Hi,
I am commissioning a custom aluminum contractor/ladder rack to carry kayaks and canoes. The fabricator recommends bolting the rack to the side rails for maximum strength. That requires drilling through the rail and I am not keen on that idea. I have suggested that the stake pockets be he used but he does not think sufficient strength will be present. I do not think I will ever be over a 200 pounds plus the weight of the rack and find it hard to believe that strength should be an issue. As the customer, he will ultimately do what ever I choose. I have a tonneau cover so clamping is not an option.

I am looking for recommendations on which mounting method to use. Is there anything to watch for with bolt placement? If I go with the stake pocket route what is the best way to secure the mounting post in the pocket? It doesn’t look easy to fasten something in there from inside the bed. Is there a solution for that?


BTW, I have seen the fastener comments in https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ache-rack.html.


Thanks for the help
Jonathan

 

I am also interested. I had thought about doing this same thing to haul my canoe around (17' ~100lbs).

 

Why not just a Yakima DryDock? You can remove it when you want without any drilling. Iy you do a contractor rack you should use the stake pockets but run a rail on top of you pickup box and tie the uprights together. Before you put a lot of money into a fabricator, you may want to look at a Trac Rac.
Mark

 

Track Rac doesn't look like it would work with a tonneau cover.

 

Here is the final product that the rack shop built for me. It is mounted into the stakepockets. Secureing the rack into the rear pockets requires the removal of the taillights to facilitate bolting it into place. No drilling into the truck rails was required.

 

Wow, thats really nice!!! If that's bare aluminum you might want consider clear powder coating it so the color stays nice.

 

You may want to look at US Racks; they have many different versions that mount in the stake pockets.