Home made bed rack build

I have seen some photos of some bed racks on tacomas and decided to build one. It's main use will be to hold a hi lift jack while be able to lock it. I have almost 0 exprierencd with welding and little with fabrication work. Even if it turns out bad I'll be happy because I learned something from it. I'll be sure to get pics. The main tools I use are an angle grinder and a welder. The angle grinder has a cutting and grinding blades to use too. Comments and suggestions are awesome to read. Pics soon.

 

it's based off of this. But it will be flat across the bed.

 

I made some more progress today. The hi lift jack I ordered will go along the top of the bed rail and lock into it.


First day of working on it.

Tonight after I ended. The welds aren't the best but I have just started and this is a learning experience for me.

 

Looks like a good start, be sure to cap the end of the tubes... thicker metal might be needed if you put some weight on it so it doesn't flex.

 

I was planning on putting some braces across the bars and making sort of a checker board thing. You can see the first bar on the left of it. I was thinking about placing one every 5 or so inch. Then having another bar crossing over the bed infront of the other two. I think it would be good then, what do you think?

 

Its possible, give it a try, worst thing that happens is you build another and use that metal for scrap.

I think on mine I used .120 wall(I think) I purchased the metal a while back but had a bunch left over from my rock sliders.

 

Today I got my hi lift jack and wow I'm in aw. It's very nice. I picked up four 9000 pound tested d rings and a 10' 3/8" chain that has hooks on both ends for the jack. I'm really excited to use the thing. As for the rack I made no progress. Yesterday I bent it with my tire and I had to cut off the peice of metal I was going to attach the jack to; it wouldn't fit right. This is what I'm left with. I will mount the jack like this and have the locks come down through the bar. I didn't make up any plans for this project. I only went off of photos. So I will make a whole new peice because I think it would be better in the long run. 3 tubes across and little pieces holding them together every 4 in or so. This was after beating on it. The angle iron didn't even line up right. Should I try to make a jig out of plywood to hold everything in place while I weld? Any input is very much appreciated. Thanks for reading.

 

I finished this in a couple of hours with the help of a square with a ruler in it( I forgot the name of it) it was so nice to have. I am going to try to add the cross members soon in a couple of days when I get time. I'm really happy with what I got done with today.

 

looks good bud!

I have no experience welding, if I did, I would've already made a bedrack also

 

I haven't got much done the past few days. Actually nothing. I got some lochs for my hi lift though. I won't be able to work on it for a week because I'm going up to the Boundary Waters.

 

I got back from the BWCA and tried my best to work on it. But I found time and now I just have to get paint and primer on it and then secure it to the bed. I'm think about using topper clamps or something like it. But I'm happy with the results. Thanks for reading!

 

I put the rack in primer and flat black paint. I did 3 coats of primer and used 2 cans. I put 3 coats of flat black paint on it too.

 

Good Job, welding is so much fun to do, plus you can make a ton of things when you have the ability to weld

 

The locks are going through the rack. I drilled one hole for each lock and it works very well. I still have to drill holes to secure it to the bed rails, but I'm happy with it all. I was looking at topper clamps to hold it down.