Which Bed Rack Height is Right for Me?
When outfitting your truck for epic trips, selecting the appropriate truck bed rack height is crucial. The height of your rack will directly impact your ability to mount a rooftop tent and other accessories, it will determine bed cover compatibility, it will impact bed capacity, and more. TRUKD racks are unique in that they are expandable over time. They are also easily adjusted every 2” in height. However, it is important to start off on the right foot, so let’s dive into the most critical piece of the puzzle: the roof top tent
Why Choose the Rooftop Tent First?
Before selecting your truck bed rack height, it's essential to determine the size and dimensions of your preferred rooftop tent if you are going to run one. The length of your tent will dictate the required height of your rack. Here are the general rules of thumb:
- Wedge Roof Top Tents: These tents require a 24.5” bed rack. Since they are typically pretty long they need to be elevated above the cab. The last thing you want is an expensive roof top tent hanging off the back of your truck. Pop-up roof top tents that deploy straight up would also fall under this category.
- Clamshell Roof Top Tents: Some of these tents allow you to run the shorter 6.5”, 12.5”, and 18.5’ rack systems. If the closed tent fits within the dimensions of the truck bed then you should be good! Of course there is nothing stopping you from installing a clamshell on the 24.5” rack if you have other reasons that you need the height (like a folding bed cover).
- Bi-Fold Soft Roof Top Tents: These tents generally allow you to run the 6.5”, 12.5”, and 18.5” rack systems as long as the closed dimensions of the tent fall within the truck bed size. There are only a couple bifold roof top tents that are larger than most truck beds.
Other Considerations:
There are other factors to consider when it comes to picking your rack height, especially if you don’t plan to use a roof top tent.
- Toppers: Soft toppers or Flated toppers require 24.5” racks for clearance.
- Bed Covers: Folding bed covers typically required at least 24.5” of rack height to remain functional under the rack.
- Stored Gear: Taller setups in the bed may limit how low your rack can be. An example would be a decked drawer system with tall items on top. Or a Diamondback Cover with gear on top of it.
- Mounted Gear: The gear that you plan to mount on the rack may also require a certain rack height. Longer items like ladders, kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards will need to go over the cab thus requiring a 24.5” rack.
By following these guidelines and carefully considering your specific needs, you can select the ideal truck bed rack height for your adventures, whether they take you to the job site or on epic overland treks. Besides what has already been mentioned, it is important to consider where you want your truck to be in the future. We often change the setups on our trucks, which is why we offer the most modular bed rack system out there. It can come with you through all the changes over time, whether they be small (like a new tent) or large (like a new truck)!
Every setup is different, so please contact us today for assistance on choosing the correct bed rack for your truck.
