A guide to choosing roof racks for trucks

Choosing roof racks for trucks can be confusing, especially if you don't have much experience in the realm of truck accessories. However, we're here to make it simple for you (as usual) by giving you a guide on choosing roof racks for trucks straight from the experts at the Toyota of Orlando parts center. Check it out!

What will you use your roof racks for?

The first thing that you need to do when choosing a truck roof rack is decide what you're going to use it for. Will you be transporting bikes? A kayak? Work gear? Luggage? A rooftop tent? Before you can choose the right racks for your truck, you should plot out exactly what you'll be using them for and subsequently, what characteristics they need to offer you.

What types of roof racks for trucks are there?

Roof racks are typically composed of two elements - a base and crossbars. As you can probably see, the base is what's mounted to the roof of your truck while the cross bars connect the bases to offer support in the middle. They also allow you to mount cargo boxes or baskets and additional racks, including:

• Bike racks
• Ski or snowboard racks
• Kayak, surfboard, and paddleboard racks

Plus racks for a rooftop tent.

Another option to keep in mind is platform racks. These roof racks for trucks have a wide deck and are actually mounted over the bed of your truck, which makes loading and unloading even easier.

Some SUVs and trucks come with factory-equipped raised side rails on the roof already, but you'll still need to buy roof rack accessories like foot packs and crossbars. If you're not sure what you'll need for your truck, then ask our Orlando Toyota parts experts for some guidance.

How to choose the right truck roof rack for your Orlando Toyota

Now that you've decided what you'll use your racks for and you know the options available to you, it's time to settle on the actual racks you'll be purchasing. We highly recommend Toyota roof racks - you'll get top quality and longevity - but Yakima is another great aftermarket option. Here are some tips to keep in mind when choosing roof racks for trucks.

• Consider the weight of the racks. Steel racks are going to be strong but extremely heavy and will weigh down your car, which means your MPGs will drop. You can find strong aluminum racks that can carry just as heavy of a load but weigh up to 30% less than steel racks. You also need to make sure that your Orlando Toyota can support the weight of the racks and your gear!
• Think about exactly what you'll be transporting. You know you want to bring your bike and your kayak... but will you be bringing them at the same time? If so, you need to set up your roof racks to accommodate that.
• Consider low profile roof racks. Anything that you mount on the top of your car is going to impact your aerodynamics, which can affect your fuel efficiency. Low profile roof racks are lower to the roof of the vehicle and as such, create less wind resistance and noise.
• Make sure you choose durable, strong racks. Cheap roof racks cost less, but they could fail you at a critical moment. An err away from plastic - the more metal in your racks, the better as plastic will become brittle and break over time.
• It's also a good idea to choose roof racks from a company that's been around for a while (maybe like, Toyota) so they can offer you assistance, accessories, and replacement parts as needed.
• Make sure it's easy to load and unload the racks, especially if you're going to be adventuring solo. We also recommend looking for racks that lock, especially if you're going to be transporting things like bikes or kayaks.
• Don't attempt DIY installation if you're not a pro. It's easy to install the racks wrong, which can damage your vehicle or cause rack failure in a crucial moment.

How to maintain truck roof racks

Once you've chosen your roof racks and had them installed, your work isn't done - you'll still need to maintain them to keep them in the best shape possible. Here are some tips from Toyota of Orlando's parts team on how to take care of your new accessory:

• Do routine checks - pull on all the parts to ensure everything is secure. You should also look for worn or broken parts on the regular and replace them as needed.
• Listen while you drive to make sure the racks aren't shaking or vibrating - this could indicate that something is loose, like hardware in the mounting system or crossbars.
• Always ensure that your gear is secured down properly before you hit the highway.

Get roof racks for trucks with Toyota of Orlando

Ready to shop for racks? Contact Toyota of Orlando today to find the perfect set. We're open seven days a week at (407) 298-0001, and you can stop by and see us in person at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Mall at Millenia.