What a genius idea. I was just about to purchase a different tonneau cover with the rack mounts for over $1500 . Thanks

Thanks a million. I was searching for a manufactured rack, but this is a perfect solution! Bravo.

Thanks for giving me the idea, I've been looking for something for my 2018 Nissan Titan with a paragon cover. Not looking to spend upwards of $1,000 to do something that I can probably do just like you did! Thanks for posting this.

Good job guy

Thanks for sharing the ideas man..🤝👍👍👍

Hi- great project, I'll be making it this weekend! Would you mind sharing more about the "rubber spacers / washers" that you used, and how you made them? Thanks for the great tutorial, stay safe, and enjoy your travels!

Thanks for sharing

Excelent video..TKs

Awesome, going to put this video in our back pocket for further use. You did get really lucky!

@TheGrayAdventures

6 жыл бұрын

We definitely did. We had heard a few stories of people losing their rear bumper on the road with their bikes attached, so we didn't want to risk that as soon as we noticed it. What type of setup do you guys use?

@airstreamazzadream9614

6 жыл бұрын

We are in week 8 after making the decision to go this lifestyle, we are still down sizing and selling our house. Not under contract yet. Once we sell the house, the rig will be next. We are about 14 months out from being able to hit the road. Michael has one year of OT school left.

@TheGrayAdventures

6 жыл бұрын

You'll get there. It took us 13 months to get on the road once we made the decision. There's always lots of planning to do and things that pop up that your were not expecting.

I liked your idea! Here’s mine. Changed frame. Was going to send pictures. But don’t know how lol

@carladams5069

4 жыл бұрын

where is yours?

@paulbonin2994

4 жыл бұрын

Carl Adams I don’t know how to add picture lol

Nice project Nick. Turned out great!

@TheGrayAdventures

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks. The only thing I still need to figure out is a good way to keep the bikes covered for when it rains while we're traveling. Having the bikes so far a part makes it hard to keep them all covered with a single tarp or bike cover.

@carlhughes7775

4 жыл бұрын

@@TheGrayAdventures When we take our Highlander with the bikes on a hitch mount 4 bike carrier, I use a tarp and an outdoor furniture cover. Then a couple of straps to keep in place. Keeps the bikes mostly dry. I would imagine they would stay fairly dry over the bed. I like your over the bed bike rack and will be using some of your ideas to make my own. Thank you.

I know this is old but nice job. Biggest problem with this kind of system is the tonneau cover. If your lucky enough to have an undermount garage door style of rollup then all is good. If not, then you have a problem accessing the bed. My cover rolls up on top and gets bigger as it goes back. I am working to make a system like this but it requires 7+ inches of rail clearance for me. Another thought is maybe use unistrut low profile for the rail which gives you a lot of spacing options for the crossbars.Loading is better then a lot of roof systems since you can do it in stages lifting to the tailgate first. Final note, The cost has gone up considerably like everything else. The swagnan are still really reasonable but metal and parts have gone up a whole lot.

This was an interesting setup!

@NicholasGray

6 жыл бұрын

Yeah, there aren't a whole lot of options for mounting bike racks over a retractable bed cover. When we were first looking for bed covers, I did find one that came with mounts for a specific rack system, but it was nearly $1,000 more than the bed cover I went Peragon bed cover I went with and that's even before purchasing the compatible rack. A DIY mount system like this should save most people at least $200.

@TheGrayAdventures

6 жыл бұрын

Sometimes you need to get creative. So far, it's help up really well.

Great idea! I'm thinking of building one for a tepui tent. Do you know where I could find the weight rating of those anchor points, too make sure it could support something more than bikes while moving?

I am assuming the side rails will be permanent since the toggle mechanism would drop into the side wall of the bed. How long are the cross bar bolts? When getting into your truck bed and have to lift the cover do you loosen the nuts and bolts to take the racks off every time?

What a great idea. i have some questions for you. Since you posted this in 2018, have you found any adjustments that needed to be made? How has it held up over time? Were the rubber gaskets put on so it was above the cover height? What was the rubber piece under the anchor point for?

where did you buy the rubber spacers? Also, can you share more details on how you connected the crossbars? Was it bolt and nut through the entire thickness of the aluminum tube?

Looks good for me....I own a BAKflip and need a quick release to remove crossbars for access to pickup bed. Any ideas?

Question for you.. you bought the anchor points and you took off the top hook and replace with a bolt or what? Next how did you make the other holes? You had to take off original holes then drilled them reattach? Thanks.. looks awesome

@TheGrayAdventures

6 жыл бұрын

Yeah, the top hook and original bolt was removed and replaced with a longer bolt that fit the anchor and was long enough to go through the aluminum pole with my spacers. All the holes in the aluminum pole were drilled with a standard drill bit.

This is excellent! My husband is working on finding a solution for our camper/truck combo now. Is it still easy to access the bed of the truck?

@TheGrayAdventures

6 жыл бұрын

Yeah, the bed cover can still retract, giving us access to everything that we store in the bed. It can be tricky getting things in and out from the top, so usually we just pull thing out from the tailgate.

I think that's a very nice job! How much were all the materials together if I may ask? Thanks in advance.

was there a reason you just didnt go side to side instead of using side rails and then cross rails?

Hi Nick. Great job! Question for you - what is the tonneau cover you have on there? Thanks!

@nicholasvincent7270

4 жыл бұрын

It’s a peragon.

Are you still using your bike rack set up?

Is it possible to add a 5th bike on your system?

I was very nervous putting my brand new beach cruiser on this rack. kzread.infoUgkxG6JIgwJhur8_Rg8UeQ3EmePzi_wSncL8 But after reading many reviews I decided to get this one and take a chance. When arrived it was very simple to adjust and put together. I also added spike tape over the metal hooks before securing and tightening the straps, and no scratches. I also purchased the top bar made by the same company so that my cruiser sits straight on the rack without having to turn upside down. Extra bungee cords are used to secure the front wheel from flapping and even piece of mind knowing your bike is secure. Definitely recommend...

Searching for something like this for a solid fold 2.0 tonneau cover. The side rails are covered by the tonneau. Any suggestions?

@rsabol77

4 жыл бұрын

That’s what cover I have and trying to figure out if I’m going to make something like this or have been looking at the vertical hitch carriers also. Have you found or done anything with yours?

It looks like the aluminum tubing was not that strong and is rubbing/sitting on your bed cover, Did you find it to sag when you had the cover retracted?

@TheGrayAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

It did sag a little, but it held up quite well with the bikes on there for more than 25k miles.

nice job, but I wouldve used box steel going from left to right, your aluminum bars are already starting to bend...also I would use carriage bolts so the bolts dont dig into the be rail

@TheGrayAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

True, but you just doubled the cost of the build.

How do you open your bed cover with the bike rack installed?

@TheGrayAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

It rolls back.

Hello so you can fit 4 bike on there no problem?

@TheGrayAdventures

3 жыл бұрын

Yep. It's designed to fit four

Have you had any security issues with your bikes when you have stopped in public places?

@TheGrayAdventures

5 жыл бұрын

None at all. When actually leave them on the truck at many of our stops, so they're up there while we are visiting cities and other attractions.

@lakelili

5 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Fail. It looks like it would a huge pain in the ass taking the rack on and off. I would have mounted larger rails down the side, then put fork mounts onto the rail. To put the bikes up, take the front wheel off, mount the front fork, the rear wheel sits on top of the tonneau cover, then bungie the rear wheel to a fork mount on the opposite side. This way the fork mounts/bike racks never have to be taken off, nor would they ever get in the way of cargo. Plus they would act as tie downs when the bikes weren't on.

@TheGrayAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

How is this a fail? This system served us perfectly while living in our RV for 18 months. We had no issues and not having to remove bike tires and put them back on for 4 bikes every time we moved to different locations is a huge plus in my book .

In vietnam. The yellow dog will take you

I liked your idea! Here’s mine. Changed frame. Was going to send pictures. But don’t know how lol