Yakima Rack + Truxedo Sentry CT

[Jason L]

Just installed.

60" bars are a little wide, 50" are too short on the rack (tried both).

Bed cover looks and works great, secure, but there is a large gap at front due to the drop in bed liner at front being much lower than sides, need to call and see if I installed right or need a bigger gasket.

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[khyros]

Looks good. How's the sealing around the doors with those towers? I'm planning on grabbing an overhaul HD myself to put my kayaks over the bed of the truck, but I wouldn't look past getting cab mounted stuff as well.

Also, it sounds like you want a width between 50'' and 60''. If you were to be mounting over the bed instead of the cab, would you still want a shorter crossbar? I'm debating between 55'' and 60'' HD bars over the bed - I'm thinking the 60'' might end up providing me the ability to put the paddles on the bottom outside of the crossbars, which would make it easier to access them, but I'd rather them not be too wide.

 

[Jason L]

Looks good. How's the sealing around the doors with those towers? I'm planning on grabbing an overhaul HD myself to put my kayaks over the bed of the truck, but I wouldn't look past getting cab mounted stuff as well.

No issues with the sealing, very well made. The top part sits on the black rubber strip in the cab top so it doesn't even touch the paint. One touch point on the cab roof over each door that is rubber backed, it is "outside" the seal.

Also, it sounds like you want a width between 50'' and 60''. If you were to be mounting over the bed instead of the cab, would you still want a shorter crossbar? I'm debating between 55'' and 60'' HD bars over the bed - I'm thinking the 60'' might end up providing me the ability to put the paddles on the bottom outside of the crossbars, which would make it easier to access them, but I'd rather them not be too wide.

I was going to go with the HD, but with the weight limit from the cover adapters at 185 pounds the expense didn't make sense. You not only need the HD, but you need a rolling canaster cover like the Retrax which is also much more expense and harder to remove. So this set up was about 1/3rd the cost and I like the cover better, personal preference.

60 is a perfect width for the truck, it's just because the cab rolls in heavy over the doors and you see the rack stick out as you are getting in that it would be nice to be shorter. It is high enough that you won't hit your head unless you are 6'5" or more, but it's a perception thing. The wider bars are more space and more function. If you look close at my first photo and third photo (windshield), you will see that the 60" is still within the overall truck width, and within the bed sides, it's just longer than the cab top.

 

[khyros]

I was going to go with the HD, but with the weight limit from the cover adapters at 185 pounds the expense didn't make sense. You not only need the HD, but you need a rolling canaster cover like the Retrax which is also much more expense and harder to remove. So this set up was about 1/3rd the cost and I like the cover better, personal preference.

60 is a perfect width for the truck, it's just because the cab rolls in heavy over the doors and you see the rack stick out as you are getting in that it would be nice to be shorter. It is high enough that you won't hit your head unless you are 6'5" or more, but it's a perception thing. The wider bars are more space and more function. If you look close at my first photo, you will see that the 60" is still within the overall truck width, and within the bed sides, it's just longer than the cab top.

Yeah, I hear ya on that. I'm weary about putting 12-16' kayaks on just the cab though. On the Escape I have the crossbars spaced out about 4', and I really wouldn't want to do less than that, which I would have to on the Ranger. Plus, I'm thinking about upgrading my kayak system from a stacker to a flat roller, in which case loading from the rear would make it quite a bit easier. What do you plan on using your rack for?

I've learned easier access to equipment yields more use of said equipment. I was previously carrying 2 kayaks and 2 bikes (with front tires removed), and the two front tires all on the roof rack, which meant that it was a PITA to get anything done. Two years ago I went to a hitch mounted tray style bike rack, which meant that it was super easy to use the bikes, and quite a bit easier to use the kayaks... both usages increased. So as I look forward to how I want to setup my Ranger, I'm thinking efficiency is a lot more important than cost. On the one hand, if I go with a retractable tonneau and a HD bar system, I'm looking at $1500 for the tonneau, plus 700 for the Overhaul, plus 250 for the HD bars, plus 110 for the adapters = $2560... And if I take it another step from there and upgrade to rollers, probably another $400. Compared to if I just put it on the cab as is, I really just need new towers and a regular tonneau at ~$800. So I'm looking to spend 2k additional on an ease of use system, which seems like a ton of money, and I'm struggling with that. But on the other hand, I don't really want to compromise. And if I consider that the retractable tonneau cover should last long enough that I can move it with me to my next truck (which in all honesty should be another Ranger so it should still fit, or worst case should have a resale value), then that knocks $1k off of the cost, and I'm really looking at just 1k for convenience, which I'm not going to lie, I probably spend that much on convenience elsewhere anyways, especially when you rationalize it to $200/yr.

But there's also the potential of doing a semi-customized trailer hitch mount and putting on a rear bar in the rear doors... I say custom trailer hitch mount because I need to be able to open the tailgate (so I need to extend it 18'' or so) and I need to put the bike rack on it as well. So basically - a 18'' extension that has 2 receivers on it. That would end up being quite a bit cheaper, and *should* theoretically serve the same user friendly benefits of the over-the-bed system, but would extend the rear of the truck quite a bit... and if you're having any wind noise or water ingress due to the towers deforming the seal, that would be a negative to that solution.

 

[Jason L]

Yeah, I hear ya on that. I'm weary about putting 12-16' kayaks on just the cab though. What do you plan on using your rack for?

I went through the same thought process. I am mostly putting 14' SUP boards up there, and I find they do fine with the shorter spacing. I also may put a 14' kayak up there from time to time, and would probably put front and rear tie downs to the bumpers.

Aside from the weight limit of the HD being only 185lbs, I didn't like the rolling cover because it took up permanent room in the already small bed, was hard to remove if I needed full bed use, needs a key to open and close, and isn't as water proof as the Truxedo which is solid from end to end.

I haven't decided what I am doing to transport bike yet. The truxedo is solid, I was half wondering if I can affix a fork mount to the back of the bed and let the rear tire sit on the cover. I have a mount for the roof rack, and I have trailer receiver racks, but doubt I will carry SUP/Kayak and bike in same trip for my usage.

I would have gone with the HD if it didn't force me to get the roller cover, even with its limitations, but I wasn't like the price, canister or keys at all. Not as important, but I like the look of the roof bars over a bed rack "work truck look" that the HD borders on. If I didn't need a cover, the HD regular mount is great, but I need a cover combo.

 

[PatrickM]

Just installed.

60" bars are a little wide, 50" are too short on the rack (tried both).

Bed cover looks and works great, secure, but there is a large gap at front due to the drop in bed liner at front being much lower than sides, need to call and see if I installed right or need a bigger gasket.

How much weight can you put on the roof racks?? And how much were they???

 

[Jason L]

How much weight can you put on the roof racks?? And how much were they???

165lbs
$513 on Amazon (plus tax)

 

[PatrickM]

165lbs
$513 on Amazon (plus tax)

Thank you

 

[gkendrick]

I was going to go with the HD, but with the weight limit from the cover adapters at 185 pounds the expense didn't make sense. You not only need the HD, but you need a rolling canaster cover like the Retrax which is also much more expense and harder to remove. So this set up was about 1/3rd the cost and I like the cover better, personal preference.

60 is a perfect width for the truck, it's just because the cab rolls in heavy over the doors and you see the rack stick out as you are getting in that it would be nice to be shorter. It is high enough that you won't hit your head unless you are 6'5" or more, but it's a perception thing. The wider bars are more space and more function. If you look close at my first photo and third photo (windshield), you will see that the 60" is still within the overall truck width, and within the bed sides, it's just longer than the cab top.

Can you tell me the exact measured height from the cab roof surface to the very top of the crossbars? I’m trying to figure out a roof rack setup that will fit in the 6” gap under my slide-in cabover camper. Thanks.

 

[Jason L]

Can you tell me the exact measured height from the cab roof surface to the very top of the crossbars? I’m trying to figure out a roof rack setup that will fit in the 6” gap under my slide-in cabover camper. Thanks.

Looks between 3.5" and 5" given the curve of the roof. So center line, it is closer to 3.5" above, toward the door frame it's about 5"

 

[gkendrick]

Thanks! Just what I needed to know.

 

[RangerCat]

The rack looks great. Do you have any photos with the racks loaded?

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