Truck Racks

[WiscoHoundsman]

With using a base camp are you planning on something like a wall tent or smaller tents? I have fit 2-3 people’s gear in a 6.5’ bed with a cargo rack in the hitch. I prefer a topper but the first 2 years we just loaded everything heavy on the bottom and lighter stuff up above. Put a tarp over and all the ratchet straps and bunny cords have to keep it tight.

Last year I found a truck topper on FB market place for $100 to use. Same concept just don’t need to strap everything down.

 

[OlderGobbler]

Leer 100XR with Yakima LockNLoad System on top.

 

[fmyth]

That’s cool. Was kicking around the idea of a topper also. Trying to figure out what would best suit my needs. Only thing that concerns me with topper is will it be enough room? I know I will probably bring way more than I will need. Also would probably be a couple of us going. Just trying to figure best way for all our stuff. I really need to sit down and figure exactly what we would be bringing.

My truck bed is 5'7" and I have the basic ARE shell. I take a 7cf deep freezer, generator, Kodiak 10x14 tent, 2 propane tanks, 2 gas cans, 2 coolers, 2 cots, bags, pads and enough guns, gear, food, water for 2 men to camp & hunt for 3-4 weeks. My shell has rails on the roof so I could put a rack or a cargo carrier up there if I needed to.

 

[dster3]

I've had pretty much everything on my 5.5' tacoma, and have settled on a topper. I'll never go back to an open rack for camping/hunting.

I'd recommend a topper with a roof rack, some boxes on top if you need extra storage. You'll likely need some type of carrier on the hitch if you're having gear for multiple people or something like firewood, cooler, generator, etc.

It doubles my bed space and keeps things dry and keeps snow off. Clearing snow out of a bed while getting gear is a major PITA. My gear stays 95% dust free compared to having an open bed and rack. For a basecamp, i throw all my pillows and bedding into a large sack and that goes in the shell. I'd have to keep all that inside the cab when i can a rack.

If you go the topper route, get windoors, or sides that open. Being able to grab gear that sits at the front of the bed without having to crawl inside is worth the extra expense. I have some wood panels to make a platform for on top of the wheel wells and some longer milk crates that can slide underneath. Helps a lot with organization. With a 5.5' bed, stay away from drawers like decked. The bed is too small for it to use space efficiently.

If you go with something like an alucab, smartcap, gofast topper etc. you can mount extra boxes or gas cans to the side exterior as well.

 

[ODB]

I just added tracks to my Leer canopy to give me extra sheltered / locked space in the bed. Sadly, I can’t imagine hauling a lot of easy-to-pinch stuff in an open bed these days.

 

[F21FALCON]

Some very good informative points made. A topper has a lot of benefits with a rack on top for just in case. You guys got me thinking of how much stuff I really need to take! I've started a list and when I think I've got it ironed out will see what would work best. I appreciate the feed back. Good to get info from guys who have done it before.

 

[F21FALCON]

I've had pretty much everything on my 5.5' tacoma, and have settled on a topper. I'll never go back to an open rack for camping/hunting.

I'd recommend a topper with a roof rack, some boxes on top if you need extra storage. You'll likely need some type of carrier on the hitch if you're having gear for multiple people or something like firewood, cooler, generator, etc.

It doubles my bed space and keeps things dry and keeps snow off. Clearing snow out of a bed while getting gear is a major PITA. My gear stays 95% dust free compared to having an open bed and rack. For a basecamp, i throw all my pillows and bedding into a large sack and that goes in the shell. I'd have to keep all that inside the cab when i can a rack.

If you go the topper route, get windoors, or sides that open. Being able to grab gear that sits at the front of the bed without having to crawl inside is worth the extra expense. I have some wood panels to make a platform for on top of the wheel wells and some longer milk crates that can slide underneath. Helps a lot with organization. With a 5.5' bed, stay away from drawers like decked. The bed is too small for it to use space efficiently.

If you go with something like an alucab, smartcap, gofast topper etc. you can mount extra boxes or gas cans to the side exterior as well.

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You brought up a few things I didn't consider if going with a rack.