Had some time the other day and made new rails and headache rack for the toy. The how to is obvious. The materials included:

2" angle iron
2" square tubing, 14 guage
expanded metal.

 

 

Looks nice!!

All I can say is you have way to much extra time!!

I have had the materials now for a few years still trying to find or steal the extra time.

 

looks pretty good. i've been thinking of something similar for my truck, only without the window protection.

 

Looks good. May I ask what the point if the mesh over the windows is?

 

I can`t speak for him but in my case .

Using the truck it helps keep the back window from getting hit by things I throw into the back of the bed!!

 

So you don't smash the window. I've had some close calls of my own but have gotten lucky.

That thing looks pretty good. How is it connected to the bed, I don't see any bolts?

 

over the years I have broken everything on a truck that can break. The expanded metal is just protection for the rear window and cab and more importantly I just like it. It is also not distracting when you drive. It is connected to the bed with 4 stainless steel hex head bolts. just cause I had them laying around.

 

here is another pic.

 

Looks good but why is the top rail extra wide? Lots of ladder stands or something?

 

So those 4 bolts is all that holds it on.

I had been thinking to drop legs down and bolt mine to the floor because I would also have some attachment points for ratchet straps.

 

something to consider - when I make mine, i'm planning to drill/tap holes on the angle iron for removable loops (for tie-down anchor points) - and to attach the whole thing to the top of the bed rail with nutserts (since I've got a bedliner and no access to underneath the rail). on the bed floor, you can get fold-flat mounts or even u-bolts.

 

Those are 1/2 inch stainless steel bolts, bolted through the bed rail with large washers and stainless steel nuts. I have no concerns that it will come off. 1st gens are solid beds.

The top rail is as wide as the bottom (outside angle iron edges) and I designed it that way because I wanted it wide enough to sit a canoe or very small jon boat on it for close trips to some ducking hunting spots on the river. I intend to put a removable set of uprights on the back, in effect creating a ladder rack for this.----Plus, I like the way it looks being wide.

There are 10 tie downs welded onto this set up. They are what we call fencing clips. pretty stout and anything that can rip them off I would rather have away from me anyway.

Thanks for the input and questions.

Mike

 

It must just be an illusion but the angle on the top looks bigger then 2"

I also need the tie downs down low as lots of times I have a Miller Trail blazer or Bobcat in the bed of the truck.