Best Roof Racks for the Toyota Tacoma

Updated on Aug 16, 2023

The venerable Toyota Tacoma has proven time and time again to be a versatile platform, maintaining popularity as an overlander, wheeler, and daily driver. While the Tacoma is undoubtedly a popular rig with a bustling aftermarket, it does have one major shortcoming: the lack of usable cargo space. What’s the solution, you may ask? Installing a high-quality roof rack of course!

At RealTruck, we carry numerous roof racks for the Toyota Tacoma. While it’s always nice to have options, sometimes narrowing your selection can be overwhelming. Instead of conducting research yourself, read on for a list of our top 5 roof racks for the Toyota Tacoma, offering the best aesthetics, accessibility, and build quality to last through all of your adventures.

Why Do You Need a Roof Rack?

While it’s a common assumption that, because the Tacoma has a bed, it’s bursting at the seams with unused cargo space, that isn’t exactly the case. The Tacoma’s undersized bed is only offered in 5 and 6-foot configurations which can easily be maxed-out. You aren’t left with many options after packing the bed full of gear, especially with a cab full of friends, kids, and dogs; that’s where a roof rack comes in.

Roof racks are an excellent means of recouping unused space, especially on double-cab models with four full doors and a massive cab. With a quality roof rack, you can significantly bolster your Tacoma’s cargo space, leaving room in the bed for bikes and other toys while keeping the cab clear for passengers (both two and four-legged).

Additionally, roof racks provide mounting locations for off-road lighting, kayaks and canoes, bikes, and just about anything else you’ll need!

How to Choose a Roof Rack

Before diving into our top-5 listing, it’s critical to know how to choose which roof rack is right for you. To do so, we recommend asking yourself a few preliminary questions.

What’s the Purpose of Your Roof Rack Purchase?

Before selecting a roof rack, you’ll need a general idea of how you'll use it, including what you plan to carry, how much weight it’ll need to support, and how often.

If your primary objective is mounting gear like bikes, kayaks, snowboards, and skis, it’s important to select a roof rack that’s compatible with all the associated carriers. In this scenario, a crossbar roof rack will likely be your best choice, accepting most big-name carriers.

However, if your primary intention for a roof rack is strapping down coolers and supplies, mounting off-road lights, and securing an awning, an overland-style roof rack will be the superior option.

Difficulty/Method of Installation

Are you planning to install the roof rack yourself? Will you be leaving it on year-round or only when necessary? These questions are integral when selecting a roof rack, as they’ll likely influence the style you purchase.

While some roof racks offer a simple, modification-free installation, others require lengthy assemblies and drilling mounting holes. Depending on your mechanical prowess and the frequency of removal, some roof racks on this list will be far better suited for the DIY-er.

Budget

What are you looking to spend? Roof racks can vary significantly in price, ranging from sub-$500.00 to over $2,000.00! While we may all wish for unlimited budgets, the house, kids, and partner might say otherwise.

Our Top Toyota Tacoma Roof Racks

And now for the exciting content: check out our selections for the best Toyota Tacoma roof racks on RealTruck!

Paramount Adventure Roof Rack

The Paramount Adventure Roof Rack features a rugged fabricated-steel construction with a corrosion-resistant textured black powder coat finish, offering exceptional looks and durability for a lifetime of adventuring! Two heavy-duty fabricated-steel side rails make up the main structure of the rack, while steel cross bars extend the width of the cab for securing cargo. To reduce in-cab noise, an aerodynamic front panel diverts wind up and over the roof rack.

Installation is quick and easy with the Paramount Adventure Roof Rack. Vehicle-specific brackets are installed into your Tacoma’s factory rain channels, requiring no drilling or modifications.

Features:

Easy installation
350-pound static load rating
Dimensions: 66.5” x 14.6” x 8.7”
Textured, corrosion-resistant black powder coat
Built-in wind deflector
Lifetime structural and 5-year finish warranty

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Rhino Rack Black Vortex Roof Rack

Introducing the Rhino Rack Black Vortex Roof Rack–a premium crossbar-style roof rack featuring a simple clamp-on installation and sleek aerodynamic design. With a durable and lightweight aluminum construction and corrosion-resistant black powder coat finish, The Rhino-Rack Black Vortex Roof Rack pairs elegant styling with exceptional strength.

The Rhino-Rack Black Vortex Roof Rack utilizes clamp-on legs that fit within the door jamb for a secure installation. The rack features aero-style bars compatible with most crossbar accessories, allowing you to mount gear carriers, storage bins, roof baskets, and more!

Features:

Heavy-duty aluminum construction
Designed for gutterless applications
Holds up to 165 lbs.
Vehicle-specific design for easy installation
Fastens to vehicle with no-drill clamps
Ideal for transporting luggage, skis, snowboards, and more!
Limited lifetime warranty

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Rhino-Rack BackBone Base Mounting System

The BackBone Base Mounting System from Rhino Rack is, as its name suggests, the backbone of your Tacoma’s roof rack system. This roof rack system provides a solid, rigid structure to build upon and is directly compatible with most Rhino-Rack accessories, including Heavy-Duty cross bars, Vortex cross bars, the Pioneer Platform Rack, and more!

Installation is straightforward, mounting directly into your Tacoma’s rain channels. Every BackBone includes everything necessary for installation, including thorough instructions and hardware.

Features:

Heavy-duty alloy construction
Corrosion-resistant finish
Vehicle-specific fitment
Sold as individual mounting system or with Pioneer Platform Rack, Heavy-Duty, or Vortex cross bars
Compatible with multiple Rhino-Rack accessories
5-year limited warranty

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Thule WingBar Edge Roof Rack Kit

The Thule WingBar Edge Roof Rack Kit is a complete roof rack system for your Tacoma, including mounting pedestals, cross bars, and a vehicle-specific mounting kit. The Thule’s aerodynamic design and choice of black or silver finishes lends itself to any application, no matter the color or style of build.

With a heavy-duty aluminum construction, the WingBar Edge Roof Rack Kit can handle up to 220 pounds of cargo, allowing you to carry everything from luggage to bikes and kayaks. The WingBar accepts most t-slot style accessories, making attaching gear mounts, baskets, and cargo containers a breeze.

Installation is quick and easy, using modification-free clamps in your Tacoma’s door jambs.

Features:

Available in black and silver finishes
108, 118, 127, 135, and 150 cm lengths available
Aerodynamic design for reduced wind noise and improved fuel economy
Includes everything necessary for installation
Quick-access T-track interface for quick and easy installation and removal of accessories
Weight capacity: 220 lbs.
Limited lifetime warranty

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Fab Fours Modular Roof Rack

The Fab Fours Modular Roof Rack is as rugged as they come, featuring a heavy-duty 12-gauge steel construction and corrosion-resistant 2-stage black powder coat finish. The Fab Fours roof rack comes in several sizes, including 48 inches, 60 inches, and 72 inches; whether your Tacoma is an access or double cab, we carry a Fab Fours rack that’ll fit!

Optional light mounts are available for all sizes, allowing you to mount dual 50-inch light bars or recessed LED pods for added visibility in low-light conditions.

Unlike the other options on this list, installing the Fab Fours Modular Roof Rack is not for the faint of heart. Installation requires you to drill eight holes into your Tacoma’s cab for mounting; however, all hardware, gaskets, and seals are included to prevent water from leaking into the cab.

Features: