Our own simple design bed rack

[usnavycdr]

I decided overland racks have gotten too steep. I just wanted a bed rack to carry a kayak, and maybe mount an RTT in the future. Needed to be strong enough to handle 500 lbs (tent + 2 adults).
I used 1.25" O.D. tube .120 wall and 3" flat stock .125" thick. I used interlocking tube clamps like in a roll cage to make rear crossbar removable for transporting tall appliances etc. Gussets double as ratchet strap tie downs. My buddy is a better welder than I am so I handled the design and drilling, cutting and borrowed his Millermatic
We climbed on top of the bars and swung. It's definitely sturdy. Primer and paint await.

Sponsored

 

[Toyfrog]

I decided overland racks have gotten too steep. I just wanted a bed rack to carry a kayak, and maybe mount an RTT in the future. Needed to be strong enough to handle 500 lbs (tent + 2 adults).
I used 1.25" O.D. tube .120 wall and 3" flat stock .125" thick. I used interlocking tube clamps like in a roll cage to make rear crossbar removable for transporting tall appliances etc. Gussets double as ratchet strap tie downs. My buddy is a better welder than I am so I handled the design and drilling, cutting and borrowed his Millermatic
We climbed on top of the bars and swung. It's definitely sturdy. Primer and paint await.

That’s Awesome, wish I had the resources to build something like that. My dad has a whole shop full of equipment, but I don’t think wood, would hold up. Lol. What part of TX you in?

 

[usnavycdr]

San Antonio. But I think wood would actually do well. Maybe oak would.

John

 

[usnavycdr]

Finished the coating and remounted in place. Still awaiting the security torx bolts but otherwise fully functional now.

 

[TommyGp]

I dig this design. I had drawn something similar up for mine but wanted something that I could easily remove and store out of the way since I take my hard top off quite a bit.

Here are my uprights that will mount on top of my Bak Revolver cover via the sliding t-bolt rail

A buddy is cutting them on his cnc and bending the long 90s. He will also dimple-die the speed holes.

I will probably have to perforate the upper and lower 90* bends and weld them up. Then a 1.25” square crossbar will run across them at a width to hold 4 kayaks.

 

[usnavycdr]

I see no reason to fork over $500-1200+ for something so simple. It's profiteering by the companies because they figure they can get away with it.

I like your mount keeping the tonneau cover. I don't have one but figured if I did I would have to redesign the rack. Now I know I just need to buy a CNC machine bahaha. My wife will surely go along with this plan.

 

[InvertedLogic]

Clean and simple, I dig it. You can do some awesome things with access to a tube bender and a welder!

 

[TommyGp]

I see no reason to fork over $500-1200+ for something so simple. It's profiteering by the companies because they figure they can get away with it.

I like your mount keeping the tonneau cover. I don't have one but figured if I did I would have to redesign the rack. Now I know I just need to buy a CNC machine bahaha. My wife will surely go along with this plan.

Agreed. The pricing is goofy and I think it's just because overlanding is the new upper-middle class hobby.

I wanted to keep the function of the cover so we can take the kayaks on trips while still packing the bed with things that need to stay secure and dry. My wife is not a camper so we don't have to carry more than some coolers and luggage typically.

 

[Sal's Dad]

Wish I had a welding buddy !

Can you mail me one of these? . Or maybe somebody could just fabricate the base corners and T-joints, ship it with 5' straight tubes, as a kit. .

 

[Toyfrog]

I dig this design. I had drawn something similar up for mine but wanted something that I could easily remove and store out of the way since I take my hard top off quite a bit.

Here are my uprights that will mount on top of my Bak Revolver cover via the sliding t-bolt rail

A buddy is cutting them on his cnc and bending the long 90s. He will also dimple-die the speed holes.

I will probably have to perforate the upper and lower 90* bends and weld them up. Then a 1.25” square crossbar will run across them at a width to hold 4 kayaks.

I was looking at doing something like your idea. I was just wondering how a rack with a RTT would hold up with the BAK? How do you like the BAK?

 

[TommyGp]

I was looking at doing something like your idea. I was just wondering how a rack with a RTT would hold up with the BAK? How do you like the BAK?

I can only comment to the BAK, but I love it. It took a few adjustments to get it to close and latch reliably (would pop open occasionally), but overall it's great.

I ordered mine off Amazon because I needed it quick for a family trip and it was on Prime. Although it was listed for the Gladiator, none of the hardware or instructions for our truck came with it. I called BAK and they offered to send the stuff to me, but I needed it mounted that day so I just had them tell me what size bolts I needed to make it work. I was lucky enough to have a NutSert tool already, which made the install MUCH easier because otherwise I didn't have any way to attach the bulkhead bracket to the truck.

In theory it should hold up fine to a RTT or whatever you wanted to stack on top of it. The rails sit on top of the bed. My only concern would be whether they can withstand the lifting force. I think the Kayaks will be fine, but something with more surface area underneath will have an awful lot of lift. I think I would probably opt for a bracket that goes under the cover rails (attaching like @usnavycdr designed) and then add some thin gasket or whatever to fill the spaces. That would require setting the uprights further outboard to clear the rails, but there is enough width to the truck's bed rails that it should still be fully supported.

Sponsored