Tacoma Bed Rack Review

Finding the right bed rack for your Toyota Tacoma might not be as easy as you think, but it remains an exciting hunt. You are literally searching for the aftermarket bed rack system that will truly upgrade your Tacoma, allowing you to carry more gear, have a sleeker look, and become a serious overlanding truck.

Tacoma bed racks can give you the flexibility of carrying lots of different things. From roof top tents to kayaks, boards, luggage, bicycles, work gear, ladders, and much more. Bed racks are popular and in high demand, because they literally upgrade your Tacoma's cargo-carrying capacity. It frees up space inside the cab and maximizes space on the truck bed.

There are so many different types of bed racks on the market right now. Some are shorter and more aerodynamic, and some are taller and give you the ability to transport longer gear. At the end of the day what you want is to find the right model and design for your needs. We made a list showing what we think are some of the best Tacoma bed rack models on the market right now and hopefully by the end of it you will find the one that suits your Taco's demands.

Toyota Tacoma Bed Racks

CBI Tacoma Bed Rack

First on the list is the bed rack for Tacoma that is made by CBI and it fits the Toyota Tacoma models from 2005 up to the current model. CBI makes some of the highest quality bed racks on the market and they have been tested in some of the harshest terrains out there to ensure their durability. Now you can get this rack in two different height options. One is the roof rack height and the other is the roof height.

Both of them are useful in their own way. The higher Tacoma bed rack is useful if you want to extend your roof rack and connect the two so you can transport longer loads. On the other hand, the shorter one is better for the aerodynamics of the vehicle and if you mount anything on top of it you will have less aerodynamic drag and noise when driving.

Both of them, however, give you plenty of room to store anything under the bed rack that could possibly fit inside your truck bed. They are constructed out of sturdy, high-quality aluminum and are black powder coated to prevent any chipping, scratches, or erosion when driving around in a muddy environment. This CBI Tacoma bed rack has a maximum load rating of 320 lbs when the weight is evenly distributed on the crossbars.

This bed rack system uses clamps to install the bed rack and it won't take you a lot of time to do it. Thanks to the holes in the bed rack legs you can mount a variety of different accessories and accessory mounts that could be useful on your next off-road adventure. It weighs 67 lbs so it won't put a lot of additional weight on your rig.

It is certainly not the cheapest Tacoma bed rack out there however it will be a great addition to your truck so feel free to check it out!

Why do we like it?

• Great for mounting accessories
• No drill rack
• Plenty of room under the rack
• Easy installation

Tuff Stuff Bed Rack Tacoma

Here we have one of the cheapest Tacoma bed rack systems on the market right now and it was designed and produced by Tuff Stuff. It has undergone vigorous tests to make sure that it can withstand pretty much anything you put it through. This bed rack sits just below the cab, so it doesn't let you transport longer loads however it is more aerodynamic. But let's see what other things this bed rack offer can.

First of all let's start by saying that this Toyota Tacoma bed rack is made out of high-quality aluminum and is also black powder coated to prevent scratches and erosion when going through muddy terrains. This is a universal and adjustable bed rack that can be adjusted from 51" to the max width of 68" to fit the majority of truck beds.

It is a fairly lightweight rack and it gives you plenty of space to store anything beneath it in your truck bed. This Tacoma bed rack is also very sturdy and strong, and it has a weight capacity of over 800 lbs which is more than enough to carry pretty much anything you want and need, and you can even mount a bigger roof top tent on top of it!

Because this is a universal rack, and it can fit the majority of truck beds the installation of it is quite simple and it requires no drilling at all. It uses custom pinch plates that will pinch the inner lip of your bed rail. That also makes it simple to remove if you ever want to replace it or just don't feel like you want it anymore.

One important thing to mention is that this truck bed rack cannot be used if there is a tonneau cover. There's no doubt that this bed rack will complement your Toyota Tacoma and be useful on your next off-road trip so feel free to check it out!

Why do we like it?

• Adjustable bed rack
• No drill bed rack
• Universal rack system
• Aerodynamic design

Leitner Designs Active Cargo System Bed Rack Tacoma

Let's take a look at one of the most expensive Tacoma bed rack models on our list. This is the Leitner Active Cargo Forged bed rack. It was made to fit the newest Toyota Tacoma models. It is strong, reliable, and good-looking. This is a tall bed rack, 23" to be exact, so it won't be the most aerodynamic option if you put some cargo on it.

The rack itself has forged aluminum construction which is black powder coated for more resilience and to prevent any chipping, scratches, and even erosion when driving around muddy environments. It features heavy-duty 2" thick square load bars on which you can put pretty much anything as the maximum weight capacity is over 1400 lbs! As it is a tall bed rack you can carry longer loads and thanks to its huge weight capacity you can also mount a bigger roof top tent.

Another cool thing about this Toyota Tacoma bed rack is that it has rubber wind diffusers which will keep your cargo from shifting. It has a quad-rail load beam design for endless mounting options and is compatible with a wide variety of accessories and accessory mounts and even Thule, Rhino Rack, and Yakima accessories.

Installing it doesn't take a long time and you can do it by yourself. This bed rack uses clamps to attach to your truck bed rails. There are a couple more things that come with this rack and that is the sliding load bar which allows you to load up larger items like motorcycles and bikes, and a custom fastener which prevents the loosening under extreme vibration when driving on off-road terrains.

You can also get the optional integrated gear pod which is waterproof and gives you the ability to store a few extra things inside. This is one of the best Tacoma bed rack systems out there right now and will surely be a great addition to your off-road rig. Be sure to check it out!

Why do we like it?

• 1400lbs of weight rating
• Sleek design
• Durable and sturdy construction
• Plenty of room under the rack to store gear
• Easy and fast installation

RCI Bed Rack Tacoma

This is one of the most popular options when it comes to bed racks. This is the RCI Tacoma bed rack, and it comes at various different heights to fit your lifestyle and your needs. It is also a universal and adjustable bed rack meaning that it can fit a wide variety of vehicles out there. It is tested in some of the harshest conditions and terrains to ensure its durability. So, with that said let's take a closer look at it and see what else it has to offer.

This Tacoma bed rack can come in two different heights. One is 12" and the other is 18". Both are below the vehicle's roof level, so they are aerodynamic even if you put some cargo on top of it. It has a sturdy, strong, and long-lasting aluminum construction which has been black powder coated to prevent any chipping, scratches, and even erosion in muddy environments.

It has a heavy-duty design, and it is one of the strongest bed racks on the market right now as it can support up to 1500lbs of weight capacity which is more than enough to mount pretty much anything you can think of and even mount big roof top tent! It also features built-in mounting points that allow you to add a wide variety of accessories and accessory mounts.

As we already mentioned, this is an adjustable rack, and you can adjust the width of it from 54" to 64". It takes less than an hour to assemble it and install it onto your truck bed. This truck bed rack uses bed clamps for installation, so you do not need to drill any holes into your vehicle. This is one of the most popular options when it comes to Tacoma bed rack systems as we already said, and it is worth every penny. Be sure to check it out!

Why do we like it?

• Adjustable width
• Reasonably priced
• Universal fit
• 1500lbs of weight rating
• Plenty of room for mounting accessories
• Comes in different height configurations

BajaRack Tacoma Bed Rack

Let's take a look at this 3rd gen Tacoma bed rack. It was made by BajaRack and it is one of the most versatile bed racks on the market. It is sturdy, lightweight, and strong. It was tested in harsh conditions to ensure that it can withstand anything you put it through. You can use it for transporting construction materials, and everyday items, or if you are an off-road enthusiast, for camping gear or even for mounting a roof top tent.

This Tacoma bed rack is made out of long-lasting aluminum construction which has been black powder coated for extra resilience. As we already mentioned it is a strong bed rack able to support around 850 lbs of weight capacity, which is more than enough to carry anything you can ever think of. Another great thing about this bed rack is that its structure was designed so that you can route cables and connectors easily in order to install auxiliary lights.

There is even a stop light in the rear upper beam! This is a tall bed rack that sits on the same level as the roof rack and when combined with it the functionality is even greater. There is plenty of space underneath the rack where you can store any of the items you want to transport. What also makes this bed rack good is that you can mount a variety of accessories and accessory mounts on it.

This is a no drill Tacoma bed rack, and it uses rail brackets in order to install it to your truck bed. It is an amazing rack system to have and will surely be a great addition to your Toyota Tacoma. Feel free to check it out!

Why do we like it?

• Sturdy build
• Compatible with a variety of accessories
• No drill bed rack
• Easy and fast installation
• High weigh load rating

Front Runner Bed Rack Tacoma

Front Runner is one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality off-road and overlanding equipment and this Tacoma bed rack is no different. It sits fairly low, which makes it more aerodynamic and reduces wind drag and noise when driving. You still would have a lot of space to put any of the remaining gear or gear organizers in your truck bed. It is lightweight, strong, and tested in the harshest terrains to ensure its durability.

This Toyota Tacoma bed rack has a strong T6 aluminum and stainless-steel construction that has a black epoxy powder coat finish which will prevent the rack from scratches and erosion when driving around in muddy environments. This is a platform bed rack that can support around 660 lbs of weight capacity which is just enough to load up your cargo, attach any accessories you might want, or even mount a roof top tent.

Speaking of accessories, this Tacoma bed rack can be fitted with a wide variety of Front Runner accessories and accessory mounts that you might need on your next off-road adventure. It is pretty easy to assemble and install on your truck bed as it doesn't require any drilling and you can even do it by yourself in less than an hour! It fits the Toyota Tacoma models from 2005 up to the current one.

This is an affordable bed rack that comes with a limited lifetime warranty as the Front Runner believes it is able to withstand any terrain it goes on. Just be sure not to overload it with items and put more weight than the recommended weight capacity. It is one of the better Tacoma bed racks on the market so feel free to check it out!

Why do we like it?

• Has a platform rack
• No drilling required
• Aerodynamic design
• Easy assembly
• Lightweight

OVS Freedom Bed Rack Tacoma

This is yet another affordable, universal Tacoma bed rack. It was made by OVS and was tested in some of the harshest terrains there are to ensure its durability. It is installed to your truck bed using base plates on which you put the remaining bed rack once assembled. It doesn't require any drilling or modifications to be done in order to install it.

Now, this is also an adjustable rack that can go from 19" all the way up to 30" in height. That means that when adjusted to the maximum height you can connect it to the roof rack of your Toyota Tacoma and use it to haul longer loads. It is a pretty thin and sleek-looking rack so it won't affect the aerodynamics of your vehicle and it won't make any noise when driving.

This Toyota Tacoma bed rack is made out of heavy-duty aluminum that is also powder coated for more durability and resilience. It can withstand an impressive 1350 lbs of weight capacity which is more than enough to mount anything you may think of whether that's construction material, off-road gear, or even a big roof top tent.

The OVS bed rack has modifiable rack bars, crossbars, and side panels which allow you to mount a variety of accessories and accessory mounts. It weighs 80 lbs which might not be the lightest rack of them all but it certainly makes that up with its weight load rating.

It is an amazing bed rack system to have which will certainly be a great addition to your next overlanding adventure so feel free to check it out!

Why do we like it?

• 1350lbs of weight load rating
• Sleek and aerodynamic rack
• Adjustable height
• Sturdy construction
• No drill bed rack
• Compatible with a variety of accessories

Tacoma Bed Rack FAQS

What is the best Tacoma bed rack?

There is no right answer for this as it will depend on your needs. If you want a bed rack that sits below the roof level of your vehicle then you should take a look at the RCI Universal Bed Rack. If you want a rack system that sits at the same level as your roof or even higher so that you can merge it with your roof rack or just carry longer loads you should take a look at the OVS Freedom Bed Rack or even the CBI Bed Rack.

What is the best Tacoma bed rack for roof top tent?

Ideally, that would be a bed rack that has a high weight load rating such as the RCI bed rack, OVS Freedom bed rack, Leitner ACS Forged bed rack, and even the Tuff Stuff bed rack.

Is there a Tacoma bed rack that works with tonneau cover?

Yes there is! That would be the Front Runner Slimline II bed rack with RETRAX cover.

What is the Toyota Tacoma bed rack weight limit?

That differs from rack to rack. Some have a weight limit of around 400-500 lbs while some can withstand an impressive 1400lbs of weight load!

What are some of the Tacoma bed rack accessories?

You can mount a variety of accessories onto your Tacoma bed rack such as the Rotopax, Hi lift jack, bike mounts, shovel and axe mounts, gear pods, and more.

How to install a Tacoma bed rack?

There are some bed racks that require drilling in order to be installed. Some can be mounted using clamps or even rail brackets that will secure the bed rack to the truck bed rails.