OEM trail rail vs aftermarket

[Fouts]

Thinking about adding some bed accessories that require trail rail and I do not have. Any downside or advantages to going aftermarket? I like the one that Mac's offers and the builtright looks good but will they work with items like the Alu Cab? Have even looked at the strut option but not sure how well will work.

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[ecidiego]

Aftermarket ones are usually stronger, but the weakness is the bedsides, not the rails. Factory rails will work with more things as no one will design for aftermarket rails other than the company that made them.

My 2 cents.

 

[LostWoods]

OEM is crap just for the simple fact you must insert things from the end of the rail. Toyota nailed the design in 2004 in the second gen Tacoma and Jeep fumbled it out the gate 15 years later.

If I were to do it again (and I might swap at some point) I'd either do a custom job and drill out some solid strut channel or buy another brand. Something strut channel based seems like the ideal solution because there is a ton of stuff out there for mounting things and you can add them anywhere in the rail.

 

[PDiddy]

I think if your going to add accessories that use the trail rail system, you need to get the OEM one. Otherwise you may run into fitment issues.

 

[ElDirector]

I ended up adding factory rails. Looked at after market, but found factory for the same/better cost. Also looked at "rigging" something, but for the cost, it didn't seem to work out (for me).

The weak link appears to be the mounting bolts. Anything that uses the factory nutserts will be the same. So, unless you want to build a reenforced mounting location, may as well use factory rails.

BTW: if you will be adding/removing attachments often, try cutting the rail short (to slide in from the end) or notch the rail in the middle somewhere (to add/remove at that location). Might also look at smaller rail "nuts" that can be slipped in anywhere. Pretty sure my Hi-lift mount had nuts small enough to slip into the factory rail's opening.

 

[johnparjr]

I have them they work fine and the complaints about only the one entry point for me is a non issue. You can’t please everyone and that’s why their is always an aftermarket products.

 

[Mac's Tie Downs]

Thinking about adding some bed accessories that require trail rail and I do not have. Any downside or advantages to going aftermarket? I like the one that Mac's offers and the builtright looks good but will they work with items like the Alu Cab? Have even looked at the strut option but not sure how well will work.

What specific Alu Cab product are you referring to?

 

[MrKnowitall]

You can get cut/drilled L-track kits for the JT for less than the OE stuff. Then you can use any number of standard anchors and even mounting nuts and studs for permanent equipment.
Jeep Gladiator VersaTie Track Bed Kit | macscustomtiedowns

 

[Fouts]

What specific Alu Cab product are you referring to?

https://www.alu-cab.com/product/jeep-gladiator-double-cab-canopy/

 

[Fouts]

Thanks all for the input. May just go with oem so i don't to worry if it will fit or not.

 

[BAT]

Well I did some looking around when I put mine in. I eventually went with builtright at the time as they seemed the best but was disappointed they never followed up with the tie down kits they were supposed to make for their rails. If you go OEM rails you will have to buy extra tie downs and frankly I find them to be very bulky and just didn't care for them. I have 4 of them sitting in a drawer in my garage I think. You might have to look at the forums to try to find best aftermarket tie down attachments unless you adding Molle Panels then you might find some better attachments. MACS had an interesting system but not sure if you can put molle panels on it. If you not putting in Molle panels then some of Toyota accessories kind of work. There were a few write ups on the forums

 

[Phatmexxx]

I liked the look and quality of Mac's rails. I was able to install it over my BedRug.

 

[Volksparts]

I'm running builtright rails which are essentially unistruts. So when I recently installed my rack system the mounting plate they provided were too narrow (made for the stock rail system) so I ended up finding specific unistrut nutserts to mount my rack. Just some food for thought. But, the builtright rails are pretty stout but like others said it's the mounting bolts which still might be the weaker link.

 

[cgm]

I ended up adding factory rails. Looked at after market, but found factory for the same/better cost. Also looked at "rigging" something, but for the cost, it didn't seem to work out (for me).

Where did you get the mopar rails? the cheapest I have seen them is around $330

 

[Fouts]

Where did you get the mopar rails? the cheapest I have seen them is around $330

Which seems like a lot of money for what you get. I know---Jeep tax.

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