Headache rack ideas

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waterpirate

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Forgive my ignorance, but what's a hammer union?
In the world of pipe fitters or drillers, it is a union that has 2 ears on either side, also referred to as a " knock off union ". It can be knocked off with a hammer in seconds and re assymbled.
Eric
 

MrMarty51

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When mounting a rack onto the top rail of the box, do not use a short piece of steel to drill and bolt through to hold it down, that short piece of steel will tear up the top of the box. Use a full length of offset angle steel, note steel not iron, iron is a totally different form of metal.
The off set I use is 2”X2-1/2” and run the full length of the Top of the box with the drop to the inside of the box.
If the pockets will need to be used for some reason, cut out for those. You can also weld chain links to the inside of the angle to hook bungee cords and ratchet straps into.
 

bigcountry78

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When mounting a rack onto the top rail of the box, do not use a short piece of steel to drill and bolt through to hold it down, that short piece of steel will tear up the top of the box. Use a full length of offset angle steel, note steel not iron, iron is a totally different form of metal.
The off set I use is 2”X2-1/2” and run the full length of the Top of the box with the drop to the inside of the box.
If the pockets will need to be used for some reason, cut out for those. You can also weld chain links to the inside of the angle to hook bungee cords and ratchet straps into.
Well, my original thought was to make uprights that sip into the front stake pockets and then bolt them down through the hole in the bottom of the pocket. And then come about 2’ down the top of the bed rails with some angle.
 

Turbo4whl

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When mounting a rack onto the top rail of the box, do not use a short piece of steel to drill and bolt through to hold it down, that short piece of steel will tear up the top of the box. Use a full length of offset angle steel, note steel not iron, iron is a totally different form of metal.
The off set I use is 2”X2-1/2” and run the full length of the Top of the box with the drop to the inside of the box.
If the pockets will need to be used for some reason, cut out for those. You can also weld chain links to the inside of the angle to hook bungee cords and ratchet straps into.

This is so very true. The company has many pickups up-fitted with aftermarket headache racks. After a year or three they show up in the shop with the top of the truck bed all torn and cracked.

The truck bed metal is so thin, the only way an unmodified aftermarket rack will not tear the bed is if you never drive the truck after the rack is installed.
 

mcarlo86

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Well, my original thought was to make uprights that sip into the front stake pockets and then bolt them down through the hole in the bottom of the pocket. And then come about 2’ down the top of the bed rails with some angle.

The headache racks like the one in the picture I posted had went through the stake pockets just like that, but had angle iron that ran the whole length of the bed sides since they had a back rack too that also was anchored in the stake pockets. Doing that helps take some stress off the top of the bed sides for sure.
 

AuroraGirl

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There is more to ND than the RRV on the east coast. It isn't all flat.
i know lmao its a joke :)
I have spent a good amount of childhood summers in Minot, if you are familiar. Im no stranger to ND, i loved it.

what is rrv?
 

mcarlo86

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i know lmao its a joke :)
I have spent a good amount of childhood summers in Minot, if you are familiar. Im no stranger to ND, i loved it.

what is rrv?

Red River Valley. I am from the Minot area. I have been through WI a few times, it is a beautiful state, but it's too far east for me. ;)
 

AuroraGirl

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Red River Valley. I am from the Minot area. I have been through WI a few times, it is a beautiful state, but it's too far east for me. ;)
minnesota is too far east for me and its to my west.
And oh i shoulda figured that out. anyway, check out the truck bed trailer thing i tagged you in
 

MrMarty51

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minnesota is too far east for me and its to my west.
And oh i shoulda figured that out. anyway, check out the truck bed trailer thing i tagged you in
I would love to move to Wisconsin, into the northern lakes regions, a place on a sizable lake and have My own boat dock, not having to trailer the boat every day would be a big bonus to My life. i live about 150 yards from the Yellowstone river, but, having to launch the boat, in the current, then load it after each use, in the current, is just way too much. After I kind of had a couple of problems, the son and wifey plotted against Me and said no more boat unless the son is there to help launch it, which is just about never.
 

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So, I’m thinking about buying or building a headache rack for my truck. I’ve looked at the back rack brand and I like them, but I want to see some others as well. So if you have one, homemade or store bought, let me see them. I’ll probably use it to mount some lights and maybe a cb antenna as well.
 

Curt

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Fabbed up spare tire mount with some all thread.Came out good.Very secure

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