Just tossin' ideas around.

I work in home construction/remodeling. My 'new' F150 will be my daily driver, but will not be a 'work truck'...meaning it's my transportation, but isn't expected to haul supplies, tools or scrap. Still, if it *could* carry a ladder or two on occassion without having to have the usual rack system, I'd like that option. But when not hauling a ladder, I'd prefer not to see a rack at all (unless something truly attractive exists).

I've seen the square-tube uprights that are on one side of the bed only, and hold ladders flat or angled a bit...and are removable with a wee bit of effort.
But even they are a too ugly for me, and the mild effort to remove them is still too much.

The best idea I've seen is this thing that looks like a multi-tube roll bar, and it's rear-most tube is hinged at the bottom to pull back, becoming a full-on rack system...then slips forward again when empty to look sporty. But at $800, it's a pricey thing!

Finally, I think the 'Back Rack' looks like a decent compromise. It looks like a semi-sporty protective rear window fence, but its top bar allows a ladder to angle from the top of the tailgate and over the roof. I think they run in the $275 range.

Any other ideas??

John

 

It's pretty easy to buld a small 2-part ladder rack that holds one ladder on one side of the truck only and if you make it out of nesting sizes of square tube, you can make the bolt-on mount part with the bigger tube and make the rack with the smaller tube, so it slides inside, and use a 1/2" Class II hitch pin on each upright to hold it on. When you don't want it, pull the clip, slide out the pin, and slide out the rack, all you have left is the mounting tube bolted the inner side of the bed and it isn't seen from outside the truck. Store in the garage when you're not using them. I made some a long time ago for my old Chevy truck so I could haul my windsurfer mast but not have to deal with a full truck rack when I didn't need it. Cost very little as I bought the steel used and did the cutting and welding myself. If you don't have metal fabrication skills, maybe one of your workers has those skills and could make them for you.

 

John
I've seen that rack that you're talking about, nice system but at $800 it is out of my league also.
I had a headache rack w/ side rails built out of 3" aluminum pipe that IMHO looks damn good. :-) It ended up costing me about $400 but being a framing contractor I use it alot for ladders and lumber I left the side rails just short of the last stake pockets so that I could use this homemade wood rack(4X4's) for the back, it's not real pretty but it works for me when I have something really long to haul.
I had one built for my 94 F150 that was made out of 2" square tubing (heavy gauge) that only cost me about $200, but that was 10 years ago. I also had a full lumber rack that was given to me that I use to switch out when needed. Instead of bolts I used 3" C clamps.
Hope this helps, Dave

 

try www.seaportmachine.com That's what I have to carry my 10ft Portaboat. Sets up in less than a minute!

Jim

 

Have you looked at Go Industries products? www.goindustries.com

 

Dang thats what I've benn looking for. How long till Christmas??

Chris

 

I just picked up a "Backrack" for my '92 8 ft bed/Regular cab. I paid $234.00 total (shipping included) for model 10506. If anyone is interested I'll post the website, it got to my house in three days via Fedex. I have seen them on a few trucks and think they are very nicely designed. However the rack is only 32 inches wide up top, and I wanted the rack for a canoe that is a little wider than that.

 

Buy a rack and have it chromed. hehe

 

I just put the Backrack on my truck. It is sweet! It is a simple design, and yet totally functional and sturdy. Installation took me about 45 minutes, it is easy to handle. I drilled four holes and had to tighten 8 nuts and bolts.Finally got the canoe back in the water!!