The Top Five Overland Truck Bed Racks

What Is Overlanding?

Before we discuss our top products, let's first develop a brief definition of overlanding. 

Overlanding is a hybrid of remote camping and off-roading that has gained popularity over the past few years. The activity involves trekking an off-road-oriented truck, Jeep®, or SUV through tricky trails and challenging terrain to reach a remote campsite. Then, you reap the benefits of your trial behind the wheel with an overnight stay beneath the stars.

Why Install an Overland Truck Bed Rack?

So, what's the point of an overland rack, anyway? 

When setting up your truck for overlanding, you must be mindful of cargo space. After all, combining the hobbies of wheeling and camping means you'll need to pack double the gear, including tools, camping equipment, recovery gear, a cooler, and a sleeping arrangement. 

A truck bed rack helps boost cargo capacity, providing an elevated platform over the bed to mount a roof-top tent, traction recovery boards, and other oversized cargo. This additional cargo area leaves the bed free for other essentials and the cab accessible for passengers. Plus, bed racks give any truck that rugged and adventure-ready aesthetic!

RealTruck's Top Picks

Now that we've covered overlanding and the purpose of a truck bed rack, let's discuss our experts' top product selections. We've compiled a list of five high-quality truck bed racks that offer exceptional build quality, functionality, and style. 

Elevate Rack

Kicking things off is RealTruck's Elevate Rack System. This premium truck bed rack comprises two lightweight yet sturdy engineered aluminum crossbars supported by four heavy-duty towers. The Elevate Rack system is infinitely configurable, offering countless accessories and add-ons to personalize your overland experience. Choose between heavy-duty sidebars, handy load stops, secure tie-downs, and corrosion-resistant channel guards. 

The Elevate Rack is fully adjustable because it mounts to your truck's bed using a T-slot rail system. Installation is quick and easy, whether you invest in a pair of vehicle-specific rails or utilize those built into your RetraxONE® XR, RetraxPRO® XR, Roll-N-Lock® XT, or other T-slot-compatible tonneau cover. 

We back each Elevate Rack with a limited lifetime warranty. 

Features: 

• Lightweight and robust engineered aluminum construction

• Durable, textured powder coat finish

• Compatible with TruXedo covers or covers with built-in T-slot rails

• Install, adjust, or remove in minutes

• Elevate T-slot rails required for installation on most applications

• Elevate T-slot rails NOT required when equipped with a T-slot-accessory-compatible tonneau cover (i.e., RetraxONE® XR, RetraxPRO® XR, and Roll-N-Lock® XT)

• Adjustable, telescoping design locks at 18, 23, or 28 in.

• Integrated T-slot channels accept numerous cargo management accessories

• 750-lbs. static load capacity

• 500-lbs. on-road load capacity

Go Rhino XRS Cross Bars

Every overland setup needs a solid base, like the Go Rhino® XRS Cross Bar system from RealTruck. These heavy-duty steel cross bars feature a durable textured black powder coat finish for superior corrosion protection, ensuring years of reliable service in even the harshest conditions. 

Each order includes two 4-Core Cross Rails, equipped with T-Slot channels for securing most Go Rhino 4-Core accessories. Go Rhino XRS Cross Bars feature a solid 600 lbs. weight capacity, plenty for supporting a roof top tent and one to two sleepers. 

We back each order of Go Rhino XRS Cross Bars with a limited 5-year warranty. 

Features: 

• Heavy-duty steel construction

• Textured black powder coat finish

• Simple no-drill installation

• Compatible with select tonneau covers

• Includes two 4-Core cross rails

• Compatible with most Go Rhino 4-Core accessories (sold separately)

• Supports up to 600 lbs. (static)

• Limited 5-year warranty

RealTruck GoRack

Upon glancing out at the sea of overland-style truck bed racks, we couldn’t find a single product with every feature we’d desire. If you can’t find it, build it—which is exactly what we did. Introducing the RealTruck® GoRack. This premium rack system is engineered exclusively for overland use, featuring a heavy-duty alloy construction, multiple accessory mounting provisions, and a sleek, mid-height design that looks great on any truck. 

The RealTruck GoRack can support up to 1,000 lbs. static and 600 lbs. while moving. It offers a quick and easy installation at either T-slot-compatible truck bed covers or your truck’s stake pockets. 

Features: 

• Mid-height bed rack maintains adequate clearance for garage parking

• Adjustable heavy-duty steel cross bars

• Extruded aluminum rack side rails feature built-in T-slots for accessory mounting

• Integrated MOLLE side panels provide mounting for Roto-style fuel packs, traction boards, off-road jacks, tools, etc.

• 1,000-lbs. static load capacity 

• 600-lbs. dynamic load capacity

• Integrates with T-slot-compatible bed covers or bed stake pockets for a secure install and superior stability

RealTruck Ascend Rack

Why make one, when we can make two? The RealTruck® Ascend Rack is our newest in-house overland rack, featuring a convenient cab-height design, rugged styling, and a durable 14-gauge AISI 1018 steel alloy construction capable of supporting up to 1,000 lbs.  

The RealTruck Ascend Rack offers a simple bolt-on installation with no cutting, drilling, or other modifications required. Pre-welded fasteners on each component makes bolting the rack together a breeze. 

Features: 

• Cab-height overlanding rack packs both strength and stability

• High-strength 14-gauge AISI 1018 steel alloy construction

• 1,000-lbs. static load capacity

• 500-lbs. dynamic load capacity 

• Pre-welded fasteners for easy solo installation

• OEM-grade E-coat base finished with a durable powder coat

• Easy-to-configure side accessory panels 

• Simple no-drill installation

Go Rhino XRS Overland Xtreme Bed Rack

Last, but certainly not least, is the XRS Overland Xtreme Bed Rack from Go Rhino®. This rack takes everything there is to love about Go Rhino’s XRS Cross Bar system and builds upon it, adding heavy-duty steel uprights and additional cross bars for additional accessory mounting possibilities. 

Whether mounting to your truck’s factory bed track system or to the bed rails using the included clamp-on mounting brackets, the Go Rhino XRS Xtreme Bed Rack offers maximum strength and stability. 

We back each Go Rhino XRS Overland Xtreme Bed Rack with a limited lifetime structural and 5-year finish warranty. 

Features: 

• Heavy-duty aluminum support bars and rails with steel vertical uprights

• 600-lbs. static load capacity

• 300-lbs. dynamic load capacity

• Available with factory bed track mounting systems or bed rail clamp on mounting brackets

• Each upright has integrated threaded fasteners for accessory or light mounting and a standard MOLLE system

• Equipped with Go Rhino's exclusive 4-Core cross bar system

• Included multi-functional gear plate can be mounted outside, inside, on top, and underneath the rack

• Mounting bracket options provide additional tie down locations

• Vertical 4-Core side bars provide unlimited accessory mounting options for popular off-road and overlanding accessories

• Limited lifetime structural | 5-year finish warranty