DIY Bed Rack and Rails

[LTCSlacker]

So I finally got my brackets fabricated for my Ace Upper Decker.

I still need to prime and paint the whole set-up (bars, towers, hardware), but here is a pic for now.

The Custom Camping Concepts towers (with cross bars)have been welded to a bracket that attaches into the Ace Upper Decker. Total overkill, but each bracket has 4 bolts on top going into the Decker, and 3 (with washers) in the side holes. It is not going anywhere.

When I reinstall, I will probably not even use all of the bolts - depends on how long it takes me to put them on and take them off!

Once I prime and paint, I'll be getting a Roof Top Tent for this, but I'd also be able to use a Roof basket, or anythign I want with those bars.

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[cgflyer]

So I finally got my brackets fabricated for my Ace Upper Decker.

I still need to prime and paint the whole set-up (bars, towers, hardware), but here is a pic for now.

The Custom Camping Concepts towers (with cross bars)have been welded to a bracket that attaches into the Ace Upper Decker. Total overkill, but each bracket has 4 bolts on top going into the Decker, and 3 (with washers) in the side holes. It is not going anywhere.

When I reinstall, I will probably not even use all of the bolts - depends on how long it takes me to put them on and take them off!

Once I prime and paint, I'll be getting a Roof Top Tent for this, but I'd also be able to use a Roof basket, or anythign I want with those bars.

out of curiosity, were these actually cheaper than the Ace's crossbars? I was one of the first to get the Upper Decker and just used their crossbars without any major issues, but will be disappointed if these were like half the cost...although looking to sell my Upper Decker now. I want my bed back and plan on going with the Gobi roof rack with a roof height bed rack (likely JCR) for my RTT.

 

[LTCSlacker]

out of curiosity, were these actually cheaper than the Ace's crossbars? I was one of the first to get the Upper Decker and just used their crossbars without any major issues, but will be disappointed if these were like half the cost...although looking to sell my Upper Decker now. I want my bed back and plan on going with the Gobi roof rack with a roof height bed rack (likely JCR) for my RTT.

The cost of the pieces (from Custom Camping Concepts) was about the same. So with the fabricated piece (materials and labor) added on, it ended up being more.

However, I believe that I get more usable space, both under the bars (height and lack of the angle) as well as a more useful bar system that can be used to hold anything (not just a tent).

 

[cgflyer]

The cost of the pieces (from Custom Camping Concepts) was about the same. So with the fabricated piece (materials and labor) added on, it ended up being more.

However, I believe that I get more usable space, both under the bars (height and lack of the angle) as well as a more useful bar system that can be used to hold anything (not just a tent).

I had to drill mine just to mount my tent as the pre-drilled holes didn't line up and I just added bike trays that I also drilled for. There is a ton of steel real estate on the tops of the crossbars that I wasn't worried about integrity, but you are right about the clearance issues.

 

[LTCSlacker]

I had to drill mine just to mount my tent as the pre-drilled holes didn't line up and I just added bike trays that I also drilled for. There is a ton of steel real estate on the tops of the crossbars that I wasn't worried about integrity, but you are right about the clearance issues.

The drilling was my concern. With square bars, I can use just about anything I want on top without fear that it won't fit (or that I have to drill). I'm also considering putting a Bundutec (or other) awning on there for day trips and stuff, and so I wanted bars that went out at least to the end of the truck.

 

[LTCSlacker]

So I have finally gotten my rack parts painted, and my Roof Top Tent arrived, and it's all now put together.

In sum, I have:
1) Ace Engineering Upper Decker
2) Custom Camping Concepts Towers and Bars
3) Welded plates on the Towers that bolt to the Upper Decker
4) Front Runner Rooftop Tent and Annex

It all works great. My only issue overall is that the Upper Decker will no longer stay up all on its own, due to the total weight. I can open it, but I'll need to get something to hold it open if I need it that way temporarily.

All in all, though, I am very happy with the set-up. Driving at speed shows little noise, even with my Bestop sunrider open. Pleny of space in the bed (under the Upper Decker) and on top of the Decker (under the tent). Pleny of visibility out of the back window.

Now just to get out camping!

 

[Krash1642]

Went the same rout. turned out pretty good. looking forward to seeing what you do with the sides.

did you use slide your clamps into the unistrut rail to clamp your tonneau to the bed rail or did you an L Bracket or something completely different? lol, thanks for any help, I appreciate it!

 

[CP4]

Does anyone know if these brackets will work with the tri fold tyger tonneau?

 

[JeepRitz]

I wanted to post this as it was inspired by @WhatExit? build of this Gladiator Rack. He has been a wealth of Knowledge and you should read his post

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...dea-of-a-perfect-for-me-gladiator-rack.27705/

Although I have not tested with a Tonneau cover yet I will shortly I have a couple more things to add for customization but I wanted to add a shopping list for the everyday joe that wants something on a budget. And of course, you get to add your little piece of you made it yourself.

Here is the shopping list. You don't need all of this if you have a Trail Rail system already But I figured for under $350 I have a 4 post Rack and a rail system.



Now as I have some side pieces fabricated still working out that design. I wanna do it homemade so. If anybody has some insight on inexpensive say 1/8" slotted steel let me know. It can be bare.

Are you kidding me with this list!

Thank you so much.

 

[Paddy193]

I was just going to make a thread about what I built with my compact camping towers, but then I found this thread.

I did things a little differently than what most of you have done, as I am sticking a 72" tent on mine, and I wanted 3 cross bars, spaced as far apart as possible. (tent + people + dog= just shy of 650lbs) I used the KBvoodoo "test fit" brackets that they sell as the base for my towers. (I didn't even know CC offered bases for gladiators until seeing this thread!) Then I used some 1.5x1/4 flat bar to tie all of the bases together, and extend how far forward/backward I could place the front/rear towers. My only concern at this point is the possibility of left/right movement folding over the towers. Once my tent shows up I will do some testing and decide if I need to create some triangulation from the cross bars to the towers.

I used strut channel as my cross bars, and I notched them a little so the towers would fit inside of the channel. This should save me almost 2 inches of height, and help keep my tent at the roof line, and not above it (except for the ladder).

Everything works great with my tyger tonneau cover. I just had to trim the foam from the side rails. I also bolted the tonneau side rails directly to the kbvoodoo brackets, instead of clamping them (except for at the front, where there is no trail rail). I did this because I did not want to put the upward force created by the clamps on my diy trail rails. This means that the kbvoodoo brackets will stay on 24/7, but the towers and flat bar will be removed when the tent is not in use. If this setup proves itself, I will be tearing it all down and cleaning up some of the cuts/holes, and then having it powder coated.

Let me know what you think!

Hi Chance_P,

Love what you have done with you bed rack construction, KBVoodoo / Max Modular will only sell their test fit brackets one per customer now. Any chance you could post the bracket dimensions please? Especially the fold lines?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Paddy193]

Hi all.

I was inspired by this thread, and another, to make my own set up. The maker of the towers is no longer make the bed brackets which also sent me down the DIY route. I had already made the bed rail using uni-strut.

I wanted to be ably to carry bikes above the truck bed in summer and skis/snowboards in winter, leaving the bed for other luggage.

I wanted the bed cover to easily clear and roll up past the towers and if needed I wanted to be able to just remove the uni-strut cross bars to transport tall items in the bad without removing the whole mounts, this is way the towers rise at a right angle from the bed rails. I also wanted it to be strong enough for a roof top tent in the future and to incorporate lashing points to make up for the space being used up on the bed rail system.

I ordered the brackets in 2 parts from Send Cut Send using their standard templets of their website. They were 2 parts because there was not a template that would allow me to make them in one part and it allowed me to chose the amount of overlap between to adjust the height slightly it needed.

I ordered them blank and drilled any holes my self. This way I could be more precise with the hole locations and not need to oversize anything or use slots. It also kept the price down and the order simple, as did the 90 degree bends.

I'm really happy with how it turned out and the price I managed to do it for , especially in comparison to of the shelf items which also would not full meet my requirements. I still want to hole saw a hole in each tower. I like the look and it can be used to pass cable locks through and I still need to paint it and the bed rails. The bike mounts are Swaggman Enforcer fork mounts. Could easily fit 5 nose to tail in recon.

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