Full Rack vs Half-Rack

[PyrPatriot]

First off, this place is great with recommendations/help/advice. The ideas and pics from my previous rack thread were very helpful

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...of-rack-and-rtt-recommendations-please.29269/

What are your perceived/experienced pros/cons of a full size bed rack vs a half-size bed rack?

I am planning on getting a JCR rack, but don't know if I'd be better off with a half-rack.

It will have an RTT on it, but I don't know how easy/difficult it is to remove a clamshell type that fits a family of 4.

The rig is a daily driver and overlander. It will most likely never get a lift and will keep it's 35" mud terrains.

I view the half-rack advantages as allowing a lower center of gravity and decreasing drag while driving (given it will probably have a RTT on it at all times). The downside looks to be you can't fit as much bulky/tall stuff in the bed. A big down-side to the half-rack with the tent is you lose your rear-view window visibility.

Full-size rack: can fit bulkier/taller items inside the bed, and the glass is better protected with the Headache Rack Molle Panel. The half-rack has a version of this panel available, but then the top-half of the back window isn't protected, aside from what the RTT covers. Downside is the RTT being above the roof line means more drag.

But, with a half-roof rack you can mitigate the air flow problems.​

But, with any roof rack you'll lose the ability to take the top off and driving with the doors off but top on just feels odd.​

Full rack

Half-rack with RTT (note the RTTs I am looking at would probably be smaller in height)

Full molle panel

Half-molle panel

Update:
Going with full rack. Specifically, the Datnfab and Softopper with tent extension and an RTT. Now I just need the wife to pop out a few more kids to justify all the camping space.

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[Motoarch]

watching

 

[Bremen]

If you are using a 4 person RTT you would be better of with the full rack. I have the JCR half rack and my 23Zero 62 inch wide RTT fits fine, but a 72 inch RTT would hang a foot over the back. I'm looking at changing over to a full rack or the RSI SmartCap. I want to add an awning and the half rack is to low for that.

 

[Bremen]

I like my JCR half rack, but if I do go to a full rack it will probably be the Go Rhino Xtreme Overland rack. If you have not looked at it you should. Tons of good accessories.

 

[PyrPatriot]

If you are using a 4 person RTT you would be better of with the full rack. I have the JCR half rack and my 23Zero 62 inch wide RTT fits fine, but a 72 inch RTT would hang a foot over the back. I'm looking at changing over to a full rack or the RSI SmartCap. I want to add an awning and the half rack is to low for that.

Could you position the tent over the roof and use a roof-rack to support it? I believe the hardtop can support 300lbs, rack weighs only 45lbs though only supports 100lbs

 

[Bremen]

I'm sure you could use a roof-rack on the hardtop to mount a RTT, buy it would hang over the front, back, or both. If you can make that work then you would not need the bed rack.
Or are you talking about mounting the RTT on a full rack and having it sit a foot over the hardtop? If so then the full rack is all you would need. You don't need to support the section of the RTT that is over the hardtop.

 

[PyrPatriot]

I'm sure you could use a roof-rack on the hardtop to mount a RTT, buy it would hang over the front, back, or both. If you can make that work then you would not need the bed rack.
Or are you talking about mounting the RTT on a full rack and having it sit a foot over the hardtop? If so then the full rack is all you would need. You don't need to support the section of the RTT that is over the hardtop.

Mounting the majority of the RTT on the bed rack and have any overhang stabalized by a roof rack

But if it's not needed then the idea is moot

 

[tsyj]

I went with a full rack (Rebel Offroad) I only carry my RTT on it when I am going to use it, so the tent sticking up over the cab doesn't bother me. I looked at the half rack, but it severely limits bed access, and I do use my JTR as a truck more than I use the RTT. I also mounted my side accessory panels at the uppermost position so that I can access the bed from the side.

I ran the same RTT on my 2016 JKU with the Teraflex roof rack, and drove from FL to CO and back and it didn't really make a difference in handling.

 

[Bremen]

Mounting the majority of the RTT on the bed rack and have any overhang stabalized by a roof rack

But if it's not needed then the idea is moot

Don't bother with the hardtop support, it is not needed.
Just and FYI, if you do go with the JCR the top supports line up with the 23Zero mounting rails and you can mount the tent directly to the rack.

 

[PyrPatriot]

I like my JCR half rack, but if I do go to a full rack it will probably be the Go Rhino Xtreme Overland rack. If you have not looked at it you should. Tons of good accessories.

Looks like you cant mount a lot. Not seeing a spec for static/dynamic/offroad weight limits. Any info on that?
Can you remove some of the cross-members if no rtt is mounted? like if one day you need to move a fridge

 

[Sublime]

I like the idea of the half rack if going with an RTT. Little less wind resistance. If I went this route I would just use a tablet and rear view camera as my rear view mirror.

 

[Outdork]

I have had both a full rack and half rack, starting with the full rack and now happier with the half rack although my RTT is a two-person that fits over the bed without hanging over (torro off-road bantam rtt). I prefer the half rack although the RTT size may be the biggest issue for OP.

Pros of half rack:

• lower center of gravity, so better cornering on road
• can park it my garage
• seems more stable when using the tent - vehicle moves less when moving around

Cons of half rack:

• less cargo space in the bed of the truck
• 90% obstructed view through rear view mirror (I added a camera streaming mirror)

 

[Bremen]

Looks like you cant mount a lot. Not seeing a spec for static/dynamic/offroad weight limits. Any info on that?
Can you remove some of the cross-members if no rtt is mounted? like if one day you need to move a fridge

With the RTT on the half rack you can't use you rearview mirror, but a camera can fix that. Once you have it assembled and installed it can be removed in one piece. I'm in my mid50's and can remove and install the half rack by myself in about 10-15 minutes. But yes if you wanted to you could remove the front and rear cross-members with the upper supports attached leaving only the uprights and side supports. I have not tried that, but would think that removing the entire rack as one piece would take less time.

 

[PyrPatriot]

Don't bother with the hardtop support, it is not needed.
Just and FYI, if you do go with the JCR the top supports line up with the 23Zero mounting rails and you can mount the tent directly to the rack.

I can't find any pics of the tents folded up, just diagrams. Looks pretty bulky. Also needing a clamshell design. But, that is a SPACIOUS tent they offer

I prefer the half rack although the RTT size may be the biggest issue for OP.

Yes. Currently one kid with a goal of...more...wife didn't quite give an upper range just yet.

 

[Bremen]

I can't find any pics of the tents folded up, just diagrams. Looks pretty bulky. Also needing a clamshell design. But, that is a SPACIOUS tent they offer





Yes. Currently one kid with a goal of...more...wife didn't quite give an upper range just yet.

Here is one closed on a Hive CX trailer. Not on the back of a truck, but should help.

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