Bike Rack for over Truck Bed

[ekbruster]

So been doing a lot of searching online and was looking for a bike rack that would fit on top of the bed rails. I have a tonneau cover that fits within the rails (trifold hardtop) so was looking to find something that mounted onto the top of the bed rails using the slots, that would provide a "T" channel across the bed over the cover for mounting bikes and/or a rack system. Most of what I find is for the full height of the cab for ladders or such and wanted something lower profile for the bikes behind the cab. I've seen some custom work done on you-tube was was looking for something more finished. Anyone seen anything like this? I'm not worried about opening the cover so much as I have a 7-year old to climb in and fetch stuff out through the tailgate if needed.

The truck is a 2020 HD GMC AT4 Short-box.

TIA, Eric

[Ronyx]

Im interested in the responses to this thread as I’m in the same situation.

[Rolind]

I would start with KB voodoo. They sell cross bars that fit over tonneau covers. They also sell a rear wheel tray. Voile straps work great for holding the rear tire in the tray. Rocky Mounts make great front axle mounts that can be mounted to the front cross bar and some can be locked. I have a similar setup except it is mounted to a medium height bed rack.

[Mollysdad]

LongLongHoneymoon did a video on just that.
They have a 'retrax' tonneau and a bunch of parts to carry two e-bikes. It's not a Yakima, but uses some parts from them.
They have mixed feelings. But good info.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_YheOQcsAw

[mojo]

Check Yakima and Thule as they make tracks, towers, crossbars, and various bike racks for roof tops and truck rail mounts.

[drbrick]

X2 Mojo - Yakima and Thule

[jmitchell]

For consideration, we previously carried our bikes in the bed, but then shifted them to a front-hitch (shown in below picture), for the following reasons:
-Easier to lift, load and unload
-We could not carry our kayaks and bikes at the same time, since they always seemed to overlap no matter how the kayak rack was adjusted, or we had to load and unload in order to avoid conflict.
-Shifts weight over the front axle, so better distribution and frees up payload over the rear axle
-Always competing interest for bed space and ease of access to the bed area.

There are also advantages to the bed rails, and cons with the front mount. It is obviously not a good fit for everyone, but I thought I'd share our experience.

[cazual6]

Originally Posted by jmitchell

For consideration, we previously carried our bikes in the bed, but then shifted them to a front-hitch (shown in below picture), for the following reasons:
-Easier to lift, load and unload
-We could not carry our kayaks and bikes at the same time, since they always seemed to overlap no matter how the kayak rack was adjusted, or we had to load and unload in order to avoid conflict.
-Shifts weight over the front axle, so better distribution and frees up payload over the rear axle
-Always competing interest for bed space and ease of access to the bed area.

There are also advantages to the bed rails, and cons with the front mount. It is obviously not a good fit for everyone, but I thought I'd share our experience.

I concur. When I get my truck one day, I would do the same. I would put a front hitch.

[jeffmc306]

Front mounts are fine until you get a newer truck with a front camera in the grill and Adaptive Cruise/Autonomous Braking!

The bikes cover all the sensors and camera.

[JonDNC]

Originally Posted by jeffmc306

Front mounts are fine until you get a newer truck with a front camera in the grill and Adaptive Cruise/Autonomous Braking!



The bikes cover all the sensors and camera.

Yup but you can temporarily disable those functions so normal cruise works just fine. We have front bike rack on a 2019 F350 with those functions. Just turn them off when using rack.

[Hoagie]

Front bike racks are a great solution, with some caveats.

Almost every state has laws in place regarding the visibility of license plates. If you happen to live in a state that has both front and rear plates, mounting your bike rack to a front receiver hitch could potentially block a clear view of the plate, leading to a traffic stop.

I lived in California most of my life. I found out the hard way that you also are not supposed to have anything that could obstruct any of the vehicle's lights unless it is factory mounted. This includes both tail lights and head lights.

I was pulled over once for having metal rock guards over my headlights. (I had been out 4-wheeling.) The CHP officer that wrote me up said this could include head or tail lights "obstructed" by your wheel spokes if you have bikes on a rack.

When I went to get this "fix-it ticket" signed off, the officer at the CHP station told me he would never pull someone over for this and thought it was ridiculous to do so.

So some LEOs will pull you over for obstructing the license plate or lights. Some won't.

[new2trailer]

I use the Yakima system carrying two full size mountain bikes over the pickup bed. When not carrying bikes, removing the cross beams is a cinch. The anchors stay in place so I don't have to remeasure the next time I want to carry bikes. It is pretty slick.

Mike

[Glass Stream]

We'll see if my pics come through- vertically. The Rackspot in San Carlos, CA mounted a Yakama system directly to my Tracrac bed rails. I have a tonneau cover that roll up between the bedrails. So the cross rail bases are screwed directly into the Tracrac bed rails. Of course, when I want full access into the bed I need to take off the bike racks, inno box, and remove the cross rails.

[dp10ant]

A friend of mine has one of the flip/fold sectional tonneau covers. He rigged this up so he could have access to the rear half of his bed. It allowed him to access gear in the front by simply sliding it out with his awning hook. He attached his bikes to the cross bars and loaded them from either side.

[Maineiac]

We went with a roll up tonneau cover and Yakima luggage rack and bike rack combination. So far pleased with the combo. Have been using it for a year and a half. Only down side is you either want a step stool or be fairly tall for dismounting they bikes from the racks. [IMG][/IMG]

[ekbruster]

Originally Posted by jmitchell

For consideration, we previously carried our bikes in the bed, but then shifted them to a front-hitch (shown in below picture), for the following reasons:
-Easier to lift, load and unload
-We could not carry our kayaks and bikes at the same time, since they always seemed to overlap no matter how the kayak rack was adjusted, or we had to load and unload in order to avoid conflict.
-Shifts weight over the front axle, so better distribution and frees up payload over the rear axle
-Always competing interest for bed space and ease of access to the bed area.

There are also advantages to the bed rails, and cons with the front mount. It is obviously not a good fit for everyone, but I thought I'd share our experience.

Yeah looked at this option but we travel in late fall/winter season as well from Michigan to Florida and wanted to limit the exposure from the elements and road-salt and not sure a simple cover would protect them on the front of the truck.

[Airhead59]

Following...

[no_worries]

I’ve always been a Yakima fan. I have a GMC HD with a retrax pro bed cover. I installed the skyline towers with landing pads for the t-slot system on the retrax pro. Then jet stream bars and two high road bike mounts. Also installed a sks system to keep everything secure. Very pleased and it’s solid as a rock.

Let me know if you need more detail.

[dmslawson]

Originally Posted by mojo

Check Yakima and Thule as they make tracks, towers, crossbars, and various bike racks for roof tops and truck rail mounts.

I carry several recumbent trikes on my Thule rack system. Added a cargo carrier as well . . . all of which is below the height of the truck cab. Works great.

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by no_worries

I’ve always been a Yakima fan. I have a GMC HD with a retrax pro bed cover. I installed the skyline towers with landing pads for the t-slot system on the retrax pro. Then jet stream bars and two high road bike mounts. Also installed a sks system to keep everything secure. Very pleased and it’s solid as a rock.

Let me know if you need more detail.

Attachment 362676

No worries, that's a great looking bike rack setup!

I think I'm more envious of your garage for the Airstream and tow vehicle. Nice!