Truck Bed Bars
Truck Bed Bars: Low-Profile Crossbars for Pickup Truck Beds
Truck bed bars are a pair of crossbars that span the width of your pickup truck bed, creating a secondary hauling level above the bed rails. They let you carry a rooftop tent, bikes, kayaks, cargo, or recovery gear on top while keeping the bed floor free for other stuff underneath. Bed bars are the lightest, simplest, and most tonneau-friendly way to add vertical cargo space to your truck. We carry bed bars from Billie Bars, CBI Offroad, and RCI for Ford F150, F250, F350, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier, Jeep Gladiator, RAM, and other trucks. Every set ships free.
The question people ask most: "Do I need bed bars or a full bed rack?" The short answer is that bed bars cost less, weigh less, install faster, and work with most tonneau covers. A full bed rack gives you more mounting points and side panel structure but costs more, weighs more, and may conflict with your cover. If you just need two strong crossbars to carry a tent, bikes, or cargo above the bed, bed bars are the move.
📞 Not sure which bars fit your truck? Call us at 844-200-3979. Tell us your truck, bed length, and whether you run a tonneau cover. We will match you with the right bed bars and confirm everything is compatible before you order.
Truck Bed Bars for Sale
CBI Nissan Frontier Bed Bars (2022+)
Price: $600.00
Fits: Nissan Frontier 2022+
Material: Steel, powder-coated
CBI Offroad makes some of the toughest truck accessories on the market, and these CBI bed bars for the 3rd-gen Frontier are built to last. Powder-coated steel construction provides strength and corrosion resistance for years of off-road use. The bars mount to the bed using stake pocket brackets, so there is no drilling. These provide durable mounting points for a rooftop tent, bikes, or cargo above your Frontier bed while keeping the floor clear for gear underneath.
RCI 9" Bed Bars
Price: $619.00
Fits: Universal (adjustable width)
Height: 9" above bed rails | Material: Steel
The RCI 9" bed bars are low-profile universal bed bars designed to work with roll-up and folding tonneau covers. At only 9 inches above the bed rails, they sit low enough to clear most covers while still giving you a solid mounting platform for a rooftop tent, cargo basket, or tie-down points. Universal bed bars with adjustable widths fit a wide range of truck bed sizes. RCI builds everything in the USA with heavy-duty steel construction. These bars can support up to 600 lbs of dynamic weight and 1,000 lbs of static weight, which means they handle a rooftop tent with people inside without any concern.
Billie Bars for Ford F150/F250/F350
Price: $695.00
Fits: Ford F150, F250, F350 (retractable covers with T-slots)
Feature: T-slot compatible, tonneau-friendly
Billie Bars are the go-to bed bars for Ford truck owners running a retractable tonneau cover with T-slot rails. Instead of mounting to the bed rails (where your cover already sits), these bars slide into the T-slot channels on your Retrax, Pace Edwards, or similar retractable cover. That means you keep your cover fully functional while adding two strong crossbars on top. Made in the USA from aluminum crossbars with powder-coated steel brackets. Billie Bars are what most people search for when they want truck bed cross bars with tonneau cover compatibility.
Billie Bars Custom Set
Price: $749.00
Fits: Custom (RAM, Toyota, other trucks)
Feature: Customize bar spacing, bracket type, and width
The Billie Bars Custom Set lets you configure your bed bars for your specific truck and setup. Choose your truck model, bed length, bracket type, and bar spacing. This is the option for RAM owners, Tacoma owners, Gladiator owners, and anyone whose truck is not covered by a standard Billie Bars kit. Same USA-made aluminum crossbar and powder-coated steel bracket construction. Same tonneau cover compatibility. You just get to customize the fit for your exact vehicle and your exact gear mounting needs. Tacoma bed bars, Gladiator bed bars, and more are all available through this custom setup.
Bed Bars Comparison
| Bars | Brand | Fits | Tonneau Compatible | Weight Capacity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBI Frontier Bars | CBI Offroad | Nissan Frontier 2022+ | Varies by cover | Heavy duty | $600 |
| RCI 9" Bars | RCI Offroad | Universal (adjustable) | Yes (low profile clears most covers) | 600 lbs dynamic / 1,000 lbs static | $619 |
| Billie Bars Ford | Billie Bars | F150, F250, F350 | Yes (T-slot mount) | 1,000 lbs | $695 |
| Billie Bars Custom | Billie Bars | Custom (RAM, Toyota, etc.) | Yes (T-slot or stake pocket) | 1,000 lbs | $749 |
Bed Bars vs Bed Rack: When to Choose Each
This is the decision most truck owners face. Both add vertical cargo space above your truck bed, but they solve different problems. Here is when each one makes sense for your setup.
Choose bed bars when: You want to keep your tonneau cover. Bed bars, especially Billie Bars with T-slot mounting, are designed to work alongside retractable and roll-up covers. You just need two truck bed crossbars to fasten a rooftop tent, carry bikes or kayaks, or strap down truck bed cargo. You want the lightest, most aerodynamic option that does not dramatically change your truck's profile. You want to install something in under an hour and have it ready to drive. You are on a budget. CBI bed bars, RCI bed bars, and Billie Bars all cost $600-$749, which is significantly less than full bed racks at $800-$2,000+.
Choose a full bed rack when: You need side panels and multiple mounting points for recovery gear, shovels, axes, and jerry cans. You want a taller structure (12-18" above the rails) for storing tall items underneath. You do not run a tonneau cover and want maximum mounting flexibility. You are building a dedicated overlanding rig where the rack stays on permanently. Jeep Gladiator bed bars and other vehicle-specific options are also available if you cannot find what you need here. Send us an email or call and we will help you find the right setup. Browse our full bed rack collection here.
Many people on overlanding forums and in our DMs ask whether bed bars are "strong enough" for a rooftop tent. The answer is yes. Billie Bars support 1,000 lbs static. RCI 9" bars support 1,000 lbs static. A rooftop tent with two people inside weighs 200-350 lbs. The bars are more than capable.
Tonneau Cover Compatibility
This is the reason most people choose bed bars over a full bed rack. Low-profile bed bars are designed to work with roll-up or folding tonneau covers, keeping gear secure and dry. Certain truck bed bars are compatible with both hard and soft tonneau covers, allowing for versatile setups without sacrificing functionality. Here is how it works by mounting type.
T-slot mounting (Billie Bars): The bars slide into the T-slot channels on your retractable tonneau cover rails (Retrax, Pace Edwards, etc.) instead of mounting to the truck's bed rails. This means the cover and the bars share the same rail system without conflicting. You can open and close your cover normally. This is the cleanest, most integrated bed bar and tonneau setup on the market.
Stake pocket mounting (CBI, RCI): The bars mount into the stake pocket holes in your bed walls. This keeps the bed rail tops free for your tonneau cover. Roll-up and low-profile folding covers that mount inside the bed rails typically work with stake-pocket bed bars because they occupy different space. Hard tri-fold covers (like the BAKFlip) may interfere with taller bars when folded, so bar height matters. The RCI 9" bars sit low enough at 9 inches to clear most folding covers. Browse our tonneau cover collection here.
What Can You Mount on Bed Bars?
Bed bars provide vertical space for accessories and cargo that would otherwise take up your bed floor. Truck bed bars are designed to be compatible with a variety of accessories, including rooftop tents, bike racks, and cargo management systems. Here is what people typically mount on them.
Rooftop tents: The most popular use for overlanders. A rooftop tent sits on the bed bars instead of on a roof rack, keeping your cab roof free for other gear or keeping total vehicle height lower. Both Billie Bars and RCI bars have the static weight capacity to handle any tent on the market with occupants inside.
Bikes and kayaks: Add a fork mount, cradle, or crossbar adapter and your bed bars become a truck bed bike rack or truck bed kayak rack. The bars create a second level so your bikes or kayaks ride above the bed without taking up floor space. This lets you carry camping gear in the bed underneath and bikes on top.
Cargo baskets and boxes: Strap a cargo basket or storage box to the bars for additional secure storage above the bed. Useful for overland trips where you need to carry more gear than the bed floor can hold.
Recovery gear and accessories: Some bed bars include integrated mounting slots for attaching shovels, axes, hi-lift jacks, and other recovery gear. Many truck bed bars feature integrated mounting slots that allow for easy attachment of various accessories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are truck bed bars?
Truck bed bars are a pair of crossbars that span the width of your pickup truck bed, creating a secondary hauling level above the bed rails. They let you carry oversized gear like rooftop tents, bikes, and kayaks on top without sacrificing bed floor space underneath. Bed bars enhance functionality by increasing hauling capacity, improving cargo security, and enabling the transport of items that do not fit inside the bed. They are lighter, cheaper, and more tonneau-friendly than full bed racks.
Will bed bars work with my tonneau cover?
In most cases, yes. Billie Bars mount directly into T-slot rails on retractable tonneau covers, so they are fully compatible by design. RCI 9" bed bars sit only 9 inches above the bed rails and mount to stake pockets, leaving the rail tops free for covers that mount inside the rails. The key factor is bar height and mounting method. Call us at 844-200-3979 with your truck model, cover brand, and cover type, and we will confirm which bed bars will work with your specific setup.
How much weight can bed bars hold?
The bed bars we carry support significant loads. Billie Bars are rated for 1,000 lbs static. RCI 9" bars are rated for 600 lbs dynamic (while driving) and 1,000 lbs static (while parked). These ratings easily handle a rooftop tent with occupants (200-350 lbs), multiple bikes, kayaks, or a loaded cargo basket. Many truck bed bars feature a powder-coated finish that enhances their resistance to corrosion and wear, so the strength holds up over years of use.
Are bed bars hard to install?
No. Bed bars are one of the easiest truck accessories to install. T-slot bars (Billie Bars) slide into your tonneau cover's rail channels and bolt down. Stake pocket bars (CBI, RCI) drop into the existing stake pocket holes in your bed walls and fasten with bolts. No drilling required in either case. One person can install a set of bed bars in 30-60 minutes with basic hand tools. Each product page on our site includes a link to installation instructions or a video.
Can I put a rooftop tent on bed bars?
Yes. This is one of the most common uses for truck bed bars. Both Billie Bars (1,000 lbs static) and RCI 9" bars (1,000 lbs static) easily support the weight of any rooftop tent on the market plus two adults inside. Mounting a rooftop tent on bed bars instead of a roof rack keeps your cab roof free, lowers your total vehicle height, and gives you a wider, more stable sleeping platform since most truck beds are wider than truck cabs. Browse our rooftop tent collection here.
Related
Bed Racks
Full bed rack systems from CBI, RCI, Leitner, Cali Raised, and Billie Bars.
Tonneau Covers
BAKFlip and EGR covers that pair with bed bars.
Billie Bars Collection
Full Billie Bars lineup for every truck model.
Tonneau + Rack Guide
Full compatibility guide for pairing covers with bars and racks.
Need Help Choosing Bed Bars?
Tell us your truck, your tonneau cover, and what you want to carry. We will match the right bars.
