Hi Guys,

Brand new to the site. Just picked up an 05 F150 as a secondary truck. Wondering if anyone has installed a back rack without using the stake pockets. Reason being I had a rack given to me, but no hardware with it. So I don't have those fancy L bolts to go in the stake pockets, and the hardware kit is like $120. I have no problem bolting the rack to the top of the bed rails, but the bottom side of the rails are on a 45 degree angle, makes for a real PIA to drill through.

Anyone got ideas, or maybe I just shell out the $200 ish for a new one.

 

I mounted mine like you suggested with just standard nuts and bolts. I did however use a small hole saw on that 45° panel underneath to give a flat mounting surface. Total investment $7.85 instead of the $120 from back rack

 

Thought about that Dan, but my second problem comes into play. Those crappy torques screws are seized on the tie down locations that have to come out to pull out the box liner. Royal PIA.