GearRAK Fit Guide · Pickup Trucks

No roof rails?
No problem.

A truck fishing rod rack needs one thing: a pair of crossbars. Your truck doesn’t have them from the factory — but adding them is cheaper and easier than you think. Here are the three ways, starting at about fifty bucks.

Side view of a pickup truck showing three crossbar mounting locations for a fishing rod rack: 1 cab roof crossbars, 2 bed-mounted ladder rack, 3 topper with roof tracks

Every GearRAK ships with clamps that grip a standard set of crossbars — the same bars an SUV wears from the factory. To put a truck fishing rod rack on your pickup, you just need to add the bars first. Pick the path that fits your budget and your weekend patience. Still deciding whether rods belong on the roof or in the bed at all? Start with our roof rack vs truck bed fishing rod storage comparison.

1

Cab-roof crossbars

$150–$400

Install: 30–60 min · No drilling (clamp-on)

Crew cabs (Tacoma Double Cab, F-150 SuperCrew, Silverado Crew) have enough roof for a two-bar clamp-on set — then GearRAK mounts exactly like it does on an SUV.

  • Cleanest look, bed stays 100% open
  • Shorter bar spread than an SUV roof
  • Long rods overhang front and rear
Check crossbar compatibility
Best value
2

Bed-mounted ladder rack

$90–$150 no-drill

Install: under 1 hour · Clamps to bed rails

A universal ladder rack puts a pair of crossbars above your bed at cab height or higher — rod tips clear the cab, the load rides behind you, and the bed stays usable underneath.

  • 800–1,000 lb capacity (GearRAK uses a fraction)
  • Height-adjustable for garage clearance
  • Under $100 gets your truck GearRAK-ready
Shop ladder racks on Amazon →
3

Topper or camper shell

Varies

Already own a shell? You’re close.

Most toppers accept roof tracks or come with them installed. Add tracks and a standard crossbar set, and it’s a normal GearRAK install from there.

  • Weather-protected gear below, rods above
  • Uses standard aero or square crossbars
  • Check your shell’s rated roof load
Read the install guide

Driving one of these? We wrote a fit guide for your truck: Toyota Tacoma · Ford F-150 · Chevy Silverado · Jeep Gladiator · Subaru Outback

Truck fishing rod rack questions

Can I mount a fishing pole roof rack on a truck with no roof rack at all?

Yes — that’s exactly what this page is for. Add crossbars one of the three ways above (cab roof, bed rack, or topper) and GearRAK clamps on in minutes. No drilling into your truck, ever.

What’s the absolute cheapest way to get crossbars on my truck bed?

The hardware-store route: 1-5/8″ unistrut crossbars mounted through your stake pockets runs about $50–$90 at bed-rail height, or $90–$130 with uprights to clear the cab. If you’d rather bolt on something finished, no-drill universal ladder racks start around $90 and install in under an hour.

Will my rods hit the cab on a bed rack?

Not if the bars sit at cab height or above — which is why we recommend an adjustable rack. Rod tips travel over the roof, and GearRAK’s hold keeps them from bouncing at highway speed.

Does this work for rigged fly rods?

Yes. A bed rack plus GearRAK carries a fully rigged 9–10 foot fly rod without breaking it down — drive from the lodge to the river ready to cast. See our fly fishing rod roof rack setup guide for the full walkthrough.

Bars on? You’re ten minutes from done.

Grab your GearRAK, clamp it to your new crossbars, and load the rods. Tips forward, reels locked, tailgate free.

Get your GearRAK