Best Bed Rack for Toyota Tacoma and Tundra: How to Pick the Right Height (2026)

By The Cali Raised LED Team

The best bed rack for most Tacoma and Tundra owners is a mid-height, 10-inch aluminum rack that bolts to the factory bed rails, since it clears a rooftop tent without giving up bed access underneath. Which height and build actually fit your truck depends on what you're hauling, so here's how to pick the right one the first time.

What does a bed rack actually do?

A bed rack turns the empty space above your truck bed into usable storage. Instead of stacking gear on the bed floor where it blocks tailgate access and gets soaked in the rain, a bed rack lifts your load onto a raised platform with a T-slot mounting grid. That grid is what lets you bolt on a rooftop tent, RotopaX fuel cans, MAXTRAX or recovery boards, an awning, auxiliary lighting, and storage boxes, then swap or rearrange any of it without drilling new holes every time your setup changes. The bed underneath stays open for a cooler, tools, or a dog kennel.

For Tacoma and Tundra owners specifically, a bed rack is usually the missing piece between a stock truck and a real overland rig. It is also the platform most rooftop tents are designed to mount to, since a tent needs a stable, elevated base rather than direct contact with the bed floor.

2005-2023 Tacoma

Overland Bed Rack

Bolt-on aluminum rack for 2nd and 3rd Gen Tacoma, short or long bed, three height options.

From $849.99 Shop now →

What height bed rack should you get: low, mid, or tall?

Cali Raised builds every Tacoma and Tundra bed rack in three heights, and the right one comes down to what sits on top of it:

Low Profile (7 inches) keeps the rack close to the bed rails for a cleaner look and less wind noise. It works well if you are mostly mounting lightweight gear like MAXTRAX, RotopaX, or a small awning and do not need much clearance underneath.

Mid Height (10 inches) is the pick for most rooftop tent owners. It keeps the tent closer to the cab roofline so the truck stays balanced and easier to load, while still leaving room to slide bins under the rack.

Tall (17.5 inches) gives you the most bed access and storage space underneath the rack, which matters if you are running a drawer system, a fridge, or tall recovery gear inside the bed itself.

Aluminum or steel: which is better for a bed rack?

Most bed racks on the market are full steel, which is strong but heavy, often adding 80 to 100+ pounds before you mount anything to it. Cali Raised builds its bed racks from 80% aluminum and 20% steel, reinforcing the load-bearing points with steel while keeping the overall rack around 55 to 65 pounds depending on the vehicle. That weight difference matters more than it sounds: every pound in a bed rack is dead weight sitting high and far back on the chassis, which affects handling and payload before you even load a tent on top. The brackets are laser-cut and welded in the USA, then finished in a black semi-gloss powder coat that holds up to trail use and weather.

2024+ Tacoma

Overland Bed Rack, 4th Gen

Fits all 2024-2027 Tacoma trims, 5-foot and 6-foot beds, bolts to factory bed rails with no drilling.

$849.99 Shop now →

Will a bed rack fit your Tacoma or Tundra without drilling?

Yes, as long as the rack is built for your truck's factory bed rail system, which every Cali Raised bed rack is. Installation is bolt-on, typically an hour or two with basic hand tools, and no drilling or cutting is required. The 2005-2023 Tacoma rack covers 2nd and 3rd Gen trucks in short or long bed, the 2024+ Tacoma rack is built specifically for the redesigned 4th Gen bed rails, and the Tundra rack fits 2022+ CrewMax models in both 5.5-foot and 6.5-foot beds. Older 2007-2021 Tundra trucks need the earlier-generation rack, since the bed rail mounting points changed between generations. Always match the rack to your exact model year, since a rack built for one generation's bed rails will not bolt to another.

What's the best bed rack for a rooftop tent?

A rooftop tent is the heaviest, most top-weighted thing most people mount to a bed rack, so weight capacity matters more here than anywhere else. Cali Raised's Tacoma and Tundra racks are tested to 1,500 lbs static capacity with 750 lbs recommended static load, and 400 lbs recommended dynamic capacity for driving with a loaded rack. A hardshell or soft-shell rooftop tent typically runs 120 to 170 lbs, which leaves comfortable margin for an awning, traction boards, and a couple of storage boxes at the same time. Mid height is the height most rooftop tent owners land on, since it balances tent clearance with keeping the load lower and more centered over the bed.

2022+ Tundra CrewMax

Overland Bed Rack

Fits 5.5-foot and 6.5-foot CrewMax beds, 1,500 lbs tested static capacity, T-slot mounting.

$899.99 Shop now →

Does the 4Runner need a bed rack?

No, because a 4Runner does not have an open truck bed to mount one to. 4Runner owners get the same modular overland storage through a roof rack instead, which does the same job of carrying a rooftop tent, MAXTRAX, and gear above the vehicle rather than behind the cab. If you are cross-shopping a Tacoma or Tundra against a 4Runner for an overland build, that is one of the bigger practical differences between the two: a truck bed rack generally holds more gear and keeps weight lower on the vehicle than a roof-mounted setup. See our roof rack comparison guide if you are weighing a roof rack against a bed rack for your build.

What accessories can you add to a bed rack?

The whole point of the T-slot design is that it keeps expanding with your build. Recovery board mounts hold a pair of MAXTRAX or ActionTrax against the side of the rack instead of taking up bed floor space. An awning mount bracket gives you a solid attachment point for a 180 or 270-degree awning without fabricating anything. A bed rack bike mount lets you carry a bike up and off the bed floor. And because the rack sits above the bed, it is also a clean mounting point for auxiliary lighting, our 27W side projecting pods are a popular pairing here since their wide beam pattern works well as scene lighting when you are set up at camp, not just as a trail light.

Bed Rack Accessory

Recovery Board Mounts

Bolt-on mounts that carry a pair of MAXTRAX or ActionTrax on the side of your bed rack.

$99.99 Shop now →

Bed Rack Accessory

Bed Rack Awning Mount Bracket

Steel bracket that gives your awning a solid attachment point on the bed rack, no fabrication needed.

$79.99 Shop now →

One more thing worth knowing before you buy: most bed racks on the market, including popular builds discussed on TacomaWorld, sell the rack, the height risers, and every accessory as separate line items you piece together yourself. Cali Raised racks ship with the mounting hardware included and the height already built into the SKU you choose, so you are not stacking extra parts orders on top of the base price to get a usable setup. If you already run a Cali Raised bed rack and want more background on why it is worth the upgrade over stacking gear loose in the bed, our post on why every overlander needs a bed rack covers the reasoning in more depth, and our install walkthrough covers the bolt-on process step by step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a bed rack fit both short bed and long bed trucks?

Yes. The 2005-2023 Tacoma rack is available in short bed and long bed versions, and the Tundra CrewMax rack fits both 5.5-foot and 6.5-foot beds. Always select the bed length option that matches your truck when ordering.

What height should I choose for a rooftop tent?

Mid height, 10 inches, is the most common choice. It keeps the tent closer to the roofline for better balance and easier loading while still leaving room underneath for bins.

Does installation require drilling or cutting?

No. Every Cali Raised bed rack bolts directly to the factory bed rail system with the included hardware. Most installs take one to two hours with basic hand tools.

How much weight can a bed rack hold?

Cali Raised bed racks are tested to 1,500 lbs static capacity, with 750 lbs recommended static load and 400 lbs recommended dynamic load while driving.

What's the difference between the 2005-2023 and 2024+ Tacoma bed rack?

They are built for different bed rail systems. The 4th Gen Tacoma (2024+) redesigned its bed rails, so it needs its own rack rather than the rack built for 2nd and 3rd Gen (2005-2023) trucks.

Can I mount an awning to a bed rack?

Yes. An awning mount bracket bolts to the T-slot rail and gives you a solid attachment point for a 180 or 270-degree awning without any fabrication.