Xplor Rack Review
On my Tacoma, I had an RCI bed rack. At the time, I felt that it was the best option out there for the Tacoma, though now I'd say the CBI rack is probably what I would've preferred. In any case, the Rebel Off-Road Xplor Half Rack completely blows the RCI rack out of the water.
Here are a few key reasons:
Length: The Xplor is a full-length rack, which I was hesitant about at first. A plus to the RCI is that you can more easily reach around the bars into the bed. However, the benefits of the Xplor outweigh the drawbacks, primarily because the extended mounting surface area. It also just gives it a "complete" look.
Height: There's no such thing as a half rack that won't impede your rear view, but the Xplor gets close. It's height was one of the key reasons I went with it. The height is not only important for viewing, but also getting in there and moving around gear. I believe it's about 2 inches taller than the RCI, and every inch makes a difference (that's what she said). Though it might sound ridiculous, one of the greatest benefits to the height is that the traction boards do not reach the RTT zipper. Previously on the RCI rack, my traction boards were taller than the rack itself, and that meant reaching my hand behind them to unzip the RTT cover. No longer the case with the Xplor.
Customization: Though the Xplor is largely meant to be build one way, there are plenty of customizations and configurations you can use. The side panels have a ton of slots in them, making practically anything mountable, which I love. Same goes for the crossbars, which have ample mounting capabilities.
Powder Coating: I have completely had it with companies that powder coat their products without laying down a layer of primer. EVO did this with the stubby bumper and it started rusting through within a week. My RCI rack was disintegrating near the end. The cost of the Rebel Xplor is insane, especially considering that you don't get a powder coat. But, I'd rather have to shell out a few hundred dollars for a good powder coat than be given a crappy paint job that will rust through in a matter of months.
My Configuration
I had my bed rack configuration planned out to a T before it arrived. Here's a breakdown of each section and how each item was mounted:
Driver Side Exterior
Here I've got a Pelican handgun case, which has been repurposed for an easy-access tool storage box. My chopping axe and shovel (which have seen better days) are attached using Quick Fist Grips. Everything I have (for the most part) is attached using 1/4 bolts and nylon lock nuts. You might also notice the air hose port. This is part of a dual hose port system where I have one port on either side of the vehicle. Makes airing up super easy. I used some kind of steel bar for this, drilled out a hole for mounting and one for the hose, then smoothed the edges with an angle grinder.
The lights are cheap Niilight (Amazon); I have two on each side and they're connected to the same circuit as the four lights on my roof rack. Sure, I'd love to replace all my lighting with a reputable brand, but many of these lights can be replaced for 1/10 the cost of higher-end brands and they get the job done. CB antenna (3ft Firestik) is attached using an L-bracket from ACE hardware. Just had to find one that was sturdy enough and I've had zero issues.
Last item on the list is the strange steel tube in the middle. I mounted this using a u-bolt on the Xplor panel and another bolt into the bed rail. I'll most likely add another just like it, but the design in the end will support a shower tent from Tuff Stuff. Essentially, a smal awning mounted to the top of a 1" square tube, sitting inside a 1.25" square tube. This way, I can extend the height of the shower some 2 feet, so it's not that different than mounting on the roof rack.
Passenger Side Exterior
On this side, I just have ActionTrax. Full disclosure, I have yet to use them. Previously, I used MAXSA (Amazon brand) tracks and they actually worked just fine. The orange color on them faded and they looked like crap in the end, but they did work. I chose to go with ActionTrax this time around because they're more flexible than Maxtrax. As for the color, I'm over the flashy orange color. Keeping everything on this truck black or grey, for the most part. I used some steel flat bar to mount these, then some 5/16 bolts and some 5/16 knobs I found on Amazon. Same as the driver side, I've got also two lights and a compressor port.
Driver Side Interior
One of the coolest things about the Xplor is that there's room to fit Rotopax on the interior. Gas and Water packs are mounted using Rotopax mounts and 1/4 bolts. As previously mentioned, the square tube for the shower tent is mounted between those, just in front of the center crossbar. On the left I've also mounted a Smittybilt jerry can holder into the bed itself and placed a 5gal plastic jerry can in it. When camping, I usually bring a foldable 5gal, but they leak terribly and I'm over it. Going forward, I'll have the 2gal for emergencies, the 5gal for cleanup and camp fires, and I've got a separate Helio shower I'll bring along for longer trips.
Passenger Side Interior
On the front panel, I've got a Smittybilt compressor mounted on a mounting plate, the source of which I cannot recall. A hose extends from the compressor to a T fitting. One end of the T is the passenger side port; the the other connects to a hose which runs the width of the bed through the front bed rail to the driver side. There are two downsides to this setup: 1) the compressor is exposed, which almost certainly limits its lifespan, and 2) there's no tank, which means that I need to connect a hose to a tire before I turn on the compressor, or else the compressor is supplying air to closed ends.
The propane tank is mounted using a long bolt and wing nut to the rail system. The bungee strap is just there to keep it in place a bit better. Above that, a fire extinguisher, which is mounted using some Quick Fist Grips.
Last but certainly not least, the chainsaw mount. I only bring the chainsaw along for off-roading, primarily because I've run into numerous obstacles where it's nearly impossible to reverse and winching a downed tree out of the way is sketchy. Will it get used on every trip? Absolutely not. But, when you need it, it comes in very handy. I used a Sawhaul mount which I attached at an angle to the bed rail. The idea was to make room for the chainsaw without getting in the way of the propane tank. What I discovered after mounting the Sawhaul was that the bar sleeve would flex considerably. So, I attached another steel bar to the bottom of the bar sleeve and then to the bed rail. This kept it perfectly in place.
Front Interior, Lighting, Etc.
Everything in the bed is placed where it is based on likelihood of need. I don't need to access to the compressor, and I'll rarely need to use the gas can or chainsaw. The propane will get more regular use, and the water will be used on every trip. The Hi-Lift jack is another item I rarely use, but need to have around. For this, I ran some 3/8 bolts from the bed rail system and used some large wing nuts I have leftover from an RCI mount system I used on the Tacoma.
If I were to need the Hi-Lift when off-roading during a camping trip, that would mean unpacking some gear for a couple of minutes (but, my camp gear is consolidated to just a few storage bins). That's not ideal, but it's better than putting the Hi-Lift in some prominent area just so I can show everyone I have a Hi-Lift jack.
Lighting in the rear runs off of a different circuit than all other lights, and it's the same type of light I have on the roof rack. Doesn't get in the way at all. Lastly, I also ran some bed lights under the bed rails on either side. These run through a toggle switch mounted on the passenger side of the bed, then up to Aux 3 under the hood, which is set to battery power rather than ignition. That means that I can flip on the bed lights at any time.
Summary
The Xplor rack lets me do everything I need, with room to spare. The JT bed's wheel wells are really shallow, which allows for plenty of room to mount gear. Right now I can slide-in all of my camp gear with room to spare, and all other gear I might need is already there.