I don't understand the advantages of a Bed Rack

[StingyJT]

Agreed. That’s why my RTT and rack only get mounted when needed. Harbor Freight electric hoist makes it pretty easy.

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[usnavycdr]

I get what you mean. I want to be able to move a fridge or pick up some saplings, but my diamondback makes it a hassle. At least for the fridge. My old truck, I used to just throw stuff in the back. Loved it.

This truck is a family truck. Flip cover to secure belongings and cross bars to haul bikes.

I think what I really need is two trucks. Gonna see if my wife will trade in her mini van for the ford lightning. That way we have on hand back up power in case of earthquake emergency power outages.

My rack has a removable rear crossbar just for loading tall items.

 

[Orange01z28]

I have a quarter rack. It worked great to store some more stuff when I went on a week-long backcountry trip

 

[mojocho]

Ok...I didn't realize many of the racks (or at least in part) are removable on the fly. That would address the concerns of saving elephants.

I get the utility on work trucks for ladders or tools though.

I do think they look great... Completes the look. I guess I'm not an overlander and my wife's idea of camping is a cabin with WiFi and running water.

This discussion helps. Racks are not for me as how I use the JT.

 

[AZCooWhip]

I just like telling people nice rack.

 

[Kindafearless]

I also have a couple different racks that I use when camping, but take off the rest of the time. My lighter rack is only 10 lbs, but throw the tent (130 lbs) on there and thats a lot of persistent weight and drag. I like my 19 mpg too much for that

 

[It's Allgood]

I going camping nearly every weekend and take 2-3 week camping trips during the summer. I just got a RTT and rack(both used for a total of $1400) and can tell you it makes a huge difference.

I too, want to use my Gladiator as a truck but only really do "truck" stuff a few times a years vs Jeep stuff nearly every week. Make sense for me, not for others. I plan on keeping mine on until I need to do that truck stuff, then remove and put back on.

Loving the rack and freeing up the bed to carry other stuff vs in the bed itself. The totes in the back are still hard to get too with the tailgate up so no real worries about thieves(if they want it they'll get it anyways, just depends on how much damage they do first).

Don't understand just having it on there but there is a reason for them for some of us.

 

[Racer_X]

I am, at some point, hoping to customize an overlanding rack like this to be hinged and mount on top of of the diamondback. Then I will complete my build:
1. Ski mode: diamondback on, frontrunner rack on, clothes/gear in the bed, 4 people in the cab, skis on the rack
2. College dorm mode: diamondback on, tail hitch carrier on, electronics in the back seat.
3. College apartment mode: diamondback on, frontrunner rack on with cargo pod, tail hitch carrier on, electronics in the back seat. Optional Daughter Mode: roof rack with cargo pod
4. Scuba mode: DB On, stuff I don't want getting wet underneath. Frontrunner rack on with cargo basket for stuff that's already wet plus scuba tanks. Electronics with passengers in the cab.
5. Camping mode: DB on, stuff I don't want dusty/wet underneath. Overlanding rack on with additional lights, mount points for gas/water rotopaxes / jerry can bar/shovels, tents strapped to diamondback cleats, spare gear up top [full length cargo basket if necessary], 2 people + 2 dogs in the cab, and get the hell away from everybody until I run out of food/ammo mode engaged.

So I usually leave the diamondback on, but all the others come and go as needed. That keeps the gear locked and protected for roadtrips, throwing stuff I don't want in the cab into the bed, etc. Also gives me the option to throw the roof panels in the bed on nice days and put em back on when they get not so nice, but still can park & leave the gladiator.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You either need one or you don't.
There's no advantage to one if you don't carry things that you could use it for. It would be like having a big ladder rack on a 1/2 ton pickup but not carrying ladders around.
If you need one you'll know as you'll have a truck bed full of stuff - usually longer or larger things, that get buried in the bed and can't seem to stay organized.
If you don't need it there's no advantage to it. For me it would be a joke, but some of the guys here put them to great use.

Just a thought - but like I tell my wife about a lot of things when she asks "what's this for" about something she sees in a store - I say to her "if you have to ask what it is or what it's for, you don't need it, let's move along".

 

[Outside Reality Check]

Agreed. That’s why my RTT and rack only get mounted when needed. Harbor Freight electric hoist makes it pretty easy.

BEST utilitarian perfection of RTT, Rack, and Garage Ceiling I've seen all year....BRAVO

 

[EJWF11]

… because if you don’t get one, then you have nothing to talk about when someone asks you about your JT.

i agree, seeing something like that in a suburban area does make you scratch your head.

 

[Dqban]

Why not just put the bikes in the bed? I have a couple high end bikes as well and it works pretty well for me. They are out of the wind and below the roof line as well.

Ive done the bed thing, the rack is way more secure. bikes still hang off the back of the truck and are at equal risk of getting destroyed like on a hitch rack. (perfect SUV bumper hight) On the rack they are individually locked at 2 points each versus running a cable through a tie down point. I tend to go to the trail with doors off so need a tonneua cover to secure the also expensive bike tools and/or spare rims in the bed.

 

[Jason Oliver]

1) Listen to your wife...

2) Not sure why you care how other people spend their money...

3) Not sure why I care enough to respond....

I admit - I have issues...

 

[kevman65]

The great thing about not understanding the usefulness of a bed rack, you just saved about $1,000.

I did the pros and the cons, I don't "need" one so I haven't gotten one. Nice thing is, if I ever "need" one, there are multiples to chose from.

 

[eaglerugby04]

I get what you mean. I want to be able to move a fridge or pick up some saplings, but my diamondback makes it a hassle. At least for the fridge. My old truck, I used to just throw stuff in the back. Loved it.

This truck is a family truck. Flip cover to secure belongings and cross bars to haul bikes.

I think what I really need is two trucks. Gonna see if my wife will trade in her mini van for the ford lightning. That way we have on hand back up power in case of earthquake emergency power outages.

Diamondback makes it just about impossible for things like that, but honestly the bed of the JT rides pretty high anyways making some of those things a pain anyways. I end up just using my trailer for hauling so much that my kids refer to the bed of the JT as the "trunk" lol

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