I am considering to purchase the Sliding Bed Overhead Rack for my Titan Crewcab. I would appreciate any comments or advise regarding this product.
I spoke with the dealer and they told me that the rack does not have any key-locks for its security. I park my truck in the downtown area and things get stolen pretty quickly around here. Yakima or Tule have locks to secure their rack system to vehicle. I wonder why Nissan did not bother to put a lock. Maybe, when the tailgate is closed and locked, the rack can not be taken off from the rail?
Also, I got the Sliding Tool Box and it is taking up my third of length of my short bed already. So, I was thinking about getting the Sliding Bed Extender. With the Tool Box, Extender and Rack in the short bed can be pretty crowded. I have not seen any picture of this combination posted. Can all that fit together? The dealer could not give me the answer since he has not seen any demonstration of the combination. I would appreciate any comments.
These photos show the rack and sliding bed extender on together.
Note that with the bed extender I've had to move the back rack up about one foot. The sliding tool box will also use up track space and won't be sliding if placed in front of the front rack. Between the two racks might work though I have a hard time envisioning all three working together because of space required but it might be done.
As far as theft of your rack. It will take a thief some time and tools to remove the rack.
First he will have to have wrench/sockets to remove the track blocks. Then he would need the correct "star" type screwdriver to remove the securing hardware and would have to know how the whole thing works. Not to mention the brake light harness if he wanted the whole thing.
The market for this rack would be limited to Titans with the utilitrack system, so how likely is it that someone would steal a non-universal specific rack system that doesn't work with anything else??? I know, some jerks will take anything.
Though it appears hard to steal, it is a snap to put on and remove if you know what you are doing and have an assistant to help. With two people you can slide the racks in and out without binding. One can do it but it takes more time.
Any other questions and I'll be glad to help answer them.
37L1
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2004 Titan Smoke LE CC
Born 11/18/03
Bed Extender, Overhead Racks
Hood Protector, Banks Monster Exhaust, Volant CAI, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Bilstein shocks
Never argue with idiots. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
-Gambit
Thanks 37L1, your set-up looks really nice!
Thank you for your image, it was useful in visualizing my three-combo set-up of the rack, toolbox and extender. I can see that they will crowd-up my rail and they won't be "Sliding" as much.
As alternative, I am thinking now to forgo with the extender. I know that the extender has been around for awhile and I see it on many trucks. But, due to my shortbed, I have to compromise and thinking what would be the situation where I would definitely need the extender. It seems like I can always improvise something else or get around it. In your opinion, how useful is the extender?
Also, in another thread, there was a guy who cut off the brake electrical wire on the rack system and you mentioned that it is a plug-in set up. Can you send me a picture of detail of how the wire is installed?
This PDF attachment shows how the wire that is attached to the rack plugs into the wire from the wireharness. The wire hides in a channel that gets attached to your utilitrack. It is simply a plug in, too easy. Still don't understand why one would cut this wire.
Hope this helps.
Oh yeah I forgot the rest of your post. I use the extender a lot when I have the rack off and am too lazy or pressed for time to put the rack back on. I've secured surfboards and windsurf boards to the extender and it works great. Boards range from 9'6" on down. Would work for a lot of other long but not too heavy stuff as well, cuts down on the lifting too.
I currently have both the overhead rack and toolbox installed. There is a gap between the back of the box and the first rack (closest to the rear window is) it is somewhere between 6-8". On the toolbox installation manual, it lists a part number (Mounting bracket) that is to be used if both overhead rack and tool box is installed. This is supposed to eliminate this gap or wasted space. Unfortunately, this part is not yet available from Nissan, I have the parts guy at the dealership checking weekly to see if it has become available.
As for the security of your racks, I would rely on the locking tailgate for your protection. These racks are nice, but very limited in who and what can be used with them. I am in construction, and since they are limited to only 125lbs, that really won't do much for guys that are used to throwing 300lbs+ on top of their racks. Not to mention it only will work for vehicles with the utilitrack system. I know on-line auction companies like e-bay make for an easy "fencing" areana for stolen items such as this, but again 3.7l is right in that it would be difficult for someone to steal because of the tools required, time, and akwardness of the racks. By locking the gate, it would make it even that more difficult.
Champaign Titan,
I am in construction, and since they are limited to only 125lbs, that really won't do much for guys that are used to throwing 300lbs+ on top of their racks.
As HalfShovel noted in a previous thread on this subject, the rack is rated at 125 lbs. per rack = a total of 250 lbs. Not great but better.
Thank you all for your help!
I decided and went to purchase the rack today. I should be able to pick it up in 2-3 days. I think I can make a lot of use out of the rack. It is going to be little tricky to park the truck with this rack though...
However, Nissan still has not release an adopter part which is required to install the rack with the Sliding Tool Box. The part is described in the instruction sheet of the toolbox but when the dealer checked on the computer for availability, it is still not available.
I currently have both the overhead rack and toolbox installed. There is a gap between the back of the box and the first rack (closest to the rear window is) it is somewhere between 6-8". On the toolbox installation manual, it lists a part number (Mounting bracket) that is to be used if both overhead rack and tool box is installed. This is supposed to eliminate this gap or wasted space. Unfortunately, this part is not yet available from Nissan, I have the parts guy at the dealership checking weekly to see if it has become available.
QUOTE]
Did the part ever come in? My truck was the first one at the dealer to have the over head rack system installed on it. I "initially" purchased the toolbox, rack and bed extender together but later was given a credit. The service guys were all standing around scratching there head because they could not figure out how to install the box with the first rack having to be mounted with T bolts at the bed behind the cab. They also couldn’t install the bed extender without having to slide the 2nd rack up about 2 feet. I would be interested in purchasing the box from Nissan if the part would come in to be compatible with the rack system.
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As Champaign has stated, the part is still unavailable. I was told about 6 weeks ago that it should be available within the next couple of months. That may be just a standard response?? In the mean-time, I have both the box and the racks installed. I pushed the first rack all the way forward (close to the rear window) And then slid two of the "Stops that came with the utilitrack, and then put the tool box in and then installed the other two stops. This keeps the tool box stationary, but its you are unable to use the clamping system inside the tool box. You will get some water through those holes so don't keep anything in there that can't get wet. This is an interim solution until the specified part becomes available.
"but its you are unable to use the clamping system inside the tool box. You will get some water through those holes so don't keep anything in there that can't get wet. This is an interim solution until the specified part becomes available."
The adopter part is suppose to bridge the gap from the head rail to the two holes of toolbox somehow. Meantime, I can plug the hole by using rubber and metal washer sandwiched by nut and bolt which matches the size of hole. That should keep it waterproofed.
I know this is an old thread... but can you upload the pictures again?
I ordered mine 2 months ago but the parts dept. said its on back order. I am thinking of canceling my order from nissan part and order it from titanparts247
any additional information about the rack will be appreciated. I am planning on using it with two 14 feet long kayaks, will that be ok?
Pictures are still there, ekool just changed the folder that the forums were in...here is the new link:
(basically you just add /forums/ after titantalk.com part) http://www.titantalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9081
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37L1, thanks for posting the pdf on installing the rack.
I found a used rack but have a few questions. 1) Is my Titan wired for the rack and if so how do I check? Is the wiring on the driver's or passenger's side of the truck? 2) What do I need to make sure they include with the used rack with I buy it? I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the info on the overhead rack.
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07-03-2004, 12:13 AM
Sliding Bed Overhead Rack
Linear Mode
