Many travelers cite insufficient storage space as one of the biggest impediments to having a thrilling road trip. In most cases, road trippers have to sacrifice certain travel items and purchase them at their travel destinations at additional costs or transport such gear in the cabin in exchange for passenger comfort.
Fortunately, that’s one of the challenges the Toyota Tacoma seeks to address.
The Tacoma has a maximum seating capacity of five passengers. Newer models retain front and rear headroom sizes of 39.7 and 38.4 inches and front and rear legroom of 41.8 and 33.7 inches.
More importantly, the Tacoma boasts 5 – 6 inches of cargo space and a towing capacity of around 1,700. That’s enough storage space to transport most travel gear.
But if you’re going on a long road trip and need to bring a few more items on board, it’s great to know that you can optimize your Tacoma storage space further by installing a bed rack. Here’s a guide to Tacoma bed racks and how they can optimize your road adventure.
How Does a Tacoma Bed Rack Enhance Your Storage Capacity?
You may consider a Toyota Tacoma bed rack, an elevated platform designed to double the truck’s interior cargo space. The rack can significantly extend the vehicle’s storage capacity, allowing you to transport more travel gear than you normally would.
Installing a Tacoma bed rack reduces the need to sacrifice essential travel gear.
Let’s say your road trip’s itinerary includes several camp-outs. In that case, you may need to bring the necessary camping supplies like tents and sleeping bags on the journey.
But since such items are considerably bulky and space-intensive, they can be difficult to transport alongside other crucial road trip accessories like fuel jerry cans. Your best bet would be to whisk them to the truck’s bed rack.
A Tacoma bed rack creates an additional platform where you can safely secure tents, cargo boxes, bicycles, hand tools, and even extra tires for a hassle-free adventure.
More interesting is that a bed rack lets you transport items that are potentially longer than your Tacoma’s trunk. Besides, the rack reduces the need for stuffing items in the cabin, improving passengers’ comfort.
Extra Benefits of Installing a Tacoma Bed Rack
1. Keeps Your Cargo Space Clutter-free
Bed racks don’t just optimize your Tacoma’s luggage-carrying capacity. They also let you keep the interior cargo space neat and uncluttered.
With a bed rack, you won’t need to rummage through a cramped bed for a jack or lug wrench when you run a flat tire. The platform ensures your toolbox and other travel essentials are always within reach.
2. Improves Your Tacoma’s Stability
Mounting a structure over your Toyota Tacoma increases the vehicle’s center of gravity (CoG). A higher CoG reduces the truck’s stability and maneuverability, particularly when off-roading at considerably high speeds.
However, when you’re planning to transport more than a handful of travel gear, your Tacoma is safer with a bed rack than without one.
A Tacoma bed rack allows you to distribute luggage uniformly across the truck. Besides, most racks come with attachments for securing your gear. This prevents the instability caused when travel items are either stuffed in one spot in the interior cargo space or left to toss to and fro as the vehicle navigates rough terrains.
3. Provides a Platform for Mounting RTTs
A Tacoma bed rack provides a foundational structure for setting up rooftop tents (RTTs). Rooftop tents are a step up from traditional ground tents in that they’re less affected by harsh weather.
With RTTs, you don’t need to worry about floods or bugs. The tents also come in foldable designs, making them easy to set up and dismantle.
4. Doesn’t Diminish Your Interior Cargo Space
This is one of the most overlooked benefits of Toyota Tacoma bed racks.
Installing a bed rack over your Tacoma doesn’t limit the interior storage. On the contrary, it supplements the cargo space, allowing you to bring twice as much (or as heavy) travel gear.
Just remember to stay within your Tacoma’s payload and towing capacity when loading the bed rack.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Bed Rack for Your Tacoma
Style is the first consideration when shopping for a Tacoma bed rack.
Pick a design that suits your travel needs. For instance, crossbar racks help you compartmentalize your gear, while economy racks provide a perfect blend between cost and efficiency.
Next, determine the bed rack’s size and weight.
We’ve already underscored the significance of picking a bed rack that aligns with your Tacoma’s payload and towing capacity. As for the size, prioritize lower-profile bed racks over taller ones.
Lower-profile bed racks provide access through low-hanging bridges, tunnels, and other roadway obstacles like twigs. These racks also reduce your Tacoma’s center of gravity, improving fuel economy, stability, and maneuverability.
Other key aspects when buying a Tacoma bed rack include configuration and construction material.
Summary
When outfitting your Toyota Tacoma for the ultimate road adventure, nothing compares to installing a bed rack.
A Tacoma bed rack extends your truck’s storage capacity and allows you to bring more essential travel items to your road trip. The platform also helps to stabilize the vehicle by improving load distribution.
However, after identifying the best Tacoma bed rack, the next challenge is mounting it over the truck. A good practice is to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines diligently to ensure the rack is firmly and safely installed.
