Mounting a back rack??

Im making something similar to a headache rack and i dont wanna mount it to the side rails. im looking to mount it on the plastic sides of the bed. any suggestions?

 

I suggest you don't do that .

Why are you opposed to mounting to the rails ?

 

I have a tonnahu cover. I wanna fabricate something similar to how backracks mount on dodges. They have a hole in the rails with like a metal cup in them that a bolt bolts onto

 

There's nothing but sheet metal under the plastic bed caps

I will find you a link with pictures

Half a sec

 

Can't find the thread I was looking for , i think I have some pics on my computer , I'll have a look

 

Alright um how would you suggest how to mount it? Ill see if I can draw up something that'll itll look like

 

This is what is under the plastic cap

 

this is what i was looking into doing

 

Mount it through the top of the Tonneau , or does yours sit below the bed caps ?

 

Below. Its a truxedo low pro

 

Are you gonna use it as a lumber rack or light bar ?

 

Just a light bar

 

That's awesome. I needed that for my CB antenna project this weekend.

So, it looks like you don't need to remove the bedrails to remove the caps?

 

So, just a stupid thought here - but have you considered mounting a roof rack and using it as a light bar?

 

Yeahh I just probably have its done welded and maybe mounted next week. Ill pose some pics up. I plan on mounting a CB antenna and scanner atenna to it. Maybe reverse/bed lights and offroading lights. Maybe even ems and fire dept lights too lol

 

No , but you have to be careful with the tabs that hold the cap to the metal sides .

Bullwinkle check out this thread for a bit more info

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1209712

 

Based on your diagram, I'd think about mounting to the front stake holes and trimming the bedrail covers to just skirt around the new rack.

EDIT: and if you're going to mount an antenna to it, make sure it's got a good electrical conducting ground connection to both the bedsides.

 

Thanks.

 

Yeah that's what Im hoping to try to do

 

You will need as wide a base plate as you can fit on the underside of the rail cap otherwise the headache rack will lever back and forth and eventually cause a failure at the mounting location