I’ve had a truck for quite some time now, and even though I don’t live in an area that requires a truck (I live in Los Angeles…), it’s nice to have for camping, overlanding, and off-roading, which I frequently do.
Of course, there’s utility advantages, too. The truck has four doors, so I have room in the backseat for gear, my kid, or both. There’s the bed, too of course, which offers yet more space for larger items like one of my inflatable tents, my portable power station and batteries, Starlink, and so forth.
My truck currently has a capper on it so all my gear is secure and out of the elements. But that doesn’t mean a roof rack wouldn’t be a good addition to my rig – and to yours, too! So, with that, let’s discuss four primary benefits of a truck roof rack for your outdoor adventures.
Table of Contents
- A Truck Roof Rack Expands Storage Capacity
- You Can Add Functional Accessories to a Truck Roof Rack
- You Get Greater Versatility From a Truck Roof Rack
- A Truck Roof Rack Can Increase Resale Value
A Truck Roof Rack Expands Storage Capacity
First, and most obviously, a truck roof rack expands the storage capacity of your truck No longer limited by the backseat or the truck bed, a rack like the Front Runner Slimline II shown throughout this article gives you yet more real estate for hauling gear for your overlanding and off-roading adventures.
But more space isn’t the only benefit, here – a truck roof rack also frees up your truck’s bed by shifting gear to the roof. So, if I head out on an overlanding trip and have a rocket box and my bike on the roof rack, the space those items would typically take up in the bed is now freed up. That might mean I can add a fridge slide to my truck bed or carve out an area for a sleeping platform.
The point is that having more storage options never hurts, especially when you’re adventuring outdoors. Don’t want your wet suits from surfing or rafting getting the truck bed (and your other gear wet)? No problem! Keep wet gear in a box with drainage on the roof rack. Want to free up space in the truck bed by adding a rooftop tent to your truck roof rack? You can do that too!
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You Can Add Functional Accessories to a Truck Roof Rack
Functionality is the name of the game with these roof racks. These racks aren’t just flat pieces of aluminum on your roof that allow you to tie gear down. Instead, racks like the Front Runner Slimline II enable you to add all sorts of goodies to improve the functionality of your rig.
For example, this rack accommodates everything from a bike carrier to a rooftop tent. Or, you might add a Front Runner under-rack table, a locking strap-down storage box, a propane bottle holder, or recovery board mounts, just to name a few.
Beyond that, you can use your truck roof rack as a mounting point for an awning to give yourself some protected outdoor living space. While you’re at it, why not add a shower mount so you can clean up after a long day of hiking, biking, or climbing?!
And since Front Runner offers racks for a dizzying number of models, you can outfit your truck with a killer roof rack virtually no matter what the make and model is. Nice!
You Get Greater Versatility From a Truck Roof Rack
When I say that a truck roof rack offers greater versatility, here’s what I mean…
A truck bed rack is great, but it limits your access to the bed. Not only that, but a bed rack also limits the size of the cargo you can haul (unless you remove the rack, which can be a pain). But as I discuss in my head-to-head comparison of bed racks and roof racks, neither of these problems is an issue with a truck roof rack.
With my Jeep Gladiator, hauling a surfboard in the bed might be a problem – it would stick out about five feet beyond the truck! But, with a roof rack, all that length is directly above the truck, so there’s no worry that the board will impede people’s ability to walk behind the truck when it’s parked (or be uncomfortably close to the car behind me in traffic).
You get the point…going higher on your truck for your storage needs means you can store bulky or long items that might simply not work in your truck’s bed, especially if you have a bed rack or truck topper. Besides, with a truck roof rack, you gain back some of the utility lost if you cover your bed with a topper or a bed rack in the first place – haul gear on the roof rack and have the bed free to go to a big box store to get a new stove or a landscaping company to grab new plants for house in the spring. That’s the whole point of having a truck – the ability to haul gear!
A Truck Roof Rack Can Increase Resale Value
Now, I’m no car salesman, but in the overlanding and off-roading community, add-ons like a truck roof rack can make your truck more attractive when you sell it. After all, it’s one more feature that potential buyers don’t have to add themselves!
Plus, there’s value in the added utility discussed earlier. Your truck with a roof rack might be more appealing to buyers than a similar truck without one or a similar truck with a bed rack. That increase in versatility means improved functionality and maybe even a few more dollars in your pocket when it’s all said and done, too.
On another note, I think roof racks look awesome on trucks. Aesthetics isn’t exactly important here, but it sure doesn’t hurt!
If you’re in the market for a truck roof rack, head over to our friends at BTR Outfitters to scope out their selection of options. These folks have spent decades outdoors and are ready to use their expertise to help you find the right roof rack for your truck. So, get outfitted today, hit the road, and enjoy better functionality for your truck!
Our articles might have affiliate links and the occasional sponsored content, but don’t sweat it – if you buy something, we get a little kickback at no extra cost to you, and we only hype products we truly believe in!
Learn More:
- 5 Benefits of Having a Front Runner Roof Rack for Camping and Overlanding
- 4 Tips for a More Efficient Campsite
Images for this article were provided by BTR Outfitters.