A truck bed rack stands on the bed rails and puts crossbars above the bed, so you can carry kayaks, bikes, lumber or a rooftop tent and still use the bed underneath. The five racks here differ in three ways that matter: how high the bars sit, how much weight each maker allows, and whether the rack clamps on or needs holes in your bed. Yakima OverHaul HD adjusts in height, Leitner Designs ACS Forged NDNS carries the highest maker ratings, Yakima OutPost HD sits at a fixed mid-height, Yakima BedRock HD stays low, and Go Rhino XRS Cross Bars keep a tent or box below the cab roof.
The number that limits you is the lowest one in the chain. Yakima’s instructions say some vehicles have lower capacities than its racks because of vehicle construction or the vehicle maker’s limits, and point you to the fit listing for your truck. Leitner says its rating is always subordinate to the vehicle maker’s maximum load. Check the rack maker’s fit list for your exact truck and bed length before you buy or load anything.
All specs come from Yakima, Leitner Designs and Go Rhino product pages and installation instructions, checked on October 9, 2026. Go Rhino’s own web address redirects to RealTruck, which hosts its product pages. Nobody installed or loaded these racks for this page.
Quick picks
| Pick | Best for |
|---|---|
| Yakima OverHaul HD | switching between long loads over the cab and low loads |
| Leitner Designs ACS Forged NDNS | the highest maker load ratings here, without drilling |
| Yakima OutPost HD | a fixed mid-height rack that keeps gear within reach |
| Yakima BedRock HD | a low-profile rack that comes off without tools |
| Go Rhino XRS Cross Bars | keeping a tent or cargo box below the cab roof |
Compare the specs
| Pick | Height (maker’s figure) | On-road | Off-road | Static | Mounting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima OverHaul HD | Adjustable, 19-30 in | 500 lb | 300 lb | 800 lb | BedGrip clamps |
| Leitner ACS Forged NDNS | 23 in from top of bed caps | 800 lb | 400 lb | 1,400 lb | Rail clamps, no drilling |
| Yakima OutPost HD | Fixed, 13 in | 500 lb | 300 lb | 800 lb | BedGrip clamps |
| Yakima BedRock HD | Low profile, no figure listed | 300 lb | 180 lb | 800 lb | Tool-free clamps |
| Go Rhino XRS Cross Bars | Nearly 6 in above bed cap | Not listed | Not listed | 600 lb | Clamp or bolt to bed track, no drilling |
1. Yakima OverHaul HD
Best for: switching between long loads over the cab and low loads
Yakima says the OverHaul HD’s crossbar height adjusts from 19 to 30 inches: all the way up so long loads can go over the cab, or down low to get the rack and load out of the wind. Its instructions list 500 lb on-road, 300 lb off-road and 800 lb static capacity, and the 69 lb rack system counts toward the on-road and off-road figures. The full rating needs at least 36 inches between the crossbars. A 32- to 35-inch spread is allowed for accessories that need it, but it cuts the maximum to 300 lb.
The rack grips the bed rails with Yakima’s BedGrip clamps, which Yakima says are designed and tested for all common truck beds. Beds with factory utility tracks and select tonneau covers need extra Yakima kits. A QuickChange attachment lets the rack go on and off in minutes, and integrated SKS locks secure it to the bed. T-slots take gear mounts and accessories, and integrated tie-down points help secure the load.
The trade-off: the full 500 lb rating depends on a crossbar spread of 36 inches or more
Before ordering, look up your truck in Yakima’s fit listing for its maximum recommended load
2. Leitner Designs ACS Forged NDNS
Best for: the highest maker load ratings here, without drilling
Leitner rates the ACS Forged NDNS (no drill, no slide) at 800 lb on-road dynamic, 400 lb off-road dynamic and 1,400 lb parked static, the highest figures on this list. Its instructions add that this limit is always subordinate to the vehicle maker’s maximum, and that the lower number applies. The rack weighs 85 lb and stands 23 inches tall measured from the top of the bed caps.
It mounts with rail clamps, three on each side rail, so there are no holes to drill. A fixed rear load bar gives a rigid platform for a rooftop tent or a gear carrier that stays on the rack. The uprights are single-piece aluminum alloy with grade 10.9 fasteners, and Leitner says the rack fits many Thule, Rhino-Rack and Yakima accessories. Leitner sells it by truck make, model and bed length.
The trade-off: it is built for one truck and bed length, and its 85 lb counts toward your truck’s limit
Before ordering, find your truck and bed length in Leitner’s listings, and compare the ratings with your truck maker’s limits
3. Yakima OutPost HD
Best for: a fixed mid-height rack that keeps gear within reach
OutPost HD holds its bars at a fixed 13-inch mid-height position, which Yakima says gives easy gear access and a low center of gravity. Yakima describes it as built for rugged overland trips. It carries the same 500 lb on-road and 300 lb off-road ratings as the OverHaul HD, and its instructions list 800 lb static. The same 36-inch minimum crossbar spread applies for the full rating.
It uses the same BedGrip clamps, QuickChange attachment, SKS locks, T-slots and tie-down points, and the same extra kits for factory bed tracks and select tonneau covers.
The trade-off: the height is fixed, so you can’t raise long loads over the cab
Before ordering, look up your truck’s maximum recommended load in Yakima’s fit listing
4. Yakima BedRock HD
Best for: a low-profile rack that comes off without tools
BedRock HD is Yakima’s low-profile bed rack. Yakima says its tool-free attachment makes installation, removal and crossbar spread changes simple, and that the low height makes gear easy to reach. It is rated 300 lb on-road, 180 lb off-road and 800 lb static. Yakima’s instructions count the rack and its HD Bars, any accessories and the load toward the on-road and off-road limits, and set a 24-inch minimum crossbar spread.
It has integrated SKS locks, T-slots, and tie-down points on the HD Bar end caps, and Yakima lists a limited lifetime warranty.
The trade-off: its 300 lb on-road and 180 lb off-road ratings are the lowest published here
Before ordering, check your bed rails: Yakima says some aftermarket bedliners or bed rail covers may need a section cut away under the rail
5. Go Rhino XRS Cross Bars
Best for: keeping a tent or cargo box below the cab roof
Go Rhino says the XRS Cross Bars sit below the roof of the cab, so a mounted tent or cargo box adds less wind resistance. Steel corner uprights hold the bars nearly 6 inches above the factory bed cap, which leaves the bed open underneath. Installation needs no drilling or cutting: the bars clamp on or, on select trucks, bolt to the factory bed track. Go Rhino says select applications work with tonneau covers.
The kit includes two 4-Core cross rails that take standard 1/4-20 hex head bolts for accessories, and optional side rail kits are sold separately. Go Rhino lists support for up to 600 lb static.
The trade-off: the product page lists no on-road or off-road rating, so ask Go Rhino for the driving limit on your truck
Before ordering, confirm which XRS kit fits your truck and whether it works with your tonneau cover
How to choose a truck bed rack
Start with the lowest limit. A rack rating is a ceiling, not a promise for your truck. Yakima says some vehicles have reduced capacities and sends you to its fit listing. Leitner says the lower of its rating and the vehicle maker’s maximum applies. Both count the rack itself: Yakima adds the rack system’s weight to the load, and Leitner’s sum is carrier weight plus accessories plus load.
Know which rating applies. Yakima and Leitner each publish on-road, off-road and static numbers, and Leitner calls the static one its parked static capacity. Yakima says off-road certified products are meant for forest service roads, access roads and other non-technical terrain at moderate speeds, not rock-crawling, jumping or bogging. Go Rhino lists only a static figure for the XRS Cross Bars.
Watch the crossbar spread. Yakima ties the OverHaul HD’s and OutPost HD’s full rating to at least 36 inches between bars, and sets a 24-inch minimum for the BedRock HD. Measure where your bars will actually sit.
Clamp-on or drilled. Every pick here clamps on or bolts to existing bed tracks. Leitner’s standard ACS Forged shows the drilled path: its instructions have you drill the support bracket holes and fit rivet nuts, and remove spray-in liner material around each hole. Clamps need a clean contact surface too. In its BedRock HD instructions, Yakima warns that installing the adapter with liner material in the way can cause the brackets and load to fall away from the vehicle. Our guide to rail caps, liners and rack clamps covers that contact stack, and drilled bed rack templates and sealing covers drilled installs.
Height decides the job. Yakima sets the OverHaul HD’s top height for long loads that go over the cab, while Go Rhino keeps the XRS Cross Bars below the cab roof for a tent or box. Leitner reminds you to know the height and width of your load, because low branches, bridges and parking garages can affect it. If you add a rooftop tent, check its maker’s limits too.
Tonneau covers and bed tracks. Yakima’s OverHaul HD and OutPost HD need extra kits for factory bed tracks and select tonneau covers, and Go Rhino says only select XRS applications work with a tonneau cover. Check the rack maker’s fit list against your exact cover. Our tonneau cover and bed-rack compatibility guide covers drains and shared rail space.
Plan your tie-downs. Yakima’s BedRock HD instructions say it is usually best to route straps under the HD Bar, that there are also tie-down points on the bar ends, and to always secure loose strap ends. Our bed-rack tie-down slot guide covers strap routing and edges.
Recheck on the road. Yakima says to check the attachment hardware and load before every trip, after a short distance following installation, at regular intervals on longer trips and more often on rough terrain. Leitner says to check that all knobs, bolts, straps and locks are tight and locked before every trip, and to check the load at stops.
FAQ
Do I have to drill my truck bed to install a bed rack?
Not for any rack on this list. Each clamps to the bed rails or, for some Go Rhino and Yakima setups, attaches to factory bed tracks. Some racks, such as Leitner’s standard ACS Forged, do need holes drilled in the bed.
How much weight can a truck bed rack carry?
It depends on the rack, the crossbar spread and your truck. Maker on-road ratings on this list run from 300 lb (BedRock HD) to 800 lb (Leitner ACS Forged NDNS), but Yakima and Leitner both say your truck’s own limit may be lower, and the rack’s weight counts toward the total.
Sources
- Yakima OverHaul HD System
- Yakima OverHaul HD instructions
- Yakima OutPost HD System
- Yakima OutPost HD instructions
- Yakima BedRock HD System
- Yakima BedRock HD instructions
- Leitner Designs Active Cargo System Forged No Drill (Ford listing)
- Leitner ACS Forged NDNS instructions
- Leitner ACS Forged full-size and mid-size instructions
- Go Rhino XRS Cross Bars (RealTruck)
See Also
If you want to pressure-test this shortlist, read Bed-Rack Tie-Down Slots: Route Straps Without Sharp Edges or Side Pull, Ladder Rack vs Bed Rack: Match the Structure to the Load, and Best Tailgate Bed Extenders for Keeping Cargo Inside the Truck Bed next.
For more context beyond the main ranking, Receiver Hitch Inspection Points Before Each Trip and Extang Trifecta 2.0 Tonneau Cover Review: Fit, Features, and Trade-Offs add useful comparison detail.