How Chris Holloway Built the Ultimate Side-Mounted Bike Rack with STAPLL Fender Racks

When Chris Holloway — founder of the MOORE Expo — needed a better way to carry bikes alongside his truck camper setup, he turned to STAPLL.

After installing a set of 48x10" Fender Racks, Chris created a clean, functional side-mounted bike solution that solves a problem many overlanders face.

We sat down with Chris to talk through:

• The problem he was trying to solve
• Why STAPLL stood out
• How the install process went
• His real-world performance feedback

Below is the interview in his own words.

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The Problem: Why Side-Mounted Storage Was the Only Real Option

Q: What problem were you trying to solve with your truck setup?

Chris:
“Bike rack on the side. So if I’m pulling my camper with a hitch-mounted bike rack, I’ve got to either pull the camper or haul the bikes.

The truck’s too tall, so I can’t get it on the roof. I could put it on the back of the camper, but you just never know — at a gas station, somebody could grab it so easy. You can’t see it going down the road.

So that’s ultimately the solution I was trying to solve.”

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Why STAPLL Stood Out

Q: Had you seen any other solutions before finding STAPLL?

Chris:
“I’d been looking for a few months. I found one example where a guy fabricated a metal bar for his camper shell, but it was way more fabrication than I wanted.

It didn’t have that clean look I was after. Then I found you guys — and it was like, oh yeah, there we go.”

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What Made STAPLL the Right Choice

Q: What specifically stood out about the STAPLL racks?

Chris:
“Immediately, it was the option to lift the camper shell — that was huge.

And the fact that you guys already had a plan for it… you had a kit, I could reach out and talk it through. It was purpose-built.

That made it super easy instead of trying to fabricate everything. I had a forklift on rent and not a lot of time — so I knew it was going to go smoother.”

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Inside the Install Process

Q: Walk us through the install — how did it go?

Chris:
“My camper shell is abnormally heavy — rooftop tent, electronics, lithium batteries — everything’s mounted to it.

So I rented a forklift — about $350 total — lifted it off, and got to work.

When I opened the boxes, the craftsmanship and quality were gorgeous.

I had a 16-year-old helping me — and he was able to assemble all the brackets pretty easily with minimal guidance. That says a lot.”

Key Steps Chris Took:

• Removed camper shell with forklift (not always necessary, Chris noted his camper shell is abnormally heavy due to many other accessories installed on it)
• Installed brackets and hardware
• Added rubber spacers and adjusted wiring
• Notched the camper shell for clearance
• Reinstalled and aligned everything

Chris:
“We marked the brackets, cut notches with a multi-tool — ended up around ¾ inch.

After that, everything went smooth. Lining it up wasn’t bad, rear glass still sealed perfectly, and we didn’t even need the extra rubber seal.”

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Real-World Performance

Q: How is it performing so far?

Chris:
“Threw the bike on and took it for a ride — no complaints.

I did add a soft bungee from the roof rack just for extra stability, but overall it’s working great.”

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Build Quality & First Impressions

Q: You see a lot of gear — how does STAPLL compare?

Chris:
“I see tons of gear… and honestly, the expectation isn’t usually super high precision.

But this — the machining is extraordinary.

I opened the box and thought, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me — this is so nice.’

All the parts fit together smoothly. I was even telling the kid helping me, ‘This is quality — pay attention to this.’”

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Hardware Matters (More Than You Think)

Chris:
“The hardware is a big deal. A lot of companies cut corners there.

You guys using stainless and security hardware — that’s huge.

Most of the time, you end up throwing hardware away and replacing it. Otherwise, you get rust streaks down your truck.”

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Final Thoughts & What Bike Rack Did You Use?

Chris:
“Directions were clear, install was smooth, everything fit well.

It’s just a really well-thought-out system. I installed a Kuat Piston Rack”

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Where You Can See Chris’s Build in Person

Chris will be showcasing his truck and STAPLL setup at multiple events, including:

• MOORE Expo
• Big Iron Overland Rally (Kansas)
• Rendezvous in the Ozarks
• Power Sports Expo
• Potentially Flagstaff (Timber & Industry booth)

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Why This Matters

Chris’s build highlights something important:

👉 Side-mounted storage isn’t just a cool idea — it solves real problems.
👉 STAPLL eliminates fabrication, guesswork, and compromise.
👉 You keep your bed space AND gain functional storage.

For overlanders running campers, racks, or complex builds — this is exactly the kind of solution that unlocks new capability.