KUAT Ibex - ordered - send questions

[N84ST]

I was deciding between the Kuat Ibex and Yakima Overhaul HD. The other stuff out there was too 'erector set' for my taste. It should arrive in a few days. I'll say off the bat I wish it adjusted vertically easier. The T-Slot adapter setup is also painful back ordered so I didn't bother yet. If you have questions I'm happy to answer and share details when it arrives.

The Yakima equivalent actually ends up more expensive. For the ranger the Ibex is just under $1500, which includes two extending/sliding crossbars. It also has a pair of t-slot bars on each side.the Yakima you piece together and can only seemingly do a single side bar on each.

Our use case is primarily for a tandem kayak, bikes, and skiing equipment. We do have a big rooftop box that I'll try on this thing too. That usually sticks with my wife's Pilot and the Yakima EXO system hitch rack. It's a lot, but we try like.heck to camp and be really active with three kids (5y/o, 3y/o, and a19mos old)

I'll really need the roll up tonneau with this eventually to cover Army and fishing gear as needed.

Stay tuned! Should be here by 9/1.

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[N84ST]

Well, the Ibex arrived a day early! Hopefully able to install in the next two days.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

good luck!

When I put the rack on my truck, yakima, I had intended to put the bikes up there with the kayaks . . . that last one time.

We sold the bike racks and bought a hitch rack for the bikes - kuat NV something - it was pricey to carry 3 bikes, but it really is fantastic.

 

[N84ST]

good luck!

When I put the rack on my truck, yakima, I had intended to put the bikes up there with the kayaks . . . that last one time.

We sold the bike racks and bought a hitch rack for the bikes - kuat NV something - it was pricey to carry 3 bikes, but it really is fantastic.

Pretty sure ANYTHING Kuat is expensive. But generally great. The ibex you can at least mount something at bed tail height for bikes with a tray attachment. The amount of stuff we do kinda dictates multiple racks. When the kids get bigger I’m sure we’ll add a vertical hitch rack. Families of five… nothing fits right or conveniently.

 

[EJH]

I have the Yakima Outpost HD (I used to have the Overhaul HD, but I wanted the lower Outpost for my RTT). I also put a cargo box up there, snowboard racks and a bike rack (when I am towing and cannot use my hitch bike rack).

I have had Kuat hitch racks. They are excellent. You can't go wrong with that company.

Good luck with your setup. So many options

 

[mtbikernate]

Did you buy the IBEXA1 or the IBEXA3 (both are midsize short bed racks)? I don't see the A3 one mentioned in the fit guides anywhere, so I can't tell from the product pages what the differences are. The Ibex does look nice. Have had a Kuat hitch rack for several years now (Had an NV 1.0 for awhile, but it got smashed in a rear-ender wreck, and insurance upgraded us to an NV 2.0) and have been happy with their products.

I have the Overhaul HD and I also like it for the most part. I use it to transport boats, occasional small quantity supplies from the home store, ladders, and whatnot. I have beat on the powdercoat a bit, though. Yakima has been terrible with spare parts, though. Took me a couple years to replace some...

 

[Jhbryaniv]

Pretty sure ANYTHING Kuat is expensive. But generally great. The ibex you can at least mount something at bed tail height for bikes with a tray attachment. The amount of stuff we do kinda dictates multiple racks. When the kids get bigger I’m sure we’ll add a vertical hitch rack. Families of five… nothing fits right or conveniently.

Funny, I was thinking the same thing re: family of 3. LoL

When I had my subaru I would carry my 12ft yak and her 10ft yak, alone with 2 bikes on the roof, and 1 hanging from a trunk lid carrier...

On the same HD crossbars I have on the truck.

When we got the 3rd yak I told her when we upgrade the kids boat from a cheap otter xl were buying a boat trailer.... ?

 

[N84ST]

installed it at the full height. Easy and includes everything. Can def install solo but would be helpful to have extra hands when getting it in place. From the front it sits just a tad below the highest point of the roof. And the top front corners are barely visible. When looking from head on. Hopefully that means quiet and minimal impact on fuel economy.

 

[N84ST]

Did you buy the IBEXA1 or the IBEXA3 (both are midsize short bed racks)? I don't see the A3 one mentioned in the fit guides anywhere, so I can't tell from the product pages what the differences are. The Ibex does look nice. Have had a Kuat hitch rack for several years now (Had an NV 1.0 for awhile, but it got smashed in a rear-ender wreck, and insurance upgraded us to an NV 2.0) and have been happy with their products.

I have the Overhaul HD and I also like it for the most part. I use it to transport boats, occasional small quantity supplies from the home store, ladders, and whatnot. I have beat on the powdercoat a bit, though. Yakima has been terrible with spare parts, though. Took me a couple years to replace some...

A1… double-check that. They show a midsize short and long then a full size short and long. The A1 is def mid short

 

[Jhbryaniv]

installed it at the full height. Easy and includes everything. Can def install solo but would be helpful to have extra hands when getting it in place. From the front it sits just a tad below the highest point of the roof. And the top front corners are barely visible. When looking from head on. Hopefully that means quiet and minimal impact on fuel economy.

looks really sleek.

what are you planning for the sides of it?

(Also the yakima setup is ~1300 right now )

 

[N84ST]

The Yakima setup is nice. This has extra side rails. The top and bottom sides have t-slot rails. So the Yakima you have to factor that in as well.
I’m at least going to grab the side rail adapters for the Kuat Pivot SR and eventually slap some bike tray on it. I’ll also get the brackets to raise the crossbars. They are telescoping so I figured I may try to do the kayak with the roof box we have for a camping trip.

I’d LOVE to see Kuat make some kind of soft topper skin for this. That would be a huge benefit. I did order the Truxedo tslot side rails to do a lo pro or x15, but those side rail adapters from Truxedo are a 4-6week delivery right now.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

The Yakima setup is nice. This has extra side rails. The top and bottom sides have t-slot rails. So the Yakima you have to factor that in as well.
I’m at least going to grab the side rail adapters for the Kuat Pivot SR and eventually slap some bike tray on it. I’ll also get the brackets to raise the crossbars. They are telescoping so I figured I may try to do the kayak with the roof box we have for a camping trip.

I’d LOVE to see Kuat make some kind of soft topper skin for this. That would be a huge benefit. I did order the Truxedo tslot side rails to do a lo pro or x15, but those side rail adapters from Truxedo are a 4-6week delivery right now.

I do like the extra stability that comes from attaching whatever you want to the top and bottom, not just the middle.

I need to find a company that sells t-slot accessories for truck racks, that don't have an overland tax. LOL

 

[N84ST]

So as far as budget t-slot accessories… You can get the t-slot nuts really easily for cheep. Just check what thread they are. M4 or M6 probably. Then you can bolt whatever you want on there. DIY shouldn’t be too tough. Or just DIY to the level of adapting things you may already have.

 

[mtbikernate]

A1… double-check that. They show a midsize short and long then a full size short and long. The A1 is def mid short

Yeah, A3 is labeled "Mid-sized short bed 2". C1 is midsize long bed. Counting the one for the Gladiator, they have 4 racks for various midsize trucks. The fit guide has measurements for all of them except the A3 rack.

Anyway, good to know that the SCrew Ranger uses the A1.

 

[N84ST]

Yeah, A3 is labeled "Mid-sized short bed 2". C1 is midsize long bed. Counting the one for the Gladiator, they have 4 racks for various midsize trucks. The fit guide has measurements for all of them except the A3 rack.

Anyway, good to know that the SCrew Ranger uses the A1.

FWIW, I used w trailer to check fit for the Ranger. Then I ordered it through REI since I’ll use the member rewards for more accessories. This way you can at least verify again either way.

So on second look… the Kuat site lets you select Ranger short bed and shows the A3 as the correct fit. Kind of maddening. I’m not seeing dimensional difference for that. Etrailer uses their own model labeling that doesn’t jive with Kuat. REI was even less specific. My instruction/registration tag showed A1. There’s maybe a little overhang, but seems within scope. https://shop.kuat.com/racks/truckbe...ger/2019-present-Ford-Ranger-Short-Bed?page=1

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