Bed Rack + Tonneau Cover

[Socal150tremor]

I’m pretty happy with my Retrax XR cover and Leitner designs bed rack. I don’t use a rooftop tent, but I occasionally put paddle boards on top. I’m a ground tent kind of guy l. I have water storage pods from Leitner and the gear pods. It’s a great set up and my fridge from the dometic fits right underneath the bed Tonneau cover. It’s easy to set up and take down When not using things for day-to-day driving. I know it’s an expensive set up but, I’m pretty happy with the quality so far. One of the biggest things for me, as well as I like having rear visibility out the back window and with the rearview mirror. The low racks block that. I’m not a fan.

 

[Bowhunting Tremor]

Great looking set up. love the mesh idea across the top. Now to find or modify a bedrack that allows a trifold tonneau

 

[Yeti]

Now add a net from the top to store stuff in.

 

[Cranbery]

I’m pretty happy with my Retrax XR cover and Leitner designs bed rack. I don’t use a rooftop tent, but I occasionally put paddle boards on top. I’m a ground tent kind of guy l. I have water storage pods from Leitner and the gear pods. It’s a great set up and my fridge from the dometic fits right underneath the bed Tonneau cover. It’s easy to set up and take down When not using things for day-to-day driving. I know it’s an expensive set up but, I’m pretty happy with the quality so far. One of the biggest things for me, as well as I like having rear visibility out the back window and with the rearview mirror. The low racks block that. I’m not a fan.

Love this. When I move out of Miami, this is exactly the add I want to make to my retrax for camping and outdoors. Kudos to you and the setup!

 

[MRB14]

Have mine sitting in the living room waiting for the truck. Haven't got the rack system yet but looking at Thule as the yakima set up was more expensive, though it looks a little better. I was surprised at the price of those racks, wasn't expecting to spend $1k for the crossbars, the feet, and the bike racks.

Looks great on your truck, exactly what it's supposed to do. I don't think that system can be beat as far as practicality, durability, and ease of use. Between the retrax pro XR and the racks it'll be ~$4k though so it does get pr

My solution on my RAM 1500 was the BAK industries X4 rolling cover (love it) and Rhino rack rails installed with Rhino cross bars. Works very well and I plan on replicating this on my Tremor on order.
View attachment 1613

Love your set up.

 

[rinkratrob]

This thread is gold. So many options. I have 1 week to pick before my road trip. Leaning toward a Diamond Back, but will end up using the bed a lot for moving some soil and plants for the home garden. I like the security features, but the roll up seems pretty reasonable too. Ugh.... decisions, decisions...

 

[Fozzy]

Still may try out the Lietner, but this UpTop stuff is pretty legit. Very light and once bolted together it’s solid as can be. It doesn’t obstruct any of the rear window view and I like that a lot. It doesn’t make any wind noise or rattles and has 7 load bars across the top. I have the Retrax Powertrax XR So the cover will work with any rack system without interference.

 

[Badmothertrucker]

Still may try out the Lietner, but this UpTop stuff is pretty legit. Very light and once bolted together it’s solid as can be. It doesn’t obstruct any of the rear window view and I like that a lot. It doesn’t make any wind noise or rattles and has 7 load bars across the top. I have the Retrax Powertrax XR So the cover will work with any rack system without interference.

View attachment 17689

View attachment 17690

That rack looks great!

I would of thought from the looks of it would of definitely obstructed your rear view, good to know it doesn't. In that bottom pic the bed looks like its a foot shorter.

What is that painted to match blue support on the bottom pic underneath side steps going towards rear wheel?

 

[Fozzy]

That rack looks great!

I would of thought from the looks of it would of definitely obstructed your rear view, good to know it doesn't. In that bottom pic the bed looks like its a foot shorter.

What is that painted to match blue support on the bottom pic underneath side steps going towards rear wheel?

They’re the BDS Recoil traction bars. I had them powder coated and PPF’d. Haven’t put the stickers back on yet. Got ride of the crazy spring wrap and axle walk I had. Love them.

 

[Stix999]

Posting up a pic of a Yakima knock off. So far so good with purpose of a kayak rack. Nice to have adjustable height for curved gunwales of boat…and 1/3 of the price

 

[Lobo-Tremor]

Still may try out the Lietner, but this UpTop stuff is pretty legit. Very light and once bolted together it’s solid as can be. It doesn’t obstruct any of the rear window view and I like that a lot. It doesn’t make any wind noise or rattles and has 7 load bars across the top. I have the Retrax Powertrax XR So the cover will work with any rack system without interference.

View attachment 17689

View attachment 17690

I love my Retrax Pro.
Best bed cover I have ever had.

 

[ScoutingTremor]

Diamondback SE, with the front runner rack. Had diamondback instal the rails, don’t need that stress in my life.

Came together quite well, can’t wait to have some skis on her next winter.
View attachment 3610

Does your tailgate drop and go back up and latch on it's own with the diamondback se?

 

[rkrichter]

Thinking about a Diamondback HD with Yakima racks to start some RTT adventures. If you need to pull off one of the panels for a load, is the only option basically to leave the panel behind or maybe put it in the bed? Like there's no way to pull it back and latch it down on top of the other panel or something? This of course would be when I would have the racks off. Probably a silly question but figured I'd ask. Also, thoughts on the diamond plated vs smooth finish looks on Tremors (avalanche)? Something about the diamond (rough) I like but see most people on here an other Ford forums getting the smooth finish.

 

[Rebel12]

Thinking about a Diamondback HD with Yakima racks to start some RTT adventures. If you need to pull off one of the panels for a load, is the only option basically to leave the panel behind or maybe put it in the bed? Like there's no way to pull it back and latch it down on top of the other panel or something? This of course would be when I would have the racks off. Probably a silly question but figured I'd ask. Also, thoughts on the diamond plated vs smooth finish looks on Tremors (avalanche)? Something about the diamond (rough) I like but see most people on here an other Ford forums getting the smooth finish.

That’s exactly the setup I have. I think it looks great, getting used to the functionality of the DB. I had a Tundra with a soft tonneau and would roll it up frequently. However, The Tremor is it’s own boss and needed the DB cover! I’ll adapt to not having the convenience of a roll up cover, the Diamondback HD is very nice quality - solid.

The Yakima HD bars are just as nice, but overpriced. The fixed version is not visible in the rear view mirror and they come off with 8 nuts that attach them to the rails - 8 minutes.

I don’t regret either, I like the look it gives my Tremor and will adapt when I need to haul a bigger item. Of course, you can also tie down a bigger item on top of your Diamondback HD.

 

[Rebel12]

Also, both DB panels can easily be removed at home, but you’re left with the center strip that is attached with 4 bolts. All can be removed in 15 minutes, probably 30 to put everything back on.

I think bigger items can be strapped on top or I’ll take a trailer to the store if I have to.

Probably the biggest drawback so far, is that I find myself opening the rear panel to open the tailgate. The rear panel weatherstrip prevents the tailgate from opening easily. Then, close tailgate, close rear panel.

 

[rkrichter]

Thanks for the feedback! I'm trying to decide if I like the diamond plate finish or the finish you went with. Also, my biggest concerns are loading big stuff and also the tailgate opening you mentioned. The bigger stuff, I don't do a whole lot of, but when I have to, would be a little annoying. I've seen some people say they an open and close their tailgates no problem, even with the key fob, but most are saying what you are saying. Their warehouse is only 2 hours from me and they said they'd only charge like $50 to install it so if I go with a Diamondback, I might make the drive out there and have them install it and maybe they have a way of making it work better with the tailgate. Maybe not. But if the point of this change for me is for RTT camping, this seems like a good option with the Yakima bars. I just don't have much interest in a rollback cover with the space it takes up in the tailgate.

 

[Rebel12]

I don’t think you can go wrong with either finish, they both go well with the truck. FWIW, the smooth finish matches the running boards. Since it took 6 weeks to order, I over thought it and almost cancelled my order a couple weeks before it was built, but glad I didn’t.

I disabled the power tailgate on mine with Forscan, I prefer to have direct control how it closes. So if you manually open/close the tailgate, it’s possible to exert enough force to overcome the tight seal. I’m thinking the worst case might be that if I close the tailgate without opening the panel, I might wear the weather strip and have to replace the rear portion from time to time.

 

[rkrichter]

Yeah I'm liking what you are saying about the smooth finish. Matches the rest of the truck better. For camping purposes, I do wonder if it will be a pain having to craw into the bed to get things out but I think I am leaning on going with this setup. 68 inch HD Bars for our trucks for the Yakima racks?

 

[Rebel12]

Yes, I went with the 68”.

 

[ScoutingTremor]

I don’t think you can go wrong with either finish, they both go well with the truck. FWIW, the smooth finish matches the running boards. Since it took 6 weeks to order, I over thought it and almost cancelled my order a couple weeks before it was built, but glad I didn’t.

I disabled the power tailgate on mine with Forscan, I prefer to have direct control how it closes. So if you manually open/close the tailgate, it’s possible to exert enough force to overcome the tight seal. I’m thinking the worst case might be that if I close the tailgate without opening the panel, I might wear the weather strip and have to replace the rear portion from time to time.

Coming back to old thread, I think I am going to upgrade from amazon soft cover that sucks to a Diamondback.

Tailgate issues- did they go away? Can you open and close the tailgate now you have worn it in, is the cover too tight in the back? Another poster says their automatic tailgate works- I know it's all about how tight you position the levers but want to know if you sacrifice water getting in to have that luxury.