Bead Rail Build

Hi, I'm in the process of building a Bead Rail for my Taco. I'm a DYI so I'm Making things up along the way and learning in the process.

Inspiration:
I'm in the process of building a roof in my house for which I need to buy steel materials mostly 2x2 tubes and the come 20 feet Long. so I decided ti build a bead rail so it will be easier to carry this stuff and not damage my Taco. But since I don't carry stuff like this every day in fact it is very rare that I do this I don't want to build something affixed permanent to my Taco neither I have the money to buy one of the shell. Since I have some left over Materials from a previous project I'm going to try to build this from these materials I have laying around. but of course their is always some stuff That I'll need to buy along the way so lets see if it doesn't end up more expensive than buying one of the shelf.

First:
I bought some L shape parts of metal to serve as the anchor to the bead.
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I bought some fasteners that I modify to look like the one that the Rails that came with the truck Has, and use them to attach the L shape Part to tha Rails.
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Get a trailer if you need to haul 20' material. Or build a bed rack the full cab height with a roof rack on the cab so the material can stretch across the roof and the bed

 

Thanks for the info:

I don't have money for the trailer. and what you describe as a bead Rack is exactly what I'm building...

 

A hitch extender may be a better bet: http://www.rampconnection.com/Truck-Bed-Extender-HITCH-EXT.html

 

Use 2"X2"X24" tubing that I havein the garage to use as the support of the structure.
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Mark the angle with a pencil so I can cut the Tube.
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22.5

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Whelded the L ShapeBracket to the Tube.
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Then repeat for all fur corners.
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Then I mounted the support tubes with the bracket to the bed Rail. Then another Tube that will connect the two support tubes. making just enough clearance so that the material don't touch the Cabin.
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Measure the Height needed and make sure is equal on both sides.
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Then I mark the Tube to see what angle to cut.
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What do you Know is exact same angle than in the bottom.
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Time to married the tree together front and rear.
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In order to attach the front to the rear I will cut pieces from a 3/16"X2" material that I also had in the garage. I had My way would use thinner material but I don't want to spend money and just use what I have in the Garage.
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First Mark the Places where I want the Holes
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Then Use a Center Punch to Mark again
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Then I drill a 7/16 Hole.
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Then I use a step drill to enlarge the hole to 1/2" this is the size of the Fastener. Since the material is so thick I have to use the step drill on both sides.
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Then I tart toe weld the Bracket to the tubes.
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Since The Holes are not exactly in the same place in all the material I need to enlarge the holes one step more so I have Wiggle room. I enlarge them to 9/16 but the Drill Bit gave up and since this is a $60 drill Bit The project is on Hold until next weekend.

Hope you enjoy the pictures...