Camping Weights on bed vs suspension

[Sheeepdog18]

Can anyone out there can help me with this question? I have a 2017 SC and is installing a custom make overland bed rack on my bed over a rolling bed cover. I will be putting a RTT while weights about 175 lbs, the rack itself weight in about 50-75lbs, I also mounting a few 2 gallons Rotopax’s on the side of the rack along with a batwing awning. All in all my guess the whole thing weight in at about 300-375 lbs and when you add in camping gears, then it comes in maybe around 400-475lbs. That’s just my guess-imate! Question is would I needs to beef up my rear springs like installing a Deaver+2 or air suspension? I wouldn’t be using this set up on my truck all the time, only when I go camping or overlanding, the rest of the time the set up will be in the garage. Thanks everyone for the input. I will try to post some pictures later.

 

[Simplejack]

if money is no problem I believe most will say and agree deavers or icon leafs. cheaper route maybe to add a leaf to factory springs but that will raise backend of truck 1.5 to 2 inches.

 

[alcoolaid]

My rtt is approx 125 with 60lb rack so 185lb. Trailer has approx 350 tongue weight so it sags the rear a bit. Without the trailer and only the rack, it sits level.

I don’t think you’ll need to touch any leafs. Going to moab in November so we’ll find out.

 

[bfr]

I haul my snowmobile in the bed in the winter...most of the 450lbs (the sled's engine) sits in front of the rear wheels. Definitely still sags the rear end. Enough that I've considered the Deavers. I wouldn't do them only for the sled hauling but seems there are other benefits as well. Seems your situation with the RTT will probably be similar. Are you building the custom rack? I was looking at the MAX Modular racks from KB Voodoo. With their optional bracket they bolt right on and work with bed covers and they also make a sliding cargo tray. Pretty slick. This was the 10"H aluminum one I almost pulled the trigger on: https://www.max-modular.com/shop-max-modular/alu-max-10-high-aluminum-truck-bed-rack

 

[alcoolaid]

I haul my snowmobile in the bed in the winter...most of the 450lbs (the sled's engine) sits in front of the rear wheels. Definitely still sags the rear end. Enough that I've considered the Deavers. I wouldn't do them only for the sled hauling but seems there are other benefits as well. Seems your situation with the RTT will probably be similar. Are you building the custom rack? I was looking at the MAX Modular racks from KB Voodoo. With their optional bracket they bolt right on and work with bed covers and they also make a sliding cargo tray. Pretty slick. This was the 10"H aluminum one I almost pulled the trigger on: https://www.max-modular.com/shop-max-modular/alu-max-10-high-aluminum-truck-bed-rack

I have the 14” version on my truck. Quality stuff. Rock solid. Works perfectly fine with my pace Edwards ultragroove tonneau cover too.

 

[baja619]

Full send with a Roof Top Tent!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzKYEj8loyI/

 

[Sheeepdog18]

My bed rack is totally custom build by an excellent metal fabricator that’s also a good friend of my. It’s nothing fancy but it is made to fit on top of my Pace Edward roller cover. They have a track groove on top of their cover that you could mount a cross bar on the top like Yakima or Thule etc. According to Pace Edward their system could hold up to 500 lbs. but I am not taking any chances and having my guy make the rack with a bottom cross brace to make sure the track from the cover don’t spread out with weights and flexing of the bed.

 

[MarkG]

I have the 14” version on my truck. Quality stuff. Rock solid. Works perfectly fine with my pace Edwards ultragroove tonneau cover too.

How did you manage to get it to work with the tonneau cover as the brackets that I got from KB said it would work but when I tried to fit the tonneau cover on, the part where the brackets wedge between the rail and the bed seems to be pooping out too much into the bed causing the tonneau cover not to clamp into those spots. With my rack and RTT it’s sags although hard to tell in this pic


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[Sheeepdog18]

Still in the process of building the rack, it will sit in the grove of my Pace Edward Ultra Grove like the Yakima rack.

 

[alcoolaid]

The only thing unusual I had to do was for the front kb brackets, the usual way to clamp them in is to have the nut on the inside of the bed. I reversed this so the head of the bolt is on the inside of the bed and the nut is on the outside under the bed rail. This way the tonneau cover container can fit between the kb brackets.

The kb brackets would prevent the forward two pace Edwards brackets from sliding all the way forward but they are 80% of the way and that should be more than enough to hold the tonneau cover down.

Let me know if that made sense. If not, i’ll get some pictures for you.

How did you manage to get it to work with the tonneau cover as the brackets that I got from KB said it would work but when I tried to fit the tonneau cover on, the part where the brackets wedge between the rail and the bed seems to be pooping out too much into the bed causing the tonneau cover not to clamp into those spots. With my rack and RTT it’s sags although hard to tell in this pic


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk