truck racks

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Heres a set of truck racks i built for my cousin's '10 f350. The bed plates are 1/4 plate we had broke, the side rails are 1 1/2 sq and the head board is 2x4 rect. all 1/8 wall. If i remember correctly theres a total of 35 lights in it. Attached Images
Reply:Very ,very nice rack but the phrase"Christmas Tree" springs to mind.Lincoln SP-170 MigHypertherm powermax 45Lorch T220 AC/DC TigButters FM 215 synergic MigKemppi 180 adaptive mig RULES ARE FOR THE OBEDIENCE OF FOOLS AND THE  GUIDANCE OF WISE MEN.
Reply:nice build what is the use for all those lights? I would think you would want some white lights in so you can use it for light to see. and does he know how to not spill diesel when filling up hahaha...
Reply:you dont have any pics of the mounting do you? it looks like you have legs extending down into the bed?
Reply:Those are some nice racks!  I went with a lighter set, just for the summer.  Enough for a ladder or a few boards.  Put em on last month.  Attached Images-MikeThurston WeldingHuntington, IN
Reply:the lights on the sides are for looks mainly. the middle two oval lights are clear leds for back up or hooking the gooseneck up. theyre hooked to on of the upfitter switches in the cab. theyre bolted to the truck with 8 stainless bolts. im currently working on a set for his wifes 05 f250, but theyre gonna be a lil more complicated. ill post pics when i can.
Reply:Love it.Looking to build a headache rack for my pickup 95 f150 but not that heavy. I bought 1.25" square tube 14 gauge to build mine. Was wondering what kind of paint you used?ThermalArc 161STL TIG/Stick (160amp)Lincoln weld-pak 100 (fluxcore)4X6 Enco bandsaw10" skillsaw with metal blade for 45degrees (works)4" grinderWeld for fun. Very rare I do it for Money.
Reply:the paint is sherwin williams fast dry paint. holds its gloss pretty well and drys super fast.
Reply:Originally Posted by skidaddyThose are some nice racks!  I went with a lighter set, just for the summer.  Enough for a ladder or a few boards.  Put em on last month.
Reply:Justin, what are the little lights you used? LED? Covers with chrome bezzles? Look good!200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:yea, theyre lil leds. the only require a 3/4" hole and just push in. they have a  rubber grommet that holds them in and the chrome ring just slides onto the light before you push it in the grommet. theyre actually dot legal for use as clearance lights. heres where he order all of the lights. http://closertowholesale.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by justin_tractorsyea, theyre lil leds. the only require a 3/4" hole and just push in. they have a  rubber grommet that holds them in and the chrome ring just slides onto the light before you push it in the grommet. theyre actually dot legal for use as clearance lights. heres where he order all of the lights. http://closertowholesale.com/
Reply:finally got the set built for my cousins wife's truck. i have a few little things left to do and theyre goin to get blasted and powder coated. let me know what ya guys think. Attached Images
Reply:couple more pics Attached Images
Reply:Looks nuke proof! I guess you like cutting miters? 200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Justin, I hope those trucks are one tons. If they're anything less, you'll exceed the load rating before you even put anything on those racks!Ian TannerKawasaki KX450 and many other fine tools
Reply:Looks great, you definitely don't need to bolt them down. I like the angles gives it a little more flavor.In the words of the great philosopher Quagmire.Gigedy Gigedy Gigedy Gigidey Goo.
Reply:the first set is on a 1 ton ford, this set is going on his wifes 05 f250 with a 10k lb gvw. theyre heavy but not too bad. maybe 300lb. i wouldnt say i like cutting miters but i do like a challenge. i did alot of head scratching on this set figuring out the miters on the top two rails.
Reply:Man after building that second one I bet you are sick to death of doing math on all of the triangles! lol72 Chevy Cummins Project94 3500HD Welding Rig build Sold NOV 2011
Reply:actually once i had the head board figured out the rest went pretty smooth, well other than all the cutting. the only miter/cope that gave me fits was the 3rd rail, becasue it leans over with the head board.
Reply:Originally Posted by justin_tractorsactually once i had the head board figured out the rest went pretty smooth, well other than all the cutting. the only miter/cope that gave me fits was the 3rd rail, becasue it leans over with the head board.
Reply:i appreciate all the comments. cant wait to see them after blasting and powder coating. we're takin them thursday. ill post pics of them on the truck when i get them back.
Reply:I'm amazed. And look forward to the finished pics.ThermalArc 161STL TIG/Stick (160amp)Lincoln weld-pak 100 (fluxcore)4X6 Enco bandsaw10" skillsaw with metal blade for 45degrees (works)4" grinderWeld for fun. Very rare I do it for Money.
Reply:Great racks!Nice design and built tough. Personally not into the lights, reminds me of the redneck trailer parkers that run the streets of my town. Should make them change color for different times of the year. Red/white/blue   4th of julyred/green  christmasorange  halloweenetc.great job!
Reply:I'm going to copy your idea of turning the square tube 45* it looks great. I still need to build one for my new pickup.Originally Posted by justin_tractorscouple more pics
Reply:i got the racks back from powder coat on tuesday. not really happy with the way they look but, theyre not goin on my truck. i would have done it in one color not two. as far as the actual powder coat, they did an awasome job. i got the wiring done tonight on the racks. gotta set them on the truck tomorow after work and add the pigtail for the lights and battery leads for the trailer hook up in the bed on the truck. hopefully ill have pics for you guys tomorow.
Reply:As one who has done a great deal of fabricating, I have done similiar projects, and I can appreciate the time and effort that went in to making these projects turn out as they have.I am also a HUGE fan of lights (on a Semi)But I am even a larger fan of "Form Follows Function" so (for ME) these are horribly overdone and over complicated.  With lighting, it is easy to have "Too much of a Good Thing" and make yourself a rolling distraction, and nuisance (sp?) to the general motoring public.Beauty is of course in the eye of the beholder, and it is good your cousin is pleased.I will re-affirm my first statement appreciating your workHave a Good Day.On Edit:  I zoomed in on your pictures to try and get a good look at the welds - Look like narrow, cold beads ran by a toy machine.  I do not mean to be insulting to your equipment, or welding ability,  but rather expressing concern over the welds themselves.  I hope the strength is there if the headache racks are ever "needed"Last edited by Black Wolf; 06-18-2011 at 12:21 AM.Later,Jason
Reply:I like the square tubing on edge, makes it look different from all the other racks I've seen and gives it a more 3D effect. Good idea, I might have to steal it!Powcon 400SM2-PD60 wire feedersMiller XR controlAlumapro push/pull gunSpeedglas 9100xBFH
Reply:the welding was done with a lincoln power mig 180 and the tubing is all 1/8 wall. i can assure you that the welds are strong enough and as a matter of fact the first set on the gold truck are used on an almost daily basis as will the second set. im not a big fan of all the lights either, my truck has two oval lights in the headboard thats it. he likes all the lights. ill take pics of the racks on my gmc when i get a chance, you'll see im also a fan of form follows function.
Reply:the pics arent great but here it is. as i said before im not fond of the colors, i would have done one solid color. i beleive that theyre gonna take the tail board back and have it powder coated all black. Attached Images
Reply:It doesn't look like you ran any of your wire in loom.  Hope there aren't any rough spots that chafe the wire and cause it to short out.  Complicated designs, but everything seems to be symmetrical."The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.
Reply:Petty rack with lots of lights.I offer three choices: Good, Fast, & Cheap. You may pick two.Hobart AC/DC StikMate LXHarbor Freight AD HoodHarbor Freight Industrial Chop SawDeVilbis 20 Gallon, 5 HP Compressor
Reply:i did run the wire in wire loom, you just can see any of it in the finished pics. its all run inside of the tubing except for the strip lights. the wiring for them is on the front side of the racks where you cant see them. all connections were soldered except for the small lights, they have spade connectors on them for easy replacment.
Reply:Originally Posted by justin_tractorsthe welding was done with a lincoln power mig 180 and the tubing is all 1/8 wall. i can assure you that the welds are strong enough and as a matter of fact the first set on the gold truck are used on an almost daily basis as will the second set. im not a big fan of all the lights either, my truck has two oval lights in the headboard thats it. he likes all the lights. ill take pics of the racks on my gmc when i get a chance, you'll see im also a fan of form follows function.
Reply:If you cant carry a 20 foot piece of steel on it, its not a "rack", its a window guard.Stainless steel rack, electropolished, but unfortunately, no lights. My old aluminum rack on my 89 Nissan had a lotta lights on it- that was before LED's, it had JC Whitney running lights on it.I should put some lights on this one... Attached Images
Reply:you can  haul a 20ft piece of what ever you want on them. maybe you didnt notice the tail board? theyre not like a tradional set of ladder racks, more like a set o oil field truck racks with a twist.
Reply:I am not putting your racks down- they are very nice.I just prefer an overhead rack with at least 3 cross bars, as its pretty common for me to need to haul 1000 lbs of steel home from the yard, and I feel more confident when its sitting nice and flat on top. For instance, if I need 4 pieces of 3/8" round, they would whip around like crazy if just supported at tailgate and rear of cab. 2 points at 8 feet apart work for some things, but not for others.Seems like at least once a week I need to pickup a piece or two, while running errands, and its easy to just strap em down on the rack, and not have to worry about an angled piece hitting overhead obstructions.Mostly a matter of tastes, I guess, and it depends on how often, and how much, 20 footers, (or 24's, if its pipe) you haul.I carry a lot of weird loads on my rack too- everything from railings and staircases to big strange sculptures.
Reply:Personally, I am not a fan of all the little LED's, but that is just my taste.The racks look great though! I really like the design and construction. The second one, with the tube turned on a 45 looks really neat.Thermal Arc 210Thermal Arc 95SLincoln Weld Pak 100
Reply:Now I think I need one. Great build.We are on our way to being farmers! Our site is always under construction so check back often for updates.  http://www.philosophyfarmstyle.com/
Reply:i know this is an old thread, but ive since changed companies that i work for and talked them into building the ladder racks and headache racks for their trucks. heres a few pics of the first two Attached Images
Reply:more. Attached Images
Reply:headache rack and tail board Attached Images
Reply:justin_tractors :  COOL ! I like the entire set up. The ''tail board '' is my favorite. Awesome idea !
Reply:Your racks look good.  I don't know where you live but if it freezes there , You hopefully drilled drain holes through all the tubs so they can drain the water out that will be deposited every time you have a temperature change.  Ive built lots of racks and two of them came back with one down tube almost round instead of square. From freezing the water that condensed on the inside over the summer and fall.   Mac
Reply:Very nice I like the color how were they painted?
Reply:we took all the mill scale off with a flap wheel and spayed them with sherwin williams paint. the green was color matched off of the decals on the trucks
Reply:You do great work.  I can't imagine what a pita the 2nd rack was wth the tubing rotate to a diamond like that.  Very impressive and professional.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:i appreciate all the comments. i actually just finished another set up today before i left work
Reply:heres a few pics Attached Images