need ladder rack plan

[dwfrailey]

i want to build a ladder rack for my 2005 f-150 long bed. any help/suggestions would be appreciated. i am pretty new to welding, so a few pointers from a couple of guys who have made a couple would be great too. thanks in advance

[wroughtnharv]

i want to build a ladder rack for my 2005 f-150 long bed. any help/suggestions would be appreciated. i am pretty new to welding, so a few pointers from a couple of guys who have made a couple would be great too. thanks in advance

The reason you haven't seen any replies probably is because the trades have changed and fewer light trucks are having to haul bulk to jobsites anymore.

Another could be because a half ton truck isn't much of a truck when it comes to hauliing bulk. Now I understand that half tons today have a higher GVW than some three quarter tons did twenty years ago, but they're still not mechanically equipped for serious loads.

What I look at when I'm considering a rack is the material to be hauled. Then the next thing is how to make the rack structurally sound without adding any more weight than is absolutely necessary.

Keep in mind your rack will have a significant effect on the fuel efficiency of your truck. You will be punching a much larger hole in the air.

I would discourage you from making a rack on your truck a learning to weld project. If a weld was to fail it might be one of our loved ones that becomes involved in the accident when it happens.

[dwfrailey]

thanks for the reply. there were some really useful pieces of information in there. it will be a lot easier building my ladder rack with all your helpful tips and suggestions. thanks again.

[Roger]

I saw a ladder rack in Hawaii that used scrolls as structural members while making a great looking rack.

[wroughtnharv]

thanks for the reply. there were some really useful pieces of information in there. it will be a lot easier building my ladder rack with all your helpful tips and suggestions. thanks again.

Always glad to help.

[Tom37]

wroughtnharv Not sure if you still need ideas but here is a few pics of the rack I built.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o277/keesfriend/weld%20pics/Image059-1.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o277/keesfriend/weld%20pics/Image058-1.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o277/keesfriend/weld%20pics/Image057-1.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o277/keesfriend/weld%20pics/Image056-1.jpg

[Tom37]

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o277/keesfriend/weld%20pics/Image055-1.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o277/keesfriend/weld%20pics/Image054-1.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o277/keesfriend/weld%20pics/Image053-1.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o277/keesfriend/weld%20pics/Image052-2.jpg

Some of the pics arent the greatest, maybe they can help maybe not. Good luck

Tom

[whateg0]

Tom,
That's a great idea for locking up the tools!

dwfrailey,
Not much in the way of advice for building the rack. Despite what Harv says, I think that a 1/2 ton truck can make a good service vehicle. Maybe there was another thread I missed where you said what you intended the truck for, but I see no reason a ladder rack wouldn't be useful, if say, you had a 16' extension ladder to tote around. Anyway, I'd Google ladder racks. There are a lot of different designs. Be careful where you place the leading edge. If it's in the wrong spot, you could get a lot of wind noise between it and the cab. Tom's toolbox lock is a neat idea. I will say that Harv is right about the safety thing. This isn't as critical as a trailer hitch, or a trailer for that matter, but it still needs to be well built. Many of us tend to overbuild just to make up for any possible weaknesses, but still be careful.

Dave

[whateg0]

Okay, searched and found another of your threads. 2x2x1/4 is pretty heavy, but I'd shy away from using angle. With material that heavy maybe it wouldn't be an issue, but pound for pound angle twists a lot more than tubing. Theoretically, it would only have to hold a ladder and some 2x4s, but if you have to climb up on top to tie something down, the irregular placement of your weight or the load as you climb up could cause it to want to twist and that's not what you want.

Do you already have the angle? If not 1.5x1.5 14ga or 11ga would probably be plenty strong and a lot lighter than the angle you have.

Just my 2.3¢.

Dave

[whateg0]

Might search here for headache racks. There have been a lot of those made.

Just another thought.

Dave

[mb_welder]

Tom, nice setup! The only thing I don't like about the toolbox lock is the exposed padlock. I'd be worried about some joe blow shmuck coming along with a pair of bolt cutters and ripping you off.

When I built my headache rack, used 1" x 2" tubing for the outer uprights and stake hole mounts, and 1 1/4" tubing foreverything else.





Hope this helps

[Chuck U&R]

Goggle is your friend -

http://images.google.com/images?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hl=en&q=ladder+rack&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2

[Chuck U&R]

woops - GOOGLE.

[Tom37]

Thanks for the nice words about the lock setup for the toolbox. Also I agree about the padlock, and that will change soon. The box itself does lock, but only enough to keep the honest guy out. I apologize for the lack of info on the rack.

1 1/4 14 ga was used on the horizontal. I stacked the bottom tube to offer a bit more support. I probably didnt need it but what the heck. The legs, which there is 3 on each side are built from 1/1/4 tube with 1/8 in wall. Again I am sure that was over kill. Everything was welded with 7018 dc. It was a good project to practice.

Thanks to my neighbor the legs lay inward to the angle of the cab, which I thought turned out looking very nice. Rather then the straight up from the bedside. I also made the rear and center cross brace removable for access.
Most racks I have seen have the angle under the legs with the lip down. I really didnt have much motive when I planned this other then I have single chain links welded to the top edge for tie-downs.

So far this rack has proved to be super strong. I brought home my top for the weld table atop the rack. This was 1/2 inch plate 36 inchs wide by 13 feet long. I dont know even a guess on weight but the 2 ton engine hoist really didnt want to pick it very well.

I may add, I dont think I would have hauled the steel that high in the air with a half ton. This pickup is pretty hefty in the springs even tho it says it is only a 3/4 ton. So far if I can get it on the rack and tie it, thats where it goes.

Having the full rack will for sure affect your millage. Mine went from 16 to 9 mpg. This was a real bad deal when gas was 3.90 a gal. Since I only drive this pick up for work the mileage change didnt hurt to bad. My gas figures in to every job, and any friends wanting me to haul for them get to fill it up when we finish. I am a nice guy and always start with a full tank.

[dwfrailey]

rack pics

finished my rack. thought you guys would like some pics. thanks for all your help. let me know what you think.

Will