Howdy folks! The top of the truck got its biggest upgrade yet — born, honestly, from disaster. A catastrophic mishap with our custom solar panel frame on the old Thule rack convinced us to go with something far more stout: a full Front Runner rack system over both the cab and the cap. This tour covers every change, what it cost, and the lessons that'll save you some pain.
What It Cost
Real numbers, because that's what we'd want to know: $2,452.85 for the racks and brackets, and $1,146.22 for the accessories, including taxes and discounts. Not a small investment. Installation wasn't terrible, but it does require drilling holes into the cab of the truck — if that makes you nervous, hire a professional.
Hard-Won Lessons
The awning was the saga: the first set of brackets Front Runner sold us for the Thule awning weren't compatible, despite assurances they were. By the time I got around to installing them the return window had closed; they offered a discount on the "correct" ones — which also weren't a perfect fit. I ended up making custom inserts to match the awning's bolt pattern. If you're running this same combination, be aware before you order.
Solar, Lighting, and the Roof Layout
Using Zamp solar mounting brackets, two of our three Renogy 100W panels went on the cab rack and one on the cap rack. One tip worth the price of admission: make sure no accessory covers or shadows your panels — even partial shade dramatically cuts their output. I customized the cap rack's decking around the MaxxFan Deluxe roof vent, using aluminum angle to span between the full deck pieces and support the cut ones, all bolted together. And on the front of the cab rack rides a 42-inch Firehawk LED light bar — seriously bright, and a huge help on remote roads at night.
Storage and Tools
The side of the cap rack carries a ratcheting shovel mount and an axe bracket, holding Front Runner's D-grip camp shovel and a Fiskars X-15 splitting axe. Since redoing the plumbing to use Front Runner's 20L Pro water tanks, one tank rides on the cap rack in a Pro Tank Strap — outdoor water access without digging through the camper. A Typhoon bag mounts with two Stratchits clipped to stainless tie-down rings, holding an extra Cub Pack bin (fire starters, small hatchet, leather fire gloves, cast iron accessories) and our Little Red Campfire. A second Cub Pack bin straps down with Stratchit Shorties. You can never have too many places to store things in a truck cap camper.
The Gear
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Front Runner Cub Pack
Stackable storage bins built for rack systems.
Front Runner Stratchit
Stretch tie-downs that make securing loads quick.
Front Runner Wolf Pack Pro (Twin Set)
Stackable storage boxes built for the rack system.
Renogy 100W Solar Panel
We mounted three on the new racks.
MaxxFan Deluxe
The roof vent fan the custom decking is built around.
Bluetti AC200 Series Power Station
Where all that new solar power ends up (links to the current AC200PL).
Was It Worth It?
More solar, more storage, better lighting, and a rack system stout enough that we're not reliving the Thule mishap. These additions have taken the Tramper's overlanding capabilities to the next level. Watch the full tour above and cherry-pick which pieces belong on your build.
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▶ Subscribe on YouTubeDisclaimer: The information provided in this article and its video is for entertainment/educational purposes only. By following any advice from this article, video, or any provided links, you do so at your own risk. Please consult with a professional before attempting any construction, plumbing or electrical work.