Custom made bed rack

So I made a bed rack for the back of my 2011 Tacoma double cab short bed, or as my dad calls it, a "rubicon rack." Just wanted to say how I built it and show it off a little....oops.

So to start out I measured out the size dimentions I wanted it to be, then after that I cut out and made my two frames. Which the button frame is made out of 2 inch by 1 inch rectangle tubing and the top is just made out of 1"X1" square tubing. So I made two square frames that were 46"x36" and checked them both that they were perfectly square and then welded them together. Once I had them together, I took my 2"X1" tubing and cut cross braces for the bottom to be supports.

After that step I mocked it up in the back of the truck to see how high or low I wanted it. Which my brother had a section of I-beam that sat it on the side of the bed and it sat the rack at the perfect height that I wanted.

Once I had it at the right height, I got it centered in the middle so it was all even on the two sides. Then I notched a 90 degree angle in a section of 2"x1" and placed it on the bed side with angle iron I cut earlier and then marked the angle I needed to cut the other side of the tubing to be welded to the rack. Once I got the right angle, I cut out three more and duplicated the one I already had and held them in place and tacked them onto the rack and the angle iron on the bed rails.

After I had it all tacked and made sure it was a perfect fit, I carefully took the rack out making sure I didn't bend any of the tack welds and laid it on the corner of the table and welded all the seems up. After welding of course I grinded the accessible welds and then sanded them down the rest of the way so the seems were smooth.

I haven't finished it yet though. I have to cut out some expanded metal to put on the inside bottom of the rack to make sure the smaller stuff doesn't fall through. I'm also going to get some D-loops and screw them on with some self tapping screws to the outside bottom of the rack to the 2"X1" to have some tie down spots for my ice chest and other gear. After I have those all attached, I am going to sandblast the whole thing and clean it up real good and then paint it with bed liner so hopefully it holds up real good!

 

Man that's nice!

 

Awesome job!!!

 

That's really nice.

 

Thanks guys! I'm itching to find some time to finish it and paint it all up!

 

That's awesome!! Is it hair for generic storage or do you have specific plans for it?

 

And how does it bolt to the rails?

 

@NewRider I have plans for it to make brackets on both sides to hold a handyman jack, and then shovel and ax on the other side. Eventually I am going to fabricate some kind of poles to screw on the back of it that would rest on my tailgate when it's down. That way I can throw a tarp over it and have the tarp held down securely and sleep in my bed if I need to on rainy hunting or off-roading trips. But it's basically for general use, mainly to store an ice chest and a sealed tub of supplies on it so I can keep the bed free. It's also big enough to fit my spare tire on it if need be.

As for how to attach it to the bed rails, I haven't finished that part yet. My idea was just 3/8 bolts but those didn't work because the bolt head would turn in the rail so you couldn't tighten it down, but I am going to go to the hardware store and get some J or L bolts and tighten it down with those which would pretty much clamp the angle iron feet with the bed rail

 

Excellent work! One option to secure it would be some tee nuts in the channel. I got some from JP Metal Fabrication in Santa Clara that they usually sell as part of this kit.

 

It's so refreshing to see a creative, craftsman post their work on TW. Posts like this are the REAL value of the forum. Nice work.

 

I would love to find just some of those T bolts, they would work great I think.

Thank you so much! Had a few hours in making this rack and even more hours just grinding down the welds! But with much appreciated help from my older brother! Eventually him and I and going to make a front and back bumper, and of course I'll add pics of those once they come along!

 

Pretty slick looking!

 

Soooo, is it fully attached? I have to custom build a rack myself and have no idea where I should mount it.

 

Yes, it is fully attached. I'll take some pictures today and post them how I mounted it

 

Man, that looks nice. Good job!!

 

Perfect bed rack if you ask me. Good work OP!


Sooooo, when do you start selling these

 

Thanks! I'd make somebody one if they were close to pick it up!

 

i'll take you up on that offer. How close to yuba city are you? how much for material and your time?

 

I'm not too far from yuba city actually, I'm located in Chico. I have about $150 in materials and I'm not sure what to charge for labor. I'll get back to you with a estimate!

 

Sounds good. Thank you