Bed racks for the heavy-duty Ram 2500 and 3500, Dodge-badged trucks included. Each listing on this page is built for both models, so the choice comes down to your box (straight or tapered, 6'4" or 8'), four uprights or six, a height, and whether a cover stays on the bed. XTR1 and XTR3 racks are built to order, to your height requirements, from T-slot profile construction in our Wichita, Kansas shop, and none of them calls for holes in the truck.
Ram 2500/3500 racks compared
| Rack |
From |
Bed shape |
Bed length |
Heights |
Rated* |
| XTR1 Pre-configured |
$1,749.99 |
Straight or tapered
|
6'4" |
17" mid or 24" cab |
450 / 850 / 1,550 lb |
| XTR3 Pre-configured |
$2,249.99 |
Straight or tapered
|
6'4"; 8' on the straight bed |
17" mid or 24" cab |
500 / 850 / 1,750 lb |
| XTR1 Custom Height |
$1,899.99 |
Straight or tapered
|
6'4" |
10" to 26" |
450 / 850 / 1,550 lb |
| XTR3 Custom Height |
$2,399.99 |
Straight or tapered
|
6'4" or 8', either shape |
10" to 26" |
500 / 850 / 1,750 lb |
| XTR1 for Retrax XR |
$1,749.99 |
Straight or tapered
|
6'4" |
17" mid or 24" cab |
450 / 850 / 1,550 lb |
| XTR3 for Retrax XR |
$2,249.99 |
Straight or tapered
|
6'4"; 8' on the straight bed |
17" mid or 24" cab |
500 / 850 / 1,750 lb |
| XTR1 Soft Topper |
$1,779.99 |
Both shapes, one menu |
6'4" |
25" |
450 / 850 / 1,550 lb |
| XTR3 Soft Topper |
$2,299.99 |
Both shapes, one menu |
6'4" or 8' |
25" |
500 / 850 / 1,750 lb |
| XBRS Bed Bars |
$732 |
Straight or tapered
|
No length to pick |
6" or 8" |
400 / 800 / 1,500 lb |
| XO.SKLTN Topper System |
$2,750 |
Straight |
6'4" |
Mid or full height |
1,550 lb static |
*Ratings read off-road / on-road / static and assume an even load. Where the truck's rails are rated lower, use the lower number.
Your box: shape, length and model year
Three details about the truck decide which version to order.
-
Shape. We build Ram HD racks for straight beds and for tapered beds, and an XTR1 or XTR3 made for one won't fit the other. Run a tape across the bed between the rails right behind the cab, then again just ahead of the tailgate. Matching numbers mean straight; different numbers mean tapered. The soft topper racks cover both shapes in a single menu, and the XO.SKLTN is offered for the straight bed.
-
Length. The 2500 and 3500 come with a 6'4" box or an 8' box. Some menus round the shorter one to "6.5ft" or call it "Regular"; the longer one is "Long (8ft)". The 8' box needs an XTR3: the pre-configured and Retrax XR versions cover the straight long bed, and the Custom Height and Soft Topper versions cover a long bed of either shape. Every XTR1 is sized for the 6'4" box.
-
Model year. The XTR1 and XTR3 menus group trucks as 2010–2018 and 2019+. The soft topper racks list 2003–2018 and 2019+, and the XO.SKLTN fits 2003 and newer. Have a 2003–2009 truck and want an XTR1 or XTR3? Email us before you order.
Shopping for a half-ton instead? See Ram 1500 bed racks.
A Ram 2500 bed rack with a tonneau cover or topper
Plenty of HD owners keep the bed covered for work and still want a rack for ladders, lumber or a tent. Each rack style is paired with a type of cover:
-
Soft-fold or roll-up tonneau: pre-configured racks arrive on Wide Width brackets, which raise the rack 3" over the rails so most of these covers still open. Custom Height racks also offer Standard Width brackets at 1.35" for a lower stance.
-
Retrax XR: order the XTR1 or XTR3 built for the Retrax XR, which fastens into the cover's own T-slot rails and leaves it free to retract, or XBRS bars on the Retrax XR mount. On a Retrax EQ, choose a Custom Height rack with the Retrax bracket.
-
Softopper, Fas-Top or Bestop: the Soft Topper racks stand 25" tall, with uprights leaned in 13.3° along the topper's sides. In most cases the topper stays up while the rack is installed.
-
A different cover with T-slot rails: tell us its make and model and we'll check the rails before you buy.
Need the cover as well? Browse Ram 2500/3500 bed covers.
17" or 24", and room for a tent over the cab
The 17" mid height sits lower behind the cab and keeps the crossbars within reach from the ground. The 24" option, labeled cab height on the menus, opens more space beneath the bars for bins, spare tires or a generator. If your rooftop tent will reach forward over the cab, measure from the bed rail up to the roof's highest point, or to the top of a roof rack, and pick a Custom Height rack an inch or more above that.
Load ratings on a heavy-duty truck
A big payload number doesn't change what the rack itself can hold. Off-road applies on dirt and washboard, on-road at highway speed, and static while parked, which includes a tent with people asleep in it. Spread the weight across the crossbars. The whole build, rack included, still has to stay within the payload printed on the door-jamb sticker; our payload guide shows how to total it.
Ram 2500 and 3500 bed rack questions
Does the same rack fit a 2500 and a 3500?
Yes. Every rack here is listed for both, so order by bed shape, bed length and model year rather than by the number on the fender.
Will I need to drill my Ram HD?
No. The racks attach to the bed rails with the mounting brackets that ship with them, or to the cover's rails on the Retrax XR versions. Take the rack off and the truck is left as it was.
XTR1 or XTR3 on a heavy-duty bed?
The XTR1 has two uprights a side and suits the 6'4" box. The XTR3 adds a center upright on each side and a third crossbar, which gives a long load or a heavy tent more support, lifts the off-road rating from 450 lb to 500 lb, and makes it the rack for an 8' box. It starts $500 higher.
Can a Ram 2500 bed rack hold a rooftop tent?
Yes. Our stainless Rooftop Tent Brackets clamp the tent to the crossbars. Parked, the tent and everyone in it must stay under the static rating; driving, the tent and the rest of the load on the rack must stay under the on-road rating.
Is there a locking topper option?
Yes, the XO.SKLTN for the 6'4" straight bed on 2003 and newer trucks. It starts as an open frame and closes into a topper with its panels, either ordered together as Stage 2A or 2B or added later with the Ram 2500/3500 Topper Panel Add-On Kit, which fits the XO.SKLTN only.
Can I go taller or shorter after I buy?
Yes. The Alternate Height and Conversion Kit for a straight or tapered HD bed, from $230, supplies new uprights at 10" to 26" for your bracket type, or turns an XTR1 into an XTR3. Side and top braces for the new height aren't included.
Keep going on your Ram HD
The XTR1 and XTR3 come with our Lifetime Warranty. Not sure about your bed or year? Call (316) 330-0024 or email support@xtrusion-overland.com. Proudly made in the USA.
