Custom Cab High Crossbars

[Singlearrow]

I would be extremely interested in a rack! (And curious to know load limits). Mostly looking for a way to cart a couple kayaks around, along with occasional building supplies.

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[AllInev]

Watch Overland Ruff Rax. They built one for the Optima Rivian build along with a roof rack which I have my eye on..

The one Ruff Rax is working on is way more than I need. The prototype that started this thread was more of what I was looking for.

 

[Iwannarivian]

I designed and made these cab high crossbars. I'm thinking about going into production of these and was wondering how much interest there might be. They install using the existing anchor points on the bedrails in under 5 minutes. I use the Yakima heavy duty bars so all the accessories that work on the Rivian crossbars work. In the picture with 20' lumber on top I'm using the Yakima Load Stops.

Brian, Nice job…I have been looking for this myself. I want to mount a RTT on bed, but want to still be able to swing a MTB over the tailgate to use a tailgate pad (requiring the additional height of the RTT mount).

I have attached a pic with red mark-ups showing a possibly more sturdy/safer design.

 

[Iwannarivian]

Brian I just saw this update…better, but I still think running the horizontal supports along the bed rail will give better support (less movement) of the bed rail attachment points, thus strengthening and making a safer rack.

 

[Singletracker]

Check out xtrusion-overland.com. They claim they should have their racks available for the R1T by the end of the year. They appear to be very nice racks and very customizable, including height. Also, their prices seem to be more in line with reality than the $2500 Ruff Rax.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

This’ll be interesting given that the same sort of arrangement failed in testing by Rivian/Yakima, which is why they don’t offer it

cc: @wicked2112

What failed? Any details?

 

[crashmtb]

What failed? Any details?

Unfortunately I cannot. Just know that if it had worked, Yakima would have supplied Rivian with the OverHaul and OutPost.

 

[Singletracker]

What failed? Any details?

It has always concerned me that Yakima walked away from supplying a rack for the R1T. It had to be a concern about something structural. Rivian has been notably silent on this issue. I inquired once, about aftermarket bed racks, and the Rivian rep had nothing to say, period. I wonder if they know something we don’t. I would be supremely disappointed to get an R1T, only to find out the best I could hope for was a set of useless crossbars.

 

[Singlearrow]

The conversation makes me realize that what I actually want, especially in the absence of a functional tonneau solution, is a cap for the bed with a rack on top that matches the height of the crossbars above the cabin. Has anyone heard word of any cap developments to date?

 

[crashmtb]

It has always concerned me that Yakima walked away from supplying a rack for the R1T. It had to be a concern about something structural. Rivian has been notably silent on this issue. I inquired once, about aftermarket bed racks, and the Rivian rep had nothing to say, period. I wonder if they know something we don’t. I would be supremely disappointed to get an R1T, only to find out the best I could hope for was a set of useless crossbars.

It is not abnormal for a company to not disclose why a design didn’t work, or if it ever existed at all.

the mounting points obviously don’t meet whatever their safety criteria are. A tall tower like that makes for a long lever.

already been discussed in this very thread.

 

[moosehead]

It is not abnormal for a company to not disclose why a design didn’t work, or if it ever existed at all.

the mounting points obviously don’t meet whatever their safety criteria are. A tall tower like that makes for a long lever.

already been discussed in this very thread.

Agreed. Not sure about these cross bars at all. First, 188cm skiis and beyond hit the rear glass (17” from rear glass to crossbar). Second, the tower hook mounts to the bed rails do not look robust enough for a tall tower load and leverage. Third, even when clamped and locked, there is still movement at the towers and mid bar extention section.

I’d wager the failure/issue for Yakima was either at the bed rail tower attachment, or mid cross bar, or perhaps both.
Suppose Yak could have designed their own tower attachments and crossbars, but either Rivian stiff armed that or the bed rail mounts were still insufficient.

Last part is pure conjecture on my part.

 

[Riviot]

Respectfully, you're doing it wrong.

 

[moosehead]

Respectfully, you're doing it wrong.

I’m all ears. This was just trying to get a quick vid but haven’t been able to get a more secure latch otherwise.

 

[crashmtb]

Agreed. Not sure about these cross bars at all. First, 188cm skiis and beyond hit the rear glass (17” from rear glass to crossbar). Second, the tower hook mounts to the bed rails do not look robust enough for a tall tower load and leverage. Third, even when clamped and locked, there is still movement at the towers and mid bar extention section.

I’d wager the failure/issue for Yakima was either at the bed rail tower attachment, or mid cross bar, or perhaps both.
Suppose Yak could have designed their own tower attachments and crossbars, but either Rivian stiff armed that or the bed rail mounts were still insufficient.

Last part is pure conjecture on my part.

Look at the yakima hightower and other such racks - they have big "feet" that spread load along the bed rail, mitigating the possible leverage from having a tall tower.

Presumably a version for rivian would work the same, but instead of inserting into post holes on the tops of bed rails, would latch on to the existing points.

My WAG is the tops of the bed rails can't handle those forces. I haven't seen what it looks like under the plastic cap, but my guess is the structure in the areas between crossbar mounts at the tops of the bed rails isn't overly robust. I've seen mention of those areas not being sturdy enough to stand on.

Also your crossbars definitely aren't latching right. the ones i've played around with were all immovable when attached. Something's fucky, i'd get service out to adjust it.

 

[moosehead]

^Thanks gents. I get two clear and certain clicks on the tower hooks, the first click engages the initial hook as it is cantilevered out by pushing down, the second click when clamping the latch which tightens the hook to the bedrail. It is the same fitment whether or not I lean onto the top of the tower while latching, same outcome if the hooks are pointing fore or aft. Even if the towers were not budging, the mid extention section in the cross bars would move at the slider joints.

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