Roof/Bed Rack with Tent Help

[DblStuffed]

Looking to see what everyone is running foe their roof/bed racks and tents.
I have a friend locally who is willing to sell me his trust made hard shell tent that was used once, for only $1k. Which is a steal. However, I have not yet upgraded to a rack at all.
Curious what everyone is using.

I really didn’t want to have to buy a new rack just yet, but for that price I am considering it.
If I do bed rack; I know I need to swap my leafs out. If I do the roof top; I’m not sure what to do since I’ve already upgraded suspension and can’t really upgrade anymore for awhile.

So my questions:

what-bed rack?
what did you do to rear suspension?
What tent did you go with?

OR
What roof rack?
What tent?
mans what suspension components?

my set up:

fox 2.0 all around
Camburg UCAs
Stock rear leafs

Thank in Advance!

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[68ranger]

I built my own bed rack using unistrut. I cut it, bent it, welded it and the sprayed it with bed liner. It seems solid. I have slept on it a few times and it hasn't budged. I think the rack cost me about $400 to build. Haven't totaled it all up. I added angle supports at all the joints for strength. That added some costs especially for all the bolts. The tent is a roofnest condor. Fits perfectly on the rack and on the 6ft bed. I'm still accessorizing the rack but its coming along.

 

[DblStuffed]

I built my own bed rack using unistrut. I cut it, bent it, welded it and the sprayed it with bed liner. It seems solid. I have slept on it a few times and it hasn't budged. I think the rack cost me about $400 to build. Haven't totaled it all up. I added angle supports at all the joints for strength. That added some costs especially for all the bolts. The tent is a roofnest condor. Fits perfectly on the rack and on the 6ft bed. I'm still accessorizing the rack but its coming along.

It looks good! I have no welding or fabricating skills at all so unfortunately I cannot build my own. I have some local shops that offered to do it, but with their pricing I can just buy high-quality brand like CVI or even RCI for the same price if not slightly cheaper. Do you want to come out here and make me one though let me know LOL

 

[VoodooRanger]

I have a KB Voodoo Modular 58”(L) x 10”(H) Rack bolted to the bed via their tonneau cover brackets. With their brackets I am able to roll up the Gator Tonneau Cover all the way to nearly the back window. Mounted on top is a CVT Mt. Shasta Tent.

My suspension in the rear is factory FX4, and the front just the @Fordrangerlifts.com 2.5” Level. I do have a slight sag in the rear, but a full steel rack and tent will do that.

The first photo at the exit of the forest shows the sag with the rack, tent, cooler full of drinks and food, and a bed full of totes with camping gear.

 

[VoodooRanger]

Here are a couple shots of the mounting with the tonneau cover in place.

 

[DblStuffed]

Here are a couple shots of the mounting with the tonneau cover in place.

I like the rack. They do some good work. Used KB on my tacoma. I need to see if those brackets will work on my hard cover. Im installing that this week once the hardware shows up. Gator never sent me the hardware for the cab rail piece and then told me they no longer make the hard quad fold; so I have to rig up my own set up. Stupid lol

 

[Volkswilliam]

Thank in Advance!

Hello!

I bought my ranger after my tent and have used 3 different setups. I have a 3 person Thule tent with no mods to the truck.

First was just using Unistrut strapped down to the bed rails and tent attached to that. Worked great but no room in bed.

Second was still using the Unistrut with some towers that clamped down to the bed rails. https://compactcampingstore.com/collections/trailer-racks/products/no-weld-trailer-rack-towers

Now I use a canopy with a rack.

Any bed rack should work there are a lot of options. Hard part is finding one that isn't made for tacomas with the bed tracks. I just used canopy clamps to clamp my towers or unistrut down. I did some mods and tabbed some different things up to use mine in a few different ways. I'm a weld inspector with lots of fabrication experience so it was easy for me. Feel free to message me if I can help.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Watch the local used listings as there seem to always be used bed racks available, well in my area anyway.

Most are for the Tacoma but depending on the rack they can work well on the Ranger.

Mine is a used ProLine that fit and mounted great on my truck.

I have the Bilsteins on the rear and a Zone leveling kit on front. The Bilsteins actually raised the rear by almost 3/4".

No noticeable sag with RTT and everything loaded up.

I haven't taken it camping yet as that will happen when it cools off a bit, but here's a pic from a local charity car show.

 

[EJH]

Yakima Outpost with 60" bars
Yakima medium Skyrise tent (3 person)
Fox 2.0s on the rear.

I originally had the Yakima Overhaul rack, with the same 60" bars. I found that setup too tall. However, it would be perfect if you wanted to extend items like SUPs and kayaks over the cab.

The Fox 2.0s really really help calm movement in the tent down. Before I had them, rolling around in a sleep bag would have the truck subtly rock for a minute or two. That is gone with the new rear suspension.

I do wish the Yakima Skyrise RTT would sit more flush with the rack, that would lower it about 2 more inches, which would be perfect IMHO. However, the reason the Yakima tent sits higher above the bars is due to Yakima's attachment clamps, which are super awesome for easy mounting and removing.

My setup does not comprimise rear visibility.

With my two Ford swing boxes full of stuff, the rack and RTT, I figure there is about 200-250 lbs in the bed. It reduces the rear height about .25-.50 inch. I have not leveled the front and find my rake different is 1.5-1.75" higher in the rear. Prior to the rack and RTT it was about 2.0" higher in the rear. The added weight on the rear improves driving too, no surprise there.

 

[SILK]

This might be a stupid question, but as I was driving across Colorado in a rental car, I realized how taxing some of the roads in the west can be on a vehicle. Is there any concern for longevity of the engine and rear suspension hardware with that much consistent weight in the back, especially when you've gotta make the truck work harder to get places?

 

[EJH]

This might be a stupid question, but as I was driving across Colorado in a rental car, I realized how taxing some of the roads in the west can be on a vehicle. Is there any concern for longevity of the engine and rear suspension hardware with that much consistent weight in the back, especially when you've gotta make the truck work harder to get places?

Well, my family only drives Subarus (Crosstrak and Forester) and the Ranger. I can't imagine having a regular clearance vehicle anymore. That is not just because of the forest and gravel roads we take often for recreation, but the quality of our roads in general is so poor.

Whether it wears out suspension sooner, maybe. I doubt it prematurely wears the engine though.

I doubt the 200-250 lbs in the bed of my truck are causing any more wear or stress than a passegner or two inside the cab.

 

[FordRacing]

Here are a couple shots of the mounting with the tonneau cover in place.

I’d love to know more about that light in the pervious post….

 

[DblStuffed]

Loving the set ups. I just scored a 12” rci adjustable rack with tonneau brackets and maxtrax mounting hardware from someone for only $725. They bought it a month ago and only mounted it to the truck. Never used yet. I paid the guy $750 for being so helpful and willing to sell so cheap to me and a bust is hauling it down from mn to me in Iowa since he travels once a week from there to here. Ironically he lives only 4 miles from the guy that I bought the rack from and he just happen to be coming down the next day that the guy and I will planning to make the sale.
Now that I have that, I think what I’m going to end up doing is swapping out the leaf packs in about 4 to 5 months.

I’m not going to swap it out yet as I have not bought a rooftop tent yet, so the rack is not going to add another way to the rear to cause me to need any upgraded suspension. I had the leafs now I’m gonna get too much of a lift in the rear, causing a rake which I do not want. Now my question is, what’s everyone’s opinions on the best turn for the money. I’ve had a Smitty built before and it was good, but I know that there are better out there.

I do not want to spend more than $2000 on one, as if I get any higher than that I think I’ll just put the money towards a go fast camper instead. I can find mine used ones for around 4-5k around me

 

[VoodooRanger]

I’d love to know more about that light in the pervious post….

Look for it on Amazon under “Conpex Camping Light”. At the time my brother purchased his, there was only this single panel, now there is a five panel set-up.At full power, which is insanely bright, it registers around 90-100w on my power bank. It comes with a ground stake as well as the suction mount used on my truck. Power is via two alligator clips or 12v plug.

He says it’s probably one of the best things he’s ever purchased for camping. When he showed it to some of the other firefighters at his station, three of them actually ordered one on the spot.

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