Best Ladder Rack And Kayak Lift Assist For 2026 Ram 3500 Dually 8' Bed w/ RealTruck Hard Tonneau  

Question:

Expert Reply:

Hey Gerry, thanks for reaching out. For your setup, I'd actually lean toward a stake-pocket-mounted rack system since you're towing a camper and already have a RealTruck hard folding cover. As long as the cover doesn't block access to the stake pockets, the Thule TracRac SR Sliding Truck Bed Ladder Rack # TH43003XT-000 is a great option. The rack mounts to rails along the bed sides, gives you plenty of capacity for two 65 lb kayaks, and lets you adjust the crossbar position as needed.

For the lift assist, the Thule Hullavator Pro # TH898 is tough to beat. It lowers the kayak down the side of the truck so you're loading at waist height instead of reaching over the bed or roof. The TracRac crossbars have the T-slots needed for the Hullavator, so the two systems work well together. The one thing I'd verify before ordering is that your tonneau cover leaves the stake pockets accessible, since that's what the TracRac uses for mounting. If it does, this is the cleanest way to carry two kayaks on your truck while still leaving the hitch free for your camper.

What kind of kayaks do you have?

expert reply by: Jesse M

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Thule TracRac SR Sliding Truck Bed Ladder Rack
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