Amazon Roof Rack- Who’s Got One?

[StreeTaco]

Which of you are running this rack? It’s ok, we won’t judge you!

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[tacorancher]

Tangent question - how bad is wind noise with good quality roof racks? Uptop overland has a cool looking one.

 

[PullinDoubles]

Roof racks look Really dumb. And like anything installed on the outside of the truck. Hurt mpg.

 

[tacorancher]

Roof racks look Really dumb. And like anything installed on the outside of the truck. Hurt mpg.

I think they look awesome but because of the wind noise and mpg hit I’ll opt for bed racks

 

[bitflogger]

Roof racks look Really dumb. And like anything installed on the outside of the truck. Hurt mpg.

I would not say categorically dumb but this stuff comes to mind.

With much experience I'd not and don't have anything but a first tier brand like my decades of experience with 1Up and Yakima. My trip between home and cabin is mostly a huge tourism and outdoor sports pursuit corridor - 3 Interstates and a well travelled US highway. I see the results of stooges and cheapskates.

There is also a fair amount of "SMH" with how people dress up their vehicles and use them. I confess I'm not a motorized off road hobbyist but am a MTB trail builder and ski area crew who is off road a lot. Just my stock TRD OR is highly capable and does a whole lot more off road and heavy duty use than what I see at the trailheads and parking lots.

In addition to the fuel economy I consider noise and cleaning. A few weeks ago a dude in similar '24 TRD OR but short bed pulled next to me in ski area parking lot. What fit perfectly in my long bed with my Fas-Top sort of needed how he had racks and also a roof box. Aside form all his fart knocking around to carry same stuff he complained about the 2 - 4 MPG less he was getting and cross winds.

 

[tacorancher]

I would not say categorically dumb but this stuff comes to mind.

With much experience I'd not and don't have anything but a first tier brand like my decades of experience with 1Up and Yakima. My trip between home and cabin is mostly a huge tourism and outdoor sports pursuit corridor - 3 Interstates and a well travelled US highway. I see the results of stooges and cheapskates.

There is also a fair amount of "SMH" with how people dress up their vehicles and use them. I confess I'm not a motorized off road hobbyist but am a MTB trail builder and ski area crew who is off road a lot. Just my stock TRD OR is highly capable and does a whole lot more off road and heavy duty use than what I see at the trailheads and parking lots.

In addition to the fuel economy I consider noise and cleaning. A few weeks ago a dude in similar '24 TRD OR but short bed pulled next to me in ski area parking lot. What fit perfectly in my long bed with my Fas-Top sort of needed how he had racks and also a roof box. Aside form all his fart knocking around to carry same stuff he complained about the 2 - 4 MPG less he was getting and cross winds.

I think that’s all valid except that there is a significant hobbyist / enthusiast / fun / aesthetic element to all of this. As long as you know the consequences but want to do some of these things for fun, I see no problem with it. I think bed racks are cool. I may slap some on. Do I need them? Probably not. I don’t need the snorkel either but I like it. It’s a mix of utility and silliness that I embrace. Some people like the “overland” look etc and they are not required to be practical.

There is also a weird long bed superiority thing with some folks - I think it’s all about what you like and need. There are pros and cons. For me a long bed won’t work with the angles I need going off road. I’m already pretty far from an SUV on break over so I don’t want to push it further. But to each their own. It’s all good whatever works for each person.

 

[bitflogger]

I think that’s all valid except that there is a significant hobbyist / enthusiast / fun / aesthetic element to all of this. As long as you know the consequences but want to do some of these things for fun, I see no problem with it. I think bed racks are cool. I may slap some on. Do I need them? Probably not. I don’t need the snorkel either but I like it. It’s a mix of utility and silliness that I embrace. Some people like the “overland” look etc and they are not required to be practical.

There is also a weird long bed superiority thing with some folks - I think it’s all about what you like and need. There are pros and cons. For me a long bed won’t work with the angles I need going off road. I’m already pretty far from an SUV on break over so I don’t want to push it further. But to each their own. It’s all good whatever works for each person.

Long bed might not be superiority as you or some think. It is a simple matter of function. In my long-running shopping and testing I'd see the short beds could not carry or carry well what my wife's minivan and our wagons could/can with seats down could.

In one case it was a new era Ranger on dealer lot. At the Ford dealer I had our minivan loaded with my electrician's 6 ft ladder, two tool boxes and supplies I shuttle often. What fit perfectly in the Nissan and Toyota long beds could not fit in the others. When salesman said I can set the ladder sideways or sleep that way he was right not for that and also fitting other stuff.

Associates with a Chevy Colorado and short bed TRD Sport both acknowledge their challenges with the space but so many have and use pickups like cars or replacing cars that I understand where the overall market is.

Part of my gamble on the Fas-Top was their having a compatible rack but I lean towards getting a Yakima setup or similar for ease of removal or use as needed. That will be a few minutes time to get the utility or simplicity.

 

[tacorancher]

Long bed might not be superiority as you or some think. It is a simple matter of function. In my long-running shopping and testing I'd see the short beds could not carry or carry well what my wife's minivan and our wagons could/can with seats down could.

In one case it was a new era Ranger on dealer lot. At the Ford dealer I had our minivan loaded with my electrician's 6 ft ladder, two tool boxes and supplies I shuttle often. What fit perfectly in the Nissan and Toyota long beds could not fit in the others. When salesman said I can set the ladder sideways or sleep that way he was right not for that and also fitting other stuff.

Associates with a Chevy Colorado and short bed TRD Sport both acknowledge their challenges with the space but so many have and use pickups like cars or replacing cars that I understand where the overall market is.

Part of my gamble on the Fas-Top was their having a compatible rack but I lean towards getting a Yakima setup or similar for ease of removal or use as needed. That will be a few minutes time to get the utility or simplicity.

I think this is what I’m talking about. Long bed folks often preach about why the short bed has little utility or as much utility as car. It leaves me scratching my head because it’s not true and also why the preaching? My Tacoma has about 125 cubic feet of space back there that doesn’t interfere with my cabin. In my 4Runner I had like 50 cubic feet and 90 cubic feet if I folded the seats down and eliminated half the cabin. There is also a benefit to separation. I can haul 800 pounds of corn, a dead deer, store my guns, and strap a crap load of stuff on top of my Diamondback and still drive the family around in comfort. Can’t do that with a 4Runner or a car. It’s also more secure as you cannot break my diamondback as easy as a window. So I’m not in agreement on the premise that short bed = car interior space or that only long bed people are using their truck as a truck. Again, different needs require different configurations.

 

[topcanuck]

I negotiated for an oem roof rack when purchasing my 24 off road. Found it to be too noisy and also realized there would be snow clearing issues in the winter. Removed it and sold it. Lost 500 when selling, but it saw lots of use for 6 months lugging my kayak around.

 

[bitflogger]

I think this is what I’m talking about. Long bed folks often preach about why the short bed has little utility or as much utility as car. It leaves me scratching my head because it’s not true and also why the preaching? My Tacoma has about 125 cubic feet of space back there that doesn’t interfere with my cabin. In my 4Runner I had like 50 cubic feet and 90 cubic feet if I folded the seats down and eliminated half the cabin. There is also a benefit to separation. I can haul 800 pounds of corn, a dead deer, store my guns, and strap a crap load of stuff on top of my Diamondback and still drive the family around in comfort. Can’t do that with a 4Runner or a car. It’s also more secure as you cannot break my diamondback as easy as a window. So I’m not in agreement on the premise that short bed = car interior space or that only long bed people are using their truck as a truck. Again, different needs require different configurations.

I did not say or intend to say little or no utility. I said or intended to say a short bed I actually hoped could work - garage space, parking - just cannot do what my van and wagons could or can do. It is a really nice compromise for not needing the several 8 ft bed pickups I've owned or had via work and farm.

 

[tacorancher]

I did not say or intend to say little or no utility. I said or intended to say a short bed I actually hoped could work - garage space, parking - just cannot do what my van and wagons could or can do. It is a really nice compromise for not needing the several 8 ft bed pickups I've owned or had via work and farm.

Makes sense. Sorry to throw off Tacoma world vibes. All good.

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