Selecting the right truck bed rack for your needs can be overwhelming. There are many different options available, how do you select the right one?
Consider the Variables
Style (Utility rack, Overlanding rack, Kayak rack, Softopper rack, or simple Bed Crossbars)
Height
Length
Materials of construction
Load rating
Tonneau cover compatibility
Let's break down each one of the variables
Truck Bed Rack Style
Your intended use for the truck bed rack will determine what style you need.
If you are carrying long items, such as lumber, pipe, and ladders you may want a Utility style bed rack.
Do you plan to use your truck for weekend camping adventures? Are you going to install a rooftop tent and off-road accessories? In that instance, you're a candidate for an Overland style truck bed rack.
For folks who are into water sports, there are racks designed for kayaks, surf boards, and paddle boards.
If you like Softopper canvas canopies, there are truck bed racks designed to fit over your topper.
Are you interested in carrying items like bicycles, skis, or cargo carriers? If so, simple bed bars may be the easy answer.
This is our upcoming CXR Utility Max bed rack, an industry game changer
Our CXR system is the ultimate overland style bed rack
Our 12” VRS bed rack system will help you maintain a low overall profile
Our VRS Kayak Racks offers great utility
The ultimate setup!!
Our PRO-XE is the best available truck bed crossbar system
Truck Bed Rack Height
Utility & Kayak style bed racks are always a little bit higher than the cab of your truck. This allows long items to extend over the roof of your truck for better balance.
When your preference is an overland style bed rack, you have to consider what height limitations you may have.
If you have overall height restrictions due to a garage door, or if you want to maintain a low center of gravity, you will want a low profile or mid height bed rack.
If you prefer full visibility through the rear view mirror, and you want as much room as possible for mounting accessories, you will want a cab height bed rack.
Cab height bed rack system with rooftop tent extended over the roof of the truck
Mid height bed rack system with rooftop tent
Low profile bed crossbar system
Truck Bed Rack Length
Ultimately the truck bed rack that you choose should cover the full length of your truck bed. The length of most bed racks from other manufacturers is limited by the design of the truck bed itself. Most other racks fall approximately one foot short of the end of your truck bed.
Our VRS and CXR truck bed racks are designed to cover the full length of your truck bed. This is accomplished by putting the rack on a “foundation”, such as our Voodoo Rail System (VRS) and Base Rail System (BRS).
Our Voodoo Rail System makes full bed length coverage possible
Don’t let the internal design of your truck bed limit the length of your bed rack
Materials of Construction
Generally speaking, steel bed racks can be a little bit stronger and a little less expensive, but steel is always susceptible to corrosion. Bed racks will see abuse during their lifetime, any damage that removes the finish can eventually become a spot where rust will begin. If your preference is a steel bed rack, it is important to use touch up paint on any areas of damage to protect the finish.
Aluminum has a very high strength-to-weight ratio, and it can never rust. The lighter weight of an aluminum bed rack also makes installation and removal from your truck much easier, and the lower weight also will reduce the amount of suspension sag.
Our steel VRS racks are strong and economical
Our aluminum CXR system is super strong and lightweight
Our aluminum VRS Kayak rack is light enough for one person to remove it from the truck
Load Rating
Depending on how you will use your rack, load rating may be very important. Rooftop tents and lumber are very heavy.
The best way to make sure that the load rating of your bed rack is adequate, is to total up the weight of all the items that you may carry on the rack.
The manner in which you use the rack will also be a factor. Aggressive off-roading will require a much higher load rating. Pay attention to the static and dynamic load ratings of any rack that you are considering.
A truck bed rack that properly supports the load uniformly along the length of your truck bed can be critical. Most truck bed racks on the market have "feet" that create pressure points on the bed side, which can cause damage. Our VRS and CXR bed racks have a foundation that will prevent damage to your bed sides, and allow for safely carrying of heavier loads.
Our Voodoo Rail System (VRS) will properly and safely carry heavy loads with no damage to your truck bed sides
This is the Base Rail System (BRS) on our CXR product line
Tonneau Cover Compatibility
Utilizing a bed cover in conjunction with your bed rack is a great way to maximize the utility of your pickup truck.
There are a few factors that you need to consider:
Do you require the security of a hardcover, or is a soft cover sufficient? How about the convenience of a retractable cover?
Do you require the ability to open the cover with the bed rack installed, or do you intend to access items in the bed of the truck through the tailgate?
The good news is that all KB Voodoo bed racks are designed from the ground up to be tonneau compatible.
Click here and here for more info about fitting tonneau covers with truck bed racks.
This is our CXR system installed with a Peragon tonneau cover
Here is our VRS Hi Rise Crossbar system installed with a Truxedo PRO-X15 tonneau cover
Ask Us Questions!!
This has been a general overview, if you have more in-depth questions about truck bed rack selection, please feel free to reach out to us at support@kbvoodoo.com