Finally finished my bike carrier project. I have a Pace Edwards Jackrabbit tonneau with the explorer rails. I bought some parts used, but mostly new. In my opinion, this is one of the better ways of carrying your bikes when towing a TT with a pickup.
I struggled with finding a way I was comfortable with to haul our 3 bikes. I use the bed of my truck as secure storage for camping supplies, so I couldn't just put them in the bed. I did not feel safe hanging them off of the back of the trailer. I decided on putting a rack over the bed, above my roll-top cover, as described in this thread. I installed Yakima landing pads on the bed rails, and then installed two cross-bars with three bike racks attached. It turned out pretty good, and the bikes are easily placed and removed, and are very secure without being in the way.
I built something very similar for my truck. I actually saw one in person on a pace Edwards cover like yours and modelled it similar. I have a soft roll up between rails cover. I needed six inches of clearance under my bike rack rails to roll the cover. I welded up two bars of 1-1/2" square tubing to sit on the box rails. At each end they have a piece of square tubing going down into the stake pockets. Then about 1/3 and 2/3 of the way down the side rail I welded a cross rail. The cross rails are 1" square tubing and they go up 6" first then cross the bed. I then bought two rooftop style bike racks and bolted them to the cross rail. I will try and take pics tomorrow and then try and post them.
I may have figured pics put!
I had made my cross rails removable from the lengthwise ones, but never have removed them.
I may have figured pics put!
I had made my cross rails removable from the lengthwise ones, but never have removed them.
Sorry everyone. I had a VERY busy day. I will try and answer everyone's questions.
It took a bit of time to set it up. Once set up, each bike takes just a couple of minutes. Maybe I should have spent a few more bucks and got the higher end rack with the lever instead of the turn knob to tighten. But squeezing the uprights does make it go faster.
This is a retractable tonneau by Pace Edwards. It basically opens like a garage door. Downfall, you lose a little bit of usable bed space where box is where the tonneau rolls into. But, I love the clean install of the retractable.
The Pace Edwards retractable tonneau has an options for explorer rails. Those rails have tracks for installation of bars or ladder racks. (Stock Photo off the 'net)
I looked into and liked the bakflip. But, what won me over on this was the explorer rails. Bakflip does make a ladder rack. Maybe with some some engineering, you can cut it down a bit so you can still open the cover. Just an idea, but something I may do on my next truck just to get 100% bed usage.
I would see if you could cut and drill new holes at a height that would allow to open.
Chuck_thehammer wrote:
looks like its well made. strong,
what about install and removal of the bikes.. looks like a bit of time.
It took a bit of time to set it up. Once set up, each bike takes just a couple of minutes. Maybe I should have spent a few more bucks and got the higher end rack with the lever instead of the turn knob to tighten. But squeezing the uprights does make it go faster.
camperforlife wrote:
Looks nice and now you have me interested. Once the bikes are off the rack, how hard is it to get the cover opened and closed back? Does the rack have to come off and if so how hard is it to do so?
This is a retractable tonneau by Pace Edwards. It basically opens like a garage door. Downfall, you lose a little bit of usable bed space where box is where the tonneau rolls into. But, I love the clean install of the retractable.
SouthpawHD wrote:
How did you attach the bike rack to the truck?
Based on your pic, the cover is under the bed rails, giving you some clearance, but I can't tell for sure.
The Pace Edwards retractable tonneau has an options for explorer rails. Those rails have tracks for installation of bars or ladder racks. (Stock Photo off the 'net)
bobndot wrote:
I have the bakflip2 , I don't think I would be able to open it using that system.
I need to be able to get into the trucks bed constantly because I keep forgetting things and need to go back into the bed.
I will say, its a nice setup and a nice job installing it, do you have anything to offer that would help my brain ?
I looked into and liked the bakflip. But, what won me over on this was the explorer rails. Bakflip does make a ladder rack. Maybe with some some engineering, you can cut it down a bit so you can still open the cover. Just an idea, but something I may do on my next truck just to get 100% bed usage.
I would see if you could cut and drill new holes at a height that would allow to open.
