Help Please. Tonneau. Racks. Shells.

[godzilabob]

Ok...So I've spent hours on this site and a couple of others researching, and the more I do, the more confused I get...
So, I'll try to keep this direct and short.
* I snowboard. I landscape. I own a dog. I bike.
* I bought a truck because I DO haul at least a couple times a year...and I need the bed. Originally considered a shell (from leer), but I've read that they are not really meant to take off and replace often. So I am considering a tonneau.
* My dog rides in the bed often during nice weather.
* I can only fit 1 bike in the bed safely/comfortably and need to be able to my and my friends' snowboards (and all the accompanying equipment) safely SOMEWHERE. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT reason for attaining something/someplace to store considerable amounts (and not to mention thousands of $$$) of gear. I am stumped.
What would YOU guys consider???
Like I said, I've considered shells, tonneaus, or roof racks...or any combo, but I just get more and more confused. $$$ is not too much of an object, but best bang for the buck would be great.
cheers,
bob

[shovelhd]

How many snowboards do you need to carry at one time?

Do you have the factory roof rack?

[breakfastchef]

The Honda OEM roof rack has snowboard and bike holder options. This is a nice integrated solution. You could go with something like a THULE TU822 Bed-Rider to mount a couple of bikes in the bed. A final alternative is to get a good quality hitch-mounted bike rack. I like my Sportworks (bought by Thule in 2004) tray-type rack to hold two bikes.

A hard shell limits the vertical capacity of what you may haul and greatly decreases visibility. I understand they are not really designed to be removed and reinstalled. I purchased a RETRAX locking, retactable tonneau for my Ridge. After installing an electric lock on the tailgate, I have a secure bed. A drawback of any retractable cover is the amount of space the canister takes up in the front of the bed. There are several good retractables out there. I am not familiar with vinyl-type rollbacks.

I do not allow my dog, or any animal, to ride in the truck bed. Precious cargo belongs in the cabin.

[klundy]

Breakfastchef - where in south Florida are you? I'd like to see a Retrax in person.

Kevin

[PerryLynch]

Originally Posted by godzilabob

...
* My dog rides in the bed often during nice weather.
* I can only fit 1 bike in the bed safely/comfortably and need to be able to my and my friends' snowboards (and all the accompanying equipment) safely SOMEWHERE. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT reason for attaining something/someplace to store considerable amounts (and not to mention thousands of $$$) of gear. I am stumped.
What would YOU guys consider???
...
cheers,
bob

1. The dog rides shotgun, strapped in with a batzi belt (http://www.batzi.com/about_us.html), or behind you in a crate. If the other passengers complain, hand them bus fare.

2. Everything else goes in the back. It sounds to me like you want a removable or roll-up cover. Another thing to consider is a hitch-mounted bike carrier as something you can use occasionally.

3. The dog rides shotgun. All others can walk. If they complain, make THEM ride in the back. They at least have hands and opposable thumbs with which to grab on when necessary.

Perry (Who's not really a big jerk. Really!)

[godzilabob]

So it seems the health of my pup has become a focal point of some of your replies. To assuage your concerns, on hot days she is in the BACK floor of the air conditioned ridgeline. On mild days or days after playing in the ocean/river, she is in her kennel which is four pointed in the bed of the ridgeline. Thank you for your thoughts on that!
I guess one of my concerns is that her kennel is about 3" taller than the highest bed wall...which makes a tonneau cover incompatible with it...
Still confused...

[firefighter3666]

Have you thought about the bed rack that is available from SportRaxx? http://www.sportraxx.com/products/sp.../sportraxx.php

You would still be able to secure the crate in the bed. You can get attachments for bikes, canoes, kayaks, snowboards, skis, etc. It sounds like it would be fairly easy to "remove" for those times you don't need it. Just need a garage big enough to store the rack and all the toy attachments (and the toys to haul with it).

[breakfastchef]

Originally Posted by klundy

Breakfastchef - where in south Florida are you? I'd like to see a Retrax in person.

Kevin

No problem. Would love to show off my RETRAX. I sent you a PM this morning.

[MoosePond]

for the bikes & snowboards "combo" you might try something like this "homemade" mod that I did recently (used 4/4 pine board bolted into the lower holes - with longer M6 bolts - which attach the front of your composite bed together with a pair of Thule 821 low rider fork blocks). This method leaves plenty of room between the bikes for snowboards and/or lots of other "stuff".

[Altamont]

that's a cool set up MoosePond. the Yakima basket makes it! I'd have one of those but it would be a tad too high to put in my garage with kayaks up there. up here where I live, GodzillaBob, most folks use Thule or Yakima Boxes to tote snowboards/skis. keeps em dry and secure, and you can even leave them up there between trips if they are dry when you put them in. the downside is that you can't show off your stuff while driving to and from the hill!! both Yak and Thule make a shorter box that looks trick on the Ridge, both are 12 cubic feet.

I spose if you had a tonneau they could go in back, also. I keep my bed open for bikes, using a Thule bed bar.

there's so much utility to the Ridge it's hard to decide how to set it up.