Camping outdoors with family or family is a great way to improve bonding and cohesiveness.
Some people prefer camping on the land, whereas others love to camp on their trucks. Camping on the rack has become a new trend for outdoor lovers.
But the problem comes with the existing rack system of your truck. It might not be suitable for roof top tent.
What is the solution, then?
You need to find an additional bed rack. But a random rack will not give you the experience you are looking for. You must pick the best truck bed rack for roof top tent.
It will help you mount the rooftop tent smoothly. You can enjoy the comfort and fantastic view without damaging your car.
My Top Picks
The 7 Best Truck Bed Rack For Roof Top Tent of 2022
Lots of options are available out there and getting overwhelmed is common with so many options. I have picked 7-bed racks for you to make your decision-making easier.
1. TracRac TracONE Universal Truck Rack
You need something durable to handle a heavy load in the roof tent camping for your truck. This TracRac TracONE Universal Truck Rack is exactly what you are looking for.
It offers 800 pounds load capacity when installed correctly. Your entire family can smoothly camp over your truck with the help of this rack.
Rust-resistant aluminum construction makes this rack suitable for any condition. It will stay new and shiny regardless of the rain, sun heat, or snow. You will also have dual-stage powder coating that will resist wear and prolongs the durability. It also matches your truck finish.
A lot of people are afraid to install additional bed racks thinking of damaging their truck. But this one features no-drilling clamp installation with single-axis mounting clamps. You can install it without damaging your car.
Removing is easier as well for its user-friendly design. You can use this rack for any kind of standard truck and it will fit perfectly to deliver an amazing camping experience. Its tie-downs functions will enhance the load stability as well.
Things I Like
- Durable construction
- Easy to install
- Suitable for all seasons
- Easy to take off
- Suitable for additional load ups
Things Can be Improved
- No height adjustment.
2. Yakima Overhaul Hd Adjustable-Height Heavy Duty Truck Bed Rack
YAKIMA Height Heavy Duty Truck Bed Rack is another excellent overland truck bed rack with durability, strength, and convenience. The aluminum engineering with a durable powder-coat finish makes the rack more durable. You can expect a decent lifespan from this rack.
It offers a maximum on-road capacity of up to 500lbs. You will also have 300lbs off-road capacity. That means you can enjoy camping on the truck with your family comfortably.
Compatibility is another key feature of this rack. You can use it for any standard truck. Installation is simple, thanks to its QuickChange rack attachment. Mounting and taking it off is possible within minutes without taking help from others.
Sometimes you need to adjust the crossbar height to perfect it for camping over the truck. This rack offers you the flexibility to adjust the height from 19-30″ according to your needs.
You will also have tie-down points to help you secure more loads while driving. T-slot attachments are also there to mount even more accessories.
We often need a bottle opener in our camping and finding that is impossible in the jungle. This rack features a built-in bottle opener for added convenience.
Things I Like
- Powder-coat finish for longevity
- Durable construction for more loading capacity
- Easy installation without any drilling
- Height adjustment
- Suitable for mounting different accessories
Things Can be Improved
- Not suitable for large family.
3. TMS 800LB Universal Pick Up Truck Ladder Contractor Rack
Sometimes we plan to camp for our entire family on the truck. You need something really powerful to handle that load. That is exactly what you get from TMS 800LB Universal Truck Ladder Rack.
You can consider this one as the best roof rack for pickup truck for its perfect match for all the pickup trucks. It will fit smoothly into any standard pickup truck.
Heavy-duty steel construction is another crucial feature of this rack. It can handle up to an 800lb weight load that is more than enough for your family.
The rack is 30 inches in height. But different sizes are available to meet your different needs. It will be a perfect fit for your truck. Installation is easier as well. You can do it yourself, but it requires drilling in your car.
The upper finish of this rack is smooth. It will match your car finish and thus enhance the look of your car as well.
Things I Like
- High loading capacity
- Suitable for any standard trucks
- Different sizes available for different needs
- Smooth finish for any weather
- Easy and simple installation
Things Can be Improved
- Drilling required for the installation.
4. AA-Racks APX2503 Low Profile Heavy Duty Aluminum Truck Bed Rack
A low-profile utility truck is what everyone desires. AA-Racks Heavy Duty Aluminum Truck Bed Rack comes with such a low-profile yet durable design. It helps you enjoy truck camping for more convenience and comfort.
You will get a load capacity of up to 300-lb. on-road and 180 lbs off-road. It is suitable for 2-3 people. The aluminum construction with powder-coat finish prolongs the durability from the harmful elements in nature.
The best truck rack for roof top tent should be easy to install. That is exactly what this one is offering. You need no drilling. It comes with universal mounting clamps that make it simple to install without any hassle.
Its user-friendly design also makes it perfectly fit a variety of pickup trucks. The weather-resistant paint allows you to use the rack for all seasons.
Things I Like
- Low-profile design for longevity
- Suitable for any weather
- Easy to install without drilling
- Fits any pickup trucks
- User-friendly design
Things Can be Improved
- No height adjustment possible.
5. YAKIMA Outpost HD Mid-Height Heavy Duty Truck Bed Rack
YAKIMA Heavy Duty Truck Bed Rack is one of the top-class truck bed racks you should consider for your truck. It offers a 500 lbs on-road loading capacity with a 300 lbs off-road capacity. You can enjoy camping with your family on the truck with this one.
The aluminum construction can easily handle the high loading problem. It also features a durable powder-coat finish that prolongs the lifespan of the rack. You can use it in any season regarding the temperature or sunlight.
Installing and packing in is easy, thanks to the QuickChange rack attachment. You will have a fixed mid-height position of 13″ that lets you enjoy a decent place for camping. This mid-height design delivers a low center of gravity for even more balance for camping.
You will also get tie-down points that allow you to secure more loads quickly. It even features T-slot attachments so you can mount even more items.
Things I Like
- High loading capacity
- Durable construction for longevity
- Tie-down points for more loads
- T-slots for mounting additional items
- QuickChange for easy installation
Things Can be Improved
- Lack of height adjustment.
6. Hooke Road F150 Overland Bed Rack
Hooke Road F150 Overland Bed Rack is another excellent bed rack for your truck. You can consider this as the best bed rack for roof top tent due to its durability and easy installation.
It is about 57 lbs., which makes it one of the lightest racks in the market. That means it will not increase the load on the truck too much.
With its 12.9″ height, you will get a decent yet not too high place for camping. The tensile 16-gauge steel construction will handle 400 Lbs dynamic and 800 Lbs static capacity. It will be more than enough for an entire family.
The black powder coat finish with a high-quality e-coating process also offers long-term corrosion protection. It will prolong the longevity of your rack.
Installation is easier as well since you do not need any cutting or drilling for the installation. But you need to bolt on for installation that might take some time.
Things I Like
- Lightweight yet durable construction
- High loading capacity
- Black-coat finish for all seasons use
- Easy installation without cutting or drilling
- Suitable for a large family
Things Can be Improved
- Not compatible with a truck with Tonneau Cover.
7. AA-Racks APX2502-BLK Low-Profile Aluminum Pick-Up Truck Ladder Rack
Up next is the AA-Racks Aluminum Pick-Up Truck Ladder Rack that comes to make your camping better. It features heavy-duty aluminum construction that can take loads up to 800 lbs. You can expect a long-term service for its rust-free design.
It is also engineered with a powder-coated finish with weather-resistant paint. You can use it in any weather regardless of the sun, heat, cold conditions, or rain. It is built to last for a long time.
Anyone will find it a hassle to drill, cut, and install the rack in your truck. You may need to hire a professional to handle the job. But this one needs no drilling that makes it easy to install. You can even do it with its universal mounting clamps.
This rack fits in any full-size pickup truck when it comes to fitting. That means you can use it for any standard-size truck. You can adjust the width to make it perfect for your truck.
Things I Like
- Heavy-duty construction for higher loadings
- Easy to install
- Perfect fit for full-size pickup trucks
- Rust-free design for all seasons
- Powder finish for rust-free experience
Things Can be Improved
- No additional hooks for carrying things.
How to Install Truck Bed Rack
You may have the right rack. But without proper installation, it will be impossible to get the full fun experience. Let’s see how to install your truck bed rack properly.
Pick the right rack
The first step is to pick the right rack. Make sure you pick something compatible with your truck. No matter how good your rack is, you cannot camp on it if it does not match your truck. So try to get the right one.
Check manual
After getting the right one, check the manual. The manual will tell you what to do and how to do it. Some racks need to be drilled where some come fully prepared for installation. Read the manual carefully and know every part of it.
Make your truck ready
Check whether there is any damage in your truck or not. Some trucks may seem alright from outside. But when you check them thoroughly, you find some damages. If everything is ok in your pickup truck, simply remove the bed lining to get to the metal body.
Mark the position
If the racks need drilling and cutting, make sure to do that as per the manual. Then mark the positions of the holes in your truck. Use a drill machine to create those holes in positions. Leave it as it is if drilling or cutting is not necessary.
Assemble the rack
Some racks come disassembled and you need to assemble that before installing them on the truck. Lay down all the parts and follow the manual to assemble the rack. Make sure you do the same thing on both sides to keep the rack aligned.
Raise the rack
Now reinstall the truck bed and then place the rack on it. Make sure you place it correctly according to the marked holes. Now attach the bolts if necessary.
Test it
Do not mount your tent over the rack until you test it. Make sure you do a proper test before installing the tent. Once it seems fine, install the rooftop tent and enjoy your camping.
Time to Wrap Up
You can take your camping experience to the next level with the roof top tent. But your truck rack might not be suitable to install a roof top tent. In that case, your rack might get damaged which will ultimately damage your car.
The only option is to install an additional bed rack in your truck. Make sure to get the best truck bed rack for roof top tent for your car. You can then enjoy the full benefits of a roof top tent without even having the right rack in your truck. So do not hesitate to invest time and effort to find the right RTT bed rack for your truck.
You May Also Like:
A List of Our Favorite Double Sleeping Pad For Roof Top Tent.