Bike rack above a retractable tonneau cover

[Price]

I upgraded my TV to a 2500 diesel, now I'm looking at my bike rack options. My last TV I put a front receiver hitch with a bike rack but I like the idea of a bike rack above a retractable tonneau cover but I'm having trouble finding something that can be removed easily and will let me close a retractable tonneau cover under the bike rack. If you have this set up on your truck please let me know a manufacture or how it's built. Thank you in advance.

[Price]

After putting some thought to it I came up with this.

1st: I installed a Peragon bed cover painted to match my truck.
2nd: I used bed rails to make the base for my rack.
3rd: Pipe clamps from Global.
4th:Cross rails and the rest of the rack is aluminum T-slot Extrusion rails from 80/20 Inc "The Industrial Erector Set".

With this setup I can easliy reset it for whatever else I may want to carry.
Next I plan on adding a fishing pole rack on the opposite side.

Hope you guys like my idea.

[ependydad]

Did you have the bed rails previously?

[Price]

No, I added the bed rails. The Peragon cover works with bed rail so when I'm not hulling the bikes I remove everything but the bed rails.

[ependydad]

That's a pretty cool setup.

[MtnGuy]

Price, your setup looks great !!!

I went a similar route with my bikes. I have a TracRac system including the TracRac tonneau cover. I had 2 Yakima Copperhead bike racks, 2 cross bars, and 4 rain gutter mounts, all left over from previous setups. A couple of dollars worth of aluminum flat plate and angle iron from Lowe's to adapt the Yak rain gutter mounts to the TracRac rails, and I was in business.



I found out my road bike seat sits at a little over 8'6".......the pull thru height of the local Burger King. I hit the warning sign (duh-uh), and spun the sign around. A bit of a scratched seat, and a broken adapter screw were the only results of that hit.

Other than "the incident", that setup has worked great for the last 8 years.

[Price]

MtnGuy, I like your well.

Do you have a roof mounted cross bar to hold up the front of your canoe?

I was worried about the height of my bikes when I pulled into McDonalds, I didn't chance it so I walked in.

Attached is a detail of the aluminum T-slot rails I used for the cross bars and for the bike rack base. I believe you can can get these up to 8ft. in length. I order replacement bike parts and modified them for the tire mounts.

[ependydad]

Measuring is real easy if you have a helper. Put the bikes up, stand in the bed with a level on a 2x4. Extend the 2x4 out the side of the bed and level is while your helper measures from ground to the board.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by Price

Do you have a roof mounted cross bar to hold up the front of your canoe?

I have a TracRac cantilever setup for the canoe to keep the bow end off of the truck roof. It attaches to the front TracRac.

[Grif76040]

That is a really nice looking system. Can you supply a parts list with links?

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by Grif76040

That is a really nice looking system. Can you supply a parts list with links?

TracRac Features / Overview | TracRac

Cantilever Extension - Fullsize | TracRac

Regretfully, I think the TracRac tonneau cover has been discontinued. I am not sure if other tonneau covers would fit, as it requires the cover to be mounted between the bed rails. I sent an email to TracRac to see if that has been discontinued.

Expensive, but an excellent system.

[Price]

Originally Posted by Grif76040

That is a really nice looking system. Can you supply a parts list with links?

Set of truck bed rails (your choice in supplier) I went with the single pipe style some are 3 piece and I was worried about how a 3 piece would hold up to the weight.

4 Global Truss Clamps (Black 2" wrap-around half cheseborough style clamps rated at 1100lbs) You can find these on Ebay
Global Truss Pro Clamp 4 Pack Black New in The Box Ships Same Day | eBay


I used the 80/20 Inc for the cross bars and the rest of the rack.
80/20 Inc has an Ebay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/8020incgaragesale/

I used the 15 Series in Black (15 Series = 1-1/2”)

4-15 S 1515-Black x 72 N
1- 15 S 1515-Black x 24 N
1- 15 S 1515-Black x 20 N
4- 15 Series 2 Hole Inside Corner Bracket 4302-BLACK N
4- 15 Series 2 Hole Inside Corner Gusset 4332-BLACK N
4- Joining Plate 15 S 4340 N
2 sets of Hardware 5/16-18 x .687" FBHSCS & Economy T-Nut #3320 (25pc) N
8- 1515 End caps

I ordered some extra pieces so I can make a shelf for an Ice Chest, Generator and so on.


I used a 2” Aluminum U-Channel for the bracket to connect the cross bars to the clamps.
Ordered through Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003U6IBHU/..._26725410_item_26725410_item

I ordered a replacement front wheel cradles for the Thule T2 Bike Rack from etrailer.com and theSoftride Soft Hook-and-Loop Tie-Downs. I used the arm from my old rack for the rubber mounts to mount to the bike frame. Etrailer.com has just about any piece or part for a bike rack.

95% of this rack will just bolt together the bracket between the clamps and cross bars is the only part you’ll need to make, just measure and drill holes.




Enjoy!

[Price]

Finally added a rod holder to my bed rack.

[Kevinwak]

I ended up welding my own rack that fits into the stake pockets I then have Rocky Mounts bike racks mounted to the cross bars. I really love it! Sorry, I can't find a better picture right now. The rack is 1-1/2" square tubing that sits on the box rails lengthwise and has a piece dropping into the stake pocket at each end. There are then 1" square tubing crossbars that have 5" legs and cross the bed with enough clearance to roll up the soft tonneau cover. The cross bars are attached to the rails with locking 1/2" pins. I think the only way to get a bike off of this is with a hack saw or grinder. We took it on our two week vacation to the mountains and loved it!

[Price]

Originally Posted by Kevinwak

I ended up welding my own rack that fits into the stake pockets I then have Rocky Mounts bike racks mounted to the cross bars. I really love it! Sorry, I can't find a better picture right now. The rack is 1-1/2" square tubing that sits on the box rails lengthwise and has a piece dropping into the stake pocket at each end. There are then 1" square tubing crossbars that have 5" legs and cross the bed with enough clearance to roll up the soft tonneau cover. The cross bars are attached to the rails with locking 1/2" pins. I think the only way to get a bike off of this is with a hack saw or grinder. We took it on our two week vacation to the mountains and loved it!
Attachment 91330

Nice job, really looks good.

[3hooligans]

I mounted a Yakima system over my cover. I carry five bikes on swagman bike trays. I can remove my rack and just leave the tracks which blend in to the bed rail.


Me the missus and three hooligans!
2014 Rockwood Premier 2317g
2012 Ford F150 super crew ecoboost
2011 Honda Pilot

[3hooligans]

Two more photos


Me the missus and three hooligans!
2014 Rockwood Premier 2317g
2012 Ford F150 super crew ecoboost
2011 Honda Pilot

[Kevinwak]

Originally Posted by 3hooligans

Two more photosAttachment 91581Attachment 91582


Me the missus and three hooligans!
2014 Rockwood Premier 2317g
2012 Ford F150 super crew ecoboost
2011 Honda Pilot

That is what I originally set out to do. But I then realized that the Yakima bars didn't give me enough clearance to roll up my soft cover. That is why I ended up building my own that has crossbars 6" above the bed rails.

[3hooligans]

That would be nice. I have to slide mine.


Me the missus and three hooligans!
2014 Rockwood Premier 2317g
2012 Ford F150 super crew ecoboost
2011 Honda Pilot