Tacomarotto's Simple BedRack Build

This bed rack build is for a 1st gen Tacoma
here is the finished product.




i have a few thing that are just laying in the back of my truck bed when i go wheeling and id like them to stay in a neat manner while also maximizing the 4foot bed space i HAVE! so i have made a bed rack to achieve all of those needs i also want to make it a quick release system.




the bed rack will be a platform for:

spare tire
hi-lift
gas can
shovel
(future) ham radio antenna
and other misc.





Tools needed for the build:

Welder of choice
Angle grinder
drill!
adjustable wrench
socket wrench
measuring tape
protractor
chalk/sharpie
various bolts and nuts (i will list sizes)
De-greaser/dish soap with a hose


things to purchase:

16 feet of Steel 1" square tubing (home depot)
6 feet of "L" shaped Steel (home depot)
Spray paint of fav color. (home depot)




i thought id throw this up too...
heres a drawing of what i wanted the quick release system to be like.... if it means anything to you then the more power to you ya







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SO first step is measuring out the steel you'll need to cut.



With the "L" shaped steel...

(2) bed side braces
-cut each at 2 feet and 6 inches long
-this will be a base for the rack and where it mounts
(4) bed side mounts
-cut each one measured at 3inch long





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More cutting....


with the 1x1" square steel tubing...


(4) 7inch pieces from the steel need to be cut.
-these are the arms that extend off the bed side to support the cross
bars.
-on one side of all 4 pieces, a cut needs to made at a 45 degree angle

(2) 4 foot pieces of steel.
-on both ends of the steel bars a 45 degree cut needs to be made.
-*note make sure you cut the angles the same direction on either
sides of the bar so it is symmetrical

here's a picture of some of the square tubing cut into the correct dimensions




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NOW for the "L" shaped steel. the two longer ones will be place on the side of the bed acting a brace for the rack.

here is a picture of the side braces...




here is a picture of the side mounts set in place on the side brace.




once again here is the picture of how the mounting process works.










Now for the cross bars. weld the two 6" pieces on the end of the 4' pieces

like so...









Repeate this process twice so you have TWO cross bars




now weld the 3" mounting brackets to the legs of the rack








then weld the the two 2 foot support rails to connect the two cross bars...








PAINT IT



MOUNT it....

 

i need to add some steps into the build. like where you need to drill and stuff. i will later. im tired

 

Very nice. You also gave me a good idea on what I want to do to protect my bed rails. Thank you.

 

im thinking about doing something similar but with the brackets going down. no roof rack on it. still about 1' under it but put the tire on it so its lower than the viewing area

 

you just might be jealous of the bed rack i started building yesterday. ill throw up a pick or two of it in its current state. best part is i had almost all the metal laying around the yard. ill take a few picks and throw them up tommorow

 

In for pics, btw whered you get the rack?

 

Dood im excited to see what you can make! cuz i cant weld for shit!

i cut up the metal and drew up the design and my buddy welded it up

i wish i had made it a little more beefy but it gets the job done!!!

youd like some more pics? i can take some if you want up close or something...

i got the Yakima rack on craigslist for $100

 

well here is the most up to date pic of the progress so far. it is going to have the spare tire underneath via a junkyard spare crank thingy. also took rail road spike and welded them at 45 degree angles off of the legs today to put an axe, shovel, fishing road, gun, ect on both sides. after that im gonna make some mount for small military ammo boxes as tool box on the side inbetween the legs going to the bed rails. i have a couple other ideas but still trying to figure out what im gonna use and not gonna use.

 

+ found a basket on craigslist, but the guy wants $300 for it

 

jeeeeeez... yea. thats a little high

i got a really good price for mine i suppose

 

Yeah, wish I could find one for that price

 

i got lucky. i kept an eye out for a good deal for 2 weeks.

 

both look good.

 

definitely gonna make a basket for mine out of the large amounts of threaded rod i have laying around. not sure if i wanna put a bottom in my rack or not though.

 

sure why not

get creative

 

i am getting very creative just a matter of time. wanna have it done by hangout music festival in gulf shores.

 

well here is the half finished product. still have many more things im gonna add to it but figure this was a good stopping point for now until i can get my funds up to do the other stuff

 

impressive! looks good.

are those railroad nails on the side?

 

any up-close pics of how you mounted the tire?

 

yes they are rail road ties. put them there so i would have a place to put shovel, hi-lift, axe, or what ever. the tire is mounted using a 3/4" piece of threaded rod in the center bar. welded a huge washer on it and grinded it flat to make it look good. use a piece of a vacuum filter (i know ghetto) to hold the tire up as a huge washer. fits almost perfectly inside the center hole of the rim. ill get some more pics tommorow.