a tube bender so I might angle cut/weld like yours is. Ever notice anything catching on the hard corners of the tube?

 

1.25" sch 40 pipe the OD is around 1.625+/-.

as far as catching, no. Never caught, but if I had it to do over again I would go with the bent tube as opposed to the hard angle, simply for aesthetic purposes. The fabricator talked me into it. Don’t get me wrong, it works fine, just aesthetically doesn’t flow with the trucks lines as well.

 

I have the same exact criterias as the ones you listed! I've been searching for hours but haven't seen a bed rack with removable crossbar, (at least the rear one so I can load in my dirtbike), which bed rack did you end up going with?

 

I haven't found or built anything yet. I've got more ideas but need some time to let some sparks fly. Keep us posted if you find something, though!

 

anyone know what the best rack system is?

like actually functions as a rack, kind of like a shell rack
That holds things, and is not just a tube only capable to have an RTT slapped on

(if using a Softopper, with or without a rack atop it, to sleep i simply open the tailgate and climb in)

to have bars on the side and no gear seems like a waste

shells can mount gear on the side. But unfortunately are heavy and stationary.

as folks know, there is only so much stuff that can be bolted to a cab rack, and the short length of a cab rack limits ability to mount longer things like long awning, long WaterPort, etc

an even better feature would be disconnecting center bars if you need to carry a fridge (the point of a Softopper)

so far the only brand I’ve found that offers that is Xtrusion Overland

even better if it can mount to nice looking flat upgraded KBvoodoo side caps, rather than faded old weird stock plastic

 

How are these racks being attached to the truck? The T-nut rails down either side of the box?

 

Yes. Most likely have the angle base that attaches to the rails. The bars bolts to the base plate that sits along the top of the bed.

 

I had the softopper with xtrusion overland rack and can confirm.