1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

DIY Wood Bed Rack for Hauling Kayak/Canoe/Surfboards

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by ahajnos, May 8, 2011.

  1. May 8, 2011 at 4:08 PM
    #1
    ahajnos

    ahajnos [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2011
    Member:
    #56293
    Messages:
    3
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Adam
    Pittsboro, NC
    Vehicle:
    06 2WD Regular Cab
    in-dash receiver, subwoofer, amplifier, door speakers, bed rack
    Hello all,
    This is my first post but I plan on doing lots more as I continue to build on my truck. I had plans of getting a kayak and a surfboard but did not want to pay upwards to $200, $300 or $500 for the "professional" bed racks. So, I spent about 2 hours in Lowes with my dad, trying to come up with ideas on how to build my own. The total cost for supplies was $53.46. Read on.

    Final product:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Parts list:
    (4) 24mm bolt, lock washer and large washers
    (4) 1x2 right angle brackets
    (4) 2x4 joist bracket
    (12) Threaded Wood Inserts
    Many machine screws, lock washers and misc screws
    Treated Lumber 2x4 and 1x4
    Eyehooks

    Note: If you plan on taking this rack in and out on a regular basis, it is very important to use the threaded wood inserts so you can use machine screws instead of wood screws. This way, you keep the integrity of the wood intact.

    [​IMG]

    So I used treated 2x4 lumber, which, I learned after the fact that the oil based paint I used didn't take 100%. The paint feels very oily and small bubbles have formed. It works enough but for anyone thinking about painting their rack I might use untreated lumber, unless anyone knows any tricks?

    The 4 posts are 33", just enough for clearance over the cab. Each post has a hole drilled out for a 24mm bolt to attach to the factory rails. The bolt head just barely fits in the rails. In fact, I had to temporarily remove some of the rail screws for the bolt to slide in.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    At the bottom of each post is a right angle bracket that is attached to the bed. This bracket adds a second point for the post to attach to the bed to prevent it from spinning any. I had to remove the cargo boxes in order to fit the bolt and nut on each bracket.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Something I did not anticipate was the height of the screw heads. You must countersink spots for the screw heads (or route out a groove along the entire bottom would be better) so the posts will sit flush on the bracket.

    The weight bearing cross braces are 59". They are held up with some brackets I found in the garden section of Lowes. I think they were called fence braces...something to do with fences. About $2 each.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    To prevent the rack from swaying front to back, I added a 1x4 59" brace that runs along the outside. I chose the thinner 1x4 purely for aesthetics as they are not load bearing braces. However, I did add 6 eye hooks to simply serve as a way to route rope (not necessarily to tie down to).

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I had 2 larger eye hooks that I added to the bottom of the posts as anchor points.

    [​IMG]

    The rack is totally stable, and you can view more pictures of the rack here. I am trying to figure out a way to use the rack as a tent frame for camping. Or even adding a 2x6 brace for a hammock! Most updates on that as they happen. Any suggestions?

    -----UPDATE-----
    The bed rack gets the job done, although it doesn't feel like the most secure thing in the world. It did make it through a 2 hour highway trip though.

    [​IMG]
     
    Grindstone and Yankeetaco like this.
  2. May 8, 2011 at 4:10 PM
    #2
    davestaco

    davestaco TW's number one gear whore

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2010
    Member:
    #42134
    Messages:
    2,748
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    David
    Schofield Barracks
    Vehicle:
    00' tacoma xtra cab trd v6 4x4
    nice man i like it simple yet it gets the job done
     
  3. May 8, 2011 at 7:00 PM
    #3
    utahskierdave

    utahskierdave Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2008
    Member:
    #5671
    Messages:
    82
    salt lake
    Vehicle:
    08 tacoma dbl cab
  4. May 8, 2011 at 7:32 PM
    #4
    jpmorrisvb

    jpmorrisvb Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2008
    Member:
    #4840
    Messages:
    2,511
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jimmy
    Virginia Beach
    Vehicle:
    2014 Barcelona Red TRD Off-Road PreRunner
    Clazzio seat covers, KB Voodoo Powder Coated Tailgate Cap, OEM running boards, ImMrYo Rear-View Mirror Lift Bracket, 35% Tinted windows, EGR window vents, color matched door handles and tail gate lift, WeatherTech FloorLiners, OEM bed mat, sound dampening on rear wall and rear doors, on anytime foglight mod
    Nice job. Love the use of the rails.
     
  5. May 8, 2011 at 9:48 PM
    #5
    prae

    prae Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2009
    Member:
    #17222
    Messages:
    155
    Gender:
    Male
    Calgary, AB
    Vehicle:
    06 4x4 SR5 BSP DCLB
    Bilstein 5100s, eibach springs, AAL, TRD anthracite FJC rims, PIAA Fogs, Pace-Edwards hard rolling tonneau
    Thanks for sharing.
     
  6. May 8, 2011 at 10:01 PM
    #6
    booboy

    booboy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2010
    Member:
    #41642
    Messages:
    317
    Gender:
    Male
    PaCiFiC nOrThWeSt
    Vehicle:
    2010 TrD SpOrT 4x4
    Looks good!
     
  7. May 8, 2011 at 10:04 PM
    #7
    sachou

    sachou Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2009
    Member:
    #23554
    Messages:
    696
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Sam
    Richland, Washington
    Vehicle:
    2006 TRD Sport Acc Cab 4x4 V6 6spd
    Very slick! I've actually been mulling over some designs in my head for my future kayak rack. I came up with something a but different from your design, but that's only because I have a first gen and no bed rails.

    So the big question is...how much money did you save over a "professional" rack?
     
  8. May 8, 2011 at 10:08 PM
    #8
    Black Rock Taco

    Black Rock Taco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2009
    Member:
    #18364
    Messages:
    69
    Gender:
    Male
    Winnemucca and Reno, NV, Oakland CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 DBL Cab Tundra
    None, yet
    Nice Job! I built something similar last year, but made it to be level with the top of the cab, and put a plywood roof on. Ghetto dog shade! No more burnt pooch paws! And keeps the dog "California legal" when I cross the Sierras into the "Republic". Contains him without the need for a tether.
     
  9. May 9, 2011 at 5:49 AM
    #9
    ahajnos

    ahajnos [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2011
    Member:
    #56293
    Messages:
    3
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Adam
    Pittsboro, NC
    Vehicle:
    06 2WD Regular Cab
    in-dash receiver, subwoofer, amplifier, door speakers, bed rack
    Ah yes I should have mentioned, the total cost for supplies was $53.46!!
     
  10. May 9, 2011 at 5:54 AM
    #10
    NC15TRD

    NC15TRD Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2010
    Member:
    #43212
    Messages:
    6,517
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Nick
    PA
    Vehicle:
    16 Sierra SLT All Terrain
    Readylift, Truxedo, Husky Liners, Carven
    Well done and welcome to TW! +1 for a great idea
     
  11. May 9, 2011 at 6:18 AM
    #11
    GSD

    GSD Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2011
    Member:
    #49007
    Messages:
    718
    Gender:
    Male
    Saskatoon SK
    Vehicle:
    09 TRD SPORT
    Nitto terra grapplers,raider cap with thule tracker two roof system, 13 inch rubber antenna, wire harness mod, seat belt chime mod
    Hey man great idea! Always love it when people think outside the box, or in this case inside. I have a cap on my truck and my yacks are 17 feet so I am designing a load assist roller at the moment. Keep us posted on your progress.
     
  12. May 14, 2012 at 6:29 AM
    #12
    PaulPhotographer

    PaulPhotographer Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2011
    Member:
    #49169
    Messages:
    30
    Gender:
    Male
    Tampa Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2012 Tacoma 4x4 & 2007 FJ Cruiser
    PaulThePhotographer's Tacoma DIY Canoe Rack!

    I wanted something, cheap, easy to break down and assemble and yet be stable enough to carry our 15 canoe. I also did not want to spend a bunch of time and energy top fabricate in the first place. (Thinking about selling the canoe and getting a couple of Sit-On-Top kayaks.)

    Here is a photo of what I ended up with.

    [​IMG]

    I bought some of this quick-take down Saw Horse kits from Amazon.

    Click for Link to Amazon -> LINK

    [​IMG]
    !

    I have only tried it one time so far and it seemed to work well. I got up to 70 mph and it did not move. I hit the brakes pretty hard to test it also and it seemed to be able to handle that also. I would recommend checking the straps everyone once in a while.

    Each leg set turned out to be one 8 foot 2x4 cut in half for each leg. And the center top 2x4 is a 8 foot two by for also, and the cross 2x4s the same thing. So I used four 2x4's in total. And some eyebolts ( I counter sunk the top of the eyebolts to be lower than the top of the 2x4s, so the canoe can slide easy on the 2x4 and not get scratched or anything!) to strap everything down with the ratchet straps I already had.

    I even load this up canoe by myself, to see how it was. It was not too bad. And I am an old fart that is out shape. :( :D

    ---
     
  13. Jun 11, 2012 at 6:32 PM
    #13
    hullabelew

    hullabelew Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2012
    Member:
    #80442
    Messages:
    13
    Gender:
    Male
    Atlanta
    Vehicle:
    11 PreRunner SR5
    nerf bars, tool box
    Great work ahajnos and PaulPhoto, I'm trying to decide which was I want to go on this. Great ideas by both of you. Mine is 2011 with the bed rails but I want something I can remove fairly easily. Thanks for posting.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top