The Best Toyota Tacoma Roof Racks (Review) in 2023 | Autance

Toyota Tacomas are some of the most frequently modified vehicles on the road. An extremely supportive aftermarket and a cult-like following make these trucks a blank canvas for an owner to express their style and taste. Popular modifications are lift-kits, nerf bars, lighting kits, and roof racks.

Here is our list of the six best Toyota Tacoma Roof racks. We’ll highlight the best overall, the best value, and the best premium pick, while also telling you about a few other choices that might meet your needs.

Best Toyota Tacoma Roof Rack

Best Toyota Tacoma Roof Racks Buying Guide & FAQ

Whether it’s for off-road gear or just extra space during a road trip for luggage, a roof rack can be one of the best upgrades to a vehicle, especially a truck. Roof racks make use of otherwise wasted space.

You may not know or understand the benefits that you’ll experience from having a roof rack on your truck. There are features that some roof racks have that others don’t. This buying guide and FAQs will outline the best features, best materials, and what to look out for when choosing your Toyota Tacoma’s roof rack.

Since we’ve pointed out the roof racks that we think are the best, our buying guide will now help steer you towards making an educated and successful purchase.

Do You Need a Roof Rack for Your Toyota Tacoma?

Tacomas are excellent trucks. They’re well-equipped and very capable off-road. They have plenty of power and they often run for hundreds of thousands of miles. However, the one area where the Tacoma might fall short is storage.

Tacomas were built for their off-road capability. They weren’t built to haul. Because of this, they have smaller beds that keep them light and nimble. That’s a great thing when you’re off-road, but if you’re going on a long road trip with your family, you might find that you need more space for your luggage and gear than the bed can offer. A roof rack is a convenient place to store luggage and baggage.

Most people who drive Tacomas live active lifestyles. Many ride mountain bikes and go kayaking. Both of those items can be very expensive, and you might not want to store them in the bed of a truck. For one, items slide around in the bed of a truck, so your high-dollar bike might get scratched or damaged. Also, items in the bed of a truck are easier to steal than items secured on a roof rack, so keeping your kayak on the roof might mean you get to hold on to it longer.

If you like accessorizing your Tacoma, a roof rack is a great way to add a sporty look to your truck. There’s no denying that roof racks on vehicles give the impression that the driver is an active person, so just having a rack on top of your Tacoma makes you and your truck seem cooler.

• Roof racks provide extra luggage space for road trips or camping gear.
• It’s easier to keep your expensive sports equipment secure on a roof rack.
• Roof racks make a truck and its owner seem more active and sporty.

Types of Toyota Tacoma Roof Racks

There are a few different types of roof racks for Toyota Tacomas and you might not be sure which one is for you. They all get the job done, but some excel at one thing more than the other. We’ll do our best to outline the benefits and drawbacks of each type so you can make a better decision about which is the best for you.

• Roof Cargo Baskets

Roof rack cargo baskets are excellent for strapping down awkward items. Instead of attaching to roof rails, they have to bolt onto the truck’s cab. They need to bolt in because they’re heavy, especially when loaded. These types of roof racks are often seen on purpose-built off-road machines, as they can carry a ton of necessities.

They’re ideal for loading up spare tires, water jugs, extra fuel, and tall jacks. They make the vehicle they sit on look tough and utilitarian. They do a fine job of holding other items like luggage and bags, but their oversized and heavy-duty nature might make them overkill for light use.

• Folding Crossbars

Roof racks with folding crossbars are an excellent choice for someone who only uses their roof rack every once in a while. The crossbars can easily be stretched across the rooftop to the rails when needed, then folded away afterward. These are the most commonly seen roof racks on vehicles today.

Folding crossbars offer some excellent benefits. If you’re concerned with your truck looking streamlined but still need to be able to haul some extra items every now and then, folding crossbars will do the trick. Also, when folded away, these roof racks do a great job of keeping wind noise unnoticed and improving the aerodynamics for better fuel efficiency. These roof racks are usually vehicle-specific and match the vehicle’s body lines nicely.

• Universal Roof Rack Systems

Universal roof rack systems are an ideal compromise if you’re looking for a little extra space but don’t necessarily want a full basket on your roof. Universal racks don’t fold away. They stretch from side rail to side rail, often overhanging the side rails by a few inches. This is ideal for large items that might not fit on a folding crossbar system. The extra width can be used for skis or snowboards while the rest of the luggage can sit in the middle, optimizing the space available.

The downside to universal rack systems is sometimes they aren’t all that universal. There are so many different types of cars and trucks on the road these days that it’s hard for a manufacturer to create a truly universal rack. Check with the manufacturer to find out if the rack you’re looking into will fit on your car or truck.

Features to Look for in Toyota Tacoma Roof Racks

Now that you know about the different types of roof racks available on today’s market, we’ll explain the features that you should be looking for when picking out your rack. We’ll cover features like build materials, ease of installation and removal, and styling.

• Materials

There are several popular materials that roof racks can be constructed of. While most credible manufacturers will use high-quality, dependable materials, it’s worth understanding what materials are out there and what benefits they can offer.

Steel and aluminum are excellent choices for roof rack materials. Aluminum and its alloys are lightweight and won’t rust or corrode, but they aren’t as strong as steel. Steel is heavy, strong, and will hold up to the hardest uses, but is susceptible to rusting and corrosion.

ABS plastic is another popular material, but it’s worth knowing a few things about it before purchasing a plastic rack. In colder temperatures, plastic becomes brittle and may snap on you. Also, plastic racks don’t offer the same amount of weight capacity that metal racks do. They’re lighter weight though, so they’re ideal for light-duty use. 

• Ease of Installation and Removal

No matter the material or its weight capacity, the ease of installation and removal can be a determining factor when considering a roof rack for your Tacoma. There are several types of installations available on the market, so you need to choose the one that works for you.

If you like flexibility in your roof rack, one that doesn’t bolt to the cab of your truck would be best. They’re easy to install and remove, but you can usually fold the crossbars away and forget they’re even there.

If you like the look of your roof rack and don’t mind leaving it on, the best type of roof rack would be one that bolts into the cab. These racks are usually heavier-duty so you can load them up with more stuff. They’re far more difficult to install, however, so you’ll want to do it once and leave it on.

• Styling

A roof rack can either blend in with the style of your truck or become a prominent component in the overall design. Consider which of these categories you’d like your rack to fall into.

If you’re just looking to get some extra storage out of your truck for a bike or kayak every now and then, you probably don’t want your roof rack to stand out very much. Folding crossbars can hide in the rails, so choose this style if you like the streamlined look.

If you’re looking to make a statement with your roof rack, throwing a black powder-coated basket rack on your rooftop will do the trick. Basket racks are big and draw a lot of attention upward. They look great on lifted Tacomas with other matching off-road accessories like light bars and oversized tires.

Tips for Buying and Using Toyota Tacoma Roof Racks

When buying a roof rack for your Toyota Tacoma, give some consideration to what you’re going to use it for. Sportsmen that use theirs for camping and fishing equipment will have different requirements than mountain bikers or road trippers. Buy the rack that supports your use and whatever desired accessories you’ll need.

If you’re going to be putting mountain bikes, snowboards, or kayaks on your roof rack, you might want to think about the accessories and brackets you’ll need. While you can get away with strapping them down to the crossbars, better security and organization can be achieved with the proper rack accessories. Snowboard, ski, and bike racks can be purchased separately to work with your roof rack

You should pay attention to how you load your roof rack. You should always try to distribute the weight evenly across the rack. Also, consider how the cargo will affect your wind resistance and fuel efficiency and position it accordingly for the best ride quality.

• Buy a roof rack that best supports your needs.
• Consider purchasing snowboard, ski, and bike racks for your sports equipment.
• Distribute the weight and resistance evenly across the rack for the best ride quality.

Best Toyota Tacoma Roof Racks FAQ:

You may still have some questions about roof racks for your Toyota Tacoma.  Our buying guide provides an excellent start, but it might not include all the answers you need. These are some of the more frequently asked questions when it comes to buying the best Toyota Tacoma roof rack to fit your needs.

Our Top Pick

The Autoxrun Black Roof Rack for Toyota Tacomas is our best overall pick. We like the aviation aluminum, as we know it will last without rusting or corroding. The modification-free installation is excellent for throwing this rack on when you need it and taking it off when you don’t. We like its style, however, so we’d probably just keep it on for its sporty good looks.