There are times when products take us completely off guard, our typical vocabulary being reduced to wide eyes and wows. The truck bed racks have been made for a long time, and most of the styling reflects either a dated jungle gym or something best reserved for a 1980s square body. Indeed, there are many great racks on the market, but few have been able to balance modern design and durability.
While Küat is new to the truck rack market, they have produced premium bike, water, snow, and accessory racks since 2008. They are renowned for their hitch racks and have gained the attention of the mountain bike community with the Piston series, awarded both the Red Dot and Good Design accolades. The Küat Ibex has several notable features, including a 1,200-pound static load rating to support a larger roof tent with several occupants. It can support 600 pounds of dynamic load on the road, and on the trail, it is rated for 300 pounds. It is important never to exceed the vehicle’s payload or roof load rating.
Specifications of the Küat Ibex:
- 1,200-pound static load rating
- 600-pound dynamic load rating (road)
- 300-pound dynamic load rating (trail)
- All aluminum construction
- Robust stainless steel hardware (oversized for greater durability)
- T-channels extruded into the rack profiles to support accessory fitment
- Mid-height or full-height options included, which can be changed with a different upright
- Telescoping cross-bars adjust to the truck’s width and can be mounted above the rack profile
- Mounting hardware included, with model-specific fit kits like Tundra and Tacoma
- Lashing hardware provided
- Optional side panels reduce theft and allow mounting of MAXTRAX, etc.
- Designed to support outboard bike mounts, the user can mount an RTT and bikes.
It cannot be overstated how premium the Ibex is, with the extruded frame, textured powder coat, and precise assembly. The rack also looks appropriate on a modern truck, with the right finish and profile to match vehicles like our test Tundra. Even the side panels look intentional and eschew the typical MOLE pattern in favor of a more refined series of holes and ovals. The entire structure is made from extruded aluminum and weighs only 85 pounds.
Three of us worked casually on assembling the rack and had everything installed and mounted in just a few hours. We did not encounter any fitment issues, rework, or missing parts. We also elected to install the Piston SR bike rack, which easily supported my Kona full-suspension 29er without any notable wobble or instability off-road. The Piston also has a cleverly integrated cable lock to help keep the bike from unwanted forays.
Overall, the Küat Ibex delivers on OEM quality design and finish and rewards the buyer with genuine functionality. From the 1,200-pound static rating to the durable powder-coated finish, I felt confident using the Ibex in the most rugged conditions. What impressed me most was the integration of accessories and the ability to mount two bikes and a full-size hardshell roof tent. Kuat didn’t just make a generic truck rack and slap the word overland on it; they designed a durable and premium solution for travelers to venture further into the backcountry, their adventure toys confidently mounted like a backpack with wheels.
From $1489 | kuat.com
Read more: Take a Load Off :: Overland Journal Editors Test Six Leading Overland Bed Racks
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