Dv8 Offroad Roof Rack Review for the 3rd Gen Toyota Tacoma
Roof racks are great way to add a bit of style and functionality to your Tacoma, but they aren’t all created equal in terms of functionality, build quality, and style. With a lot of the options out there, I still chose to go with the DV8 Offroad roof rack mainly for the price compared to the alternatives. If you’re interested in getting a roof rack for your vehicle and want to see if the DV8 rack is good for your needs, here are the specifications and my experience that I’ve had with it being on my truck for the past two years.
The Specifications
Aluminum (including cross bars)
No drilling installation
Includes wind deflector
Can mount a 40” to 45” light bar (Includes brackets for 40” light bar)
What I like
This roof rack was the first “modification” that I made to my Tacoma, and at the time I knew I wanted something that not only looked good, but added a little functionality to the roof of my truck without breaking the bank. The pricing was the main reason behind buying this roof rack. Compared to the competitors, it’s anywhere from $100 - $400 cheaper than most which is a steal.
When looking at modifications, you’ll probably want to save some weight in certain places such as the roof rack to keep the weight of your truck down for fuel efficiency purposes and to reduce wear and tear on the vehicle’s components. Since this roof rack is built out of aluminum, it’s very light and I was able to install it by myself (although two people are recommended to minimize the chances scratching your roof) without breaking a sweat.
Talking about installation, I really liked the fact that it was a no drill installation on the 2016 to current Tacomas and utilizes the holes already drilled into the roof for the factory roof rack.
Lastly, I believe that anything I put on my truck should look good, so the styling was something that caught my eye. Unlike some of the other roof racks that just look like you some rectangular side panels and bars on the roof, the DV8 roof rack is more futuristic with the cut outs and shape of the side panels. It’s also powder coated black to prevent rust from forming. In two years of ownership it has gotten a little banged up but I haven’t noticed any rust forming on the rack.
What I dislike
For the first couple of months after the install, I had some trouble finding the perfect position for the wind deflector so that it wouldn’t make as much wind noise (it was a lot). Even on the lowest setting, It was kind of noisy in the cab and would occasionally bang on the roof in heavy winds. That along with how close the cross bars are to the roof, even going on dirt roads the cross bars were hitting the roof and making a banging noise that I was sure was either scratching or denting the roof. My remedy for this was to install nylon washers under the mounting legs where it mounts on the roof and it helped quite a bit with the cross bars hitting and allowed me to move the wind deflector up a little higher so that it wouldn’t hit anymore.
Speaking of the cross bars, I found the spacing to not work with certain things. When I was trying to mount my Orcish traction boards, the cross bars are spaced out weirdly to where I can not fully bolt them down using the holes already in the boards. It’s definitely something to consider if you plan to add yours to the roof and you may have to buy a special mount (like this molle panel) to add to the rack in order to mount certain items.
It being made out of aluminum is nice for weight saving, but I found it to be pretty thin and can be bent pretty easy if you plan to add heavier things or even to use it as a handle to get into the truck.
Should You Buy It?
Honestly, I think that if you are just looking for an affordable roof rack that adds a little bit more functionality, storage options, and just looks unique and cool, the DV8 Offroad roof rack is a great option.
On the other hand, If you’re looking for something more sturdy that can handle a lot of gear, I would definitely consider other options.