Fortis Overland Tacoma Build

[Fortis Overland]

Same. Keep us up on your build progress. Really like seeing what works and what doesn't with these trucks, especially as I start to mod mine. Looking at tires, sliders, racks.
Cheers

If you have any questions just let me know. I've experimented with several different things, so I can hopefully help you nail down a setup that works for you. Before you buy a rack, let me know. I've had plenty of headaches with my KB Voodoo rack, and have had to do my own modifications to make it work.

 

[EP34FR]

I've had plenty of headaches with my KB Voodoo rack, and have had to do my own modifications to make it work.

What issues have you had w/ the KB VooDoo rack, and are they specific to the Taco? Looking to purchase one for my Ram 1500.

 

[Fortis Overland]

What issues have you had w/ the KB VooDoo rack, and are they specific to the Taco? Looking to purchase one for my Ram 1500.

So the rack I bought is the one in the link below. I was nervous when I bought it because I didn't think that it would support the 120lb roof top tent that I carry, especially in dynamic offroad situations. The owner confirmed that it would however, so I went on a whim and bought it.

http://www.kbvoodoo.com/shop/toyota-tacoma-hi-rise-crossbars-for-use-with-tonneau-covers-fits-years-2005-2016

In the time that I've had it, I've bent the back bar twice while loading and unloading the roof top tent. I reached out to the owner and received a free replacement. In an attempt to avoid bending in the future, I did a two-man load and unload, picking up the tent to prevent sliding along the bars, but came to find out that the bars were bent again. So not only were they bending while loading/unloading, but they were bending with just normal use of the tent itself. In addition, the bars were bending (compressing) at the mount points for the tent, and where the bars connect to the uprights. I chose to reach out to KB Voodoo to let him know of my issues, more from an engineer-to-engineer design perspective, and told him I'd be buying another product.

I made the rack function by replacing the bars that come with the setup with normal duty unistrut (home depot, super cheap), cut to the same length, then bolted to the uprights using standard unistrut 90 deg brackets. Since the installation of the unistrut, there's been absolutely no bending of any kind. With that said, the uprights still tend to "sway" back and forth while offroad, and before long I would imagine those snapping.

Do yourself a favor and have a local fabricator make you exactly what you want, or reach out to Relentless Fabrication to see if they can make you some bed bars. You won't regret it.

Sorry for the long-winded answer. This issue would not be specific to the Taco, but could however be specific to the model of the rack. If you're dead set on getting a KB Voodoo rack, definitely head towards their heavy duty option, although I can't guarantee the same thing won't happen with that setup. I can guarantee however that you'll avoid all of these problems with a solid set of steel, round tube bed bars.

 

[EP34FR]

Thanks for the reply and description @Fortis Overland

This is the rack I'm looking at: https://www.max-modular.com/shop-max-modular/steel-max-10-high-truck-bed-rack

Steel construction with 350lb dynamic/700lb static load capacity (per KB VooDoo). I would need to add the tonneau brackets, so I imagine that capacity would be reduced some. I'm still a little leery about all the weight of the rack's contents resting on just 4 bolts (the bolts that would attach the rack to the tonneau brackets). I'd probably install some kind of block in there to help support the weight.

There are few (if any) other manufacturers I've seen that produce a rack that will work with tonneau covers, that don't require permanent mounting.

 

[Fortis Overland]

Thanks for the reply and description @Fortis Overland

This is the rack I'm looking at: https://www.max-modular.com/shop-max-modular/steel-max-10-high-truck-bed-rack

Steel construction with 350lb dynamic/700lb static load capacity (per KB VooDoo). I would need to add the tonneau brackets, so I imagine that capacity would be reduced some. I'm still a little leery about all the weight of the rack's contents resting on just 4 bolts (the bolts that would attach the rack to the tonneau brackets). I'd probably install some kind of block in there to help support the weight.

There are few (if any) other manufacturers I've seen that produce a rack that will work with tonneau covers, that don't require permanent mounting.

The design of that mounting bracket looks like a problem, especially since it's held together at one point where the bottom plate and top plate mate. Just seems like it would sheer.

I would also worry that you couldn't open the cover with the brackets on, so getting anything out of your bed is difficult unless you remove the rack altogether. It looks like the top of the mounting bracket prevents the cover from going up more than an inch or so.

You can find someone local that could design around your tonneau cover and allow it to open up at a fraction of the cost IMO

 

[EP34FR]

@Fortis Overlan, I have a Retrax tonneau cover, so opening it won't be an issue with the rack on. I got that style tonneau with the intention to eventually get a rack of some sort ;) KB VooDoo started making another model or rack that would work with the tri-fold type covers (http://www.kbvoodoo.com/shop/utility-rack-for-tonneau-covers).

While I've never seen anyone else with the tonneau brackets talk about the bolt sheering at the connection point...I concur, that seems like a weak point to me.

I might research to see what shops around me could do something, and at what price...just as an option. Thanks for your input!

 

[martin_j001]

Great pics, and build! I need to make sure to make it out to that part of the country again sometime, that's some beautiful scenery!

 

[Fortis Overland]

Great pics, and build! I need to make sure to make it out to that part of the country again sometime, that's some beautiful scenery!

It is! We've realized that there's no need for vacation when we have the Rockies in our backyard and Moab 6 hours away!