Dodge Ram 1500 Bed Rack for Retrax XR Covers | XTR3 (Straight Bed)

1. Choose Your Height Profile

Our racks (like the popular XTR1 and XTR3 series) come in multiple height options to fit your specific storage goals. Selecting a height profile dictates your center of gravity, aerodynamic drag, and how your gear clears the truck cab.

2. Tonneau Cover & Soft Topper Compatibility

We pride ourselves on making our systems play nice with others, but truck bed configurations vary wildly. Here is exactly how to pair an Xtrusion Overland rack with a bed cover:

Retrax XR / T-Slot Style Covers (Fully Compatible)

How it fits: We build specific variants designed to bolt straight into the integrated T-slot tracks of Retrax XR, Pace Edwards UltraGroove, and Roll-N-Lock rail systems. No drilling or clamping to the inner bed lip—the rack slides into the cover's tracks flawlessly.

Standard Roll-Up or Fold-Up Tonneau Covers

How it fits: Standard inside-the-rail clamps or top-mount folding tonneau covers often conflict with traditional bed brackets. Please select our designated Tonneau Bracket Adapter option during configuration to allow the rack feet to clear your side rails cleanly.

SoftTopper / FasTop Enclosures

How it fits: We offer custom Soft Topper Compatible versions of the XTR1 and XTR3. These are engineered with wider, flared geometry to clear the canvas framework of a SoftTopper.

3. Weight & Load Capacity Ratings

Our aircraft-grade aluminum extrusion setups are incredibly lightweight but punch way up into heavy-duty performance territories on the trail.

4. The Custom Lineup: The Streamlined XTR1 vs. The Ultimate XTR3

Every rack we build starts with our signature high-strength, lightweight 15/10-Series T-slot aluminum extrusion architecture. But how you choose to mount, configure, and access your gear determines which platform fits your build style best.

5. Easy Driveway Installation Steps

We believe that building your dream rig should be as rewarding as driving it. There is no welding required and no complex fabrication. If you can use a basic socket set and an Allen wrench, you can install an Xtrusion Overland rack in an afternoon right in your driveway.

• 1

  Assemble the Upright Hoops

  Unbox your components onto a flat, clean surface. Slide the drop-in T-nuts into the main upright towers and bolt them to the heavy-duty corner gussets. Leave the fasteners finger-tight for micro-adjustments later.

• 2

  Connect the Lateral Crossbars

  Position your front and rear hoops at roughly the length of your truck bed. Slide the necessary T-nuts into the horizontal side bars (or side plates if you chose the XTR3) and connect them to the hoops to tie the structure together.

• 3

  Prep the Vehicle Rails

  If your truck has a factory utility track system, slide our specialized track nuts into the rails. If your truck has standard bed lips, position our heavy-duty clamp mounts along the bed rail spaced out evenly.

• 4

  Lift and Align the Rack

  With the help of a friend, carefully lift the fully assembled aluminum framework onto your truck bed. Guide the feet of the upright towers directly onto the bed brackets or clamps and catch the threads of the bolts.

• 5

  Square, Level, and Final Torque

  Use your tape measure to ensure the rack is perfectly centered on the truck bed and square from front to back. Once everything looks aligned, torque all fasteners down securely to specification.

6. Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you use 15 or 10-Series T-Slot Aluminum instead of welded steel?

Welded steel racks lock you into a heavy, unchangeable box the day they leave a shop. We build exclusively with heavy-duty 15/10-Series T-slot aluminum extrusions because off-roading demands both brute strength and absolute modular flexibility. Our aircraft-grade aluminum profile delivers an incredible strength-to-weight ratio that saves up to 40-50% of the weight of steel—preserving your truck's payload capacity, suspension components, and fuel mileage. Furthermore, aluminum is naturally 100% rustproof. If you scratch the powder coat on a branch, it will never turn into structural rust. The integrated T-slot channels turn your rack into an infinite grid, letting you slide, bolt, and adjust accessories anywhere as your build evolves.

Will I need to drill into my truck to install this?

For the vast majority of modern trucks (Tacoma, Tundra, Gladiator, F-150, F-250, Ram, Silverado, etc.), no drilling is required. Our racks hook directly into factory utility bed track systems or use highly secure, heavy-duty clamp mounts around the inside inner-bed lip.

How do I mount third-party accessories (RotopaX, Maxtrax, Quick Fists)?

Because our entire structure is made of standard 15/10-Series T-Slot aluminum extrusions, you aren't forced into buying proprietary parts. Simply slide any standard 5/16" or 1/4" drop-in T-nut into the channel, align your bracket, and bolt it down. It is completely universal.

Do these racks affect fuel efficiency (MPG)?

Any modification that alters your vehicle's factory aerodynamics will impact fuel efficiency slightly. However, using our Low Profile or Mid Height systems keeps your gear streamlined completely behind the cabin glass to minimize drag. Adding our custom laser-cut side MOLLE plates also helps smoothly guide side airflow over your open truck bed on high-speed routes.