'Hacked' Thule TracRac SR for Maverick (with cantilever)

[Wojty]

My maverick is a work truck (carpenter) and as such will need to frequently carry 8' and 10' material with a bed full of tools, and occasionally 12' and 16' items, including my 34' extension ladder.

I wanted to find something that was tonneau compatible and didn't rely on mounting on/to the roof for a variety of reasons. Cantilever style racks were appealing (rack-it was first to come to mind, but their nearest dealer is several hours away and they weren't sure they could do a drill install that would keep tonneau compatibility…).

I saw a thread about someone modifying the TracRac to work on a smaller truck and it made me want to try it on my mav. An expensive gamble, but its a tax write off if all else fails!

Lots of cutting and measuring later, it fits like a dream and the adjustability of being able to slide the racks on/off or different positions has already been helpful.

Willing to do a longer write up of the process if anyone is interested, but wanted to share the finished product first. (Ignore the disaster of our garden in the background, 7 weeks of travel has taken its toll!)

Sponsored

 

[bautek_mn]

That looks pretty rad! How did the cost stack up against something like Truxedo's Elevate rails and rack + a single roof bar up front?

The wife is bugging me about canoes and transporting longer lumber up top is also very appealing.

 

[Maverickman74]

Nice! As far as track racks. I I have personally hauled 3-250lb 60ft long pieces of bamboo up a 1/2 mile uneven dirt road on a pair of regular TracRac on a 6ft bed. They are tough.

 

[Wojty]

That looks pretty rad! How did the cost stack up against something like Truxedo's Elevate rails and rack + a single roof bar up front?

The wife is bugging me about canoes and transporting longer lumber up top is also very appealing.

I'm in for just a hair over $2k with rack + tonneau, with 90% of that being the Thule tax in getting the TracRac. I got a cheapo gator rollup cover because I just need to keep tools moderately dry and wanted something I knew wouldn't have interference issues with the legs of the rack, which a hard top certainly would.

Elevate had me at $1300 or so without anything on the cab. Doing the 'endorsed' yakima clamp ons would push into $2200ish but there are lots of cheaper options.

Ultimately I was swayed by the weight rating. While I won't do it every day, there are plenty of occasions hauling LVLs and the like where the 500lbs road limit of the elevate would make me uncomfortable.

 

[Maverickman74]

I'm in for just a hair over $2k with rack + tonneau, with 90% of that being the Thule tax in getting the TracRac. I got a cheapo gator rollup cover because I just need to keep tools moderately dry and wanted something I knew wouldn't have interference issues with the legs of the rack, which a hard top certainly would.

Elevate had me at $1300 or so without anything on the cab. Doing the 'endorsed' yakima clamp ons would push into $2200ish but there are lots of cheaper options.

Ultimately I was swayed by the weight rating. While I won't do it every day, there are plenty of occasions hauling LVLs and the like where the 500lbs road limit of the elevate would make me uncomfortable.

I will try to dig up some pictures this weekend but man have I loaded up tracracs with some crazy loads. You will be happy with them.

 

[computerpulse]

My maverick is a work truck (carpenter) and as such will need to frequently carry 8' and 10' material with a bed full of tools, and occasionally 12' and 16' items, including my 34' extension ladder.

I wanted to find something that was tonneau compatible and didn't rely on mounting on/to the roof for a variety of reasons. Cantilever style racks were appealing (rack-it was first to come to mind, but their nearest dealer is several hours away and they weren't sure they could do a drill install that would keep tonneau compatibility…).

I saw a thread about someone modifying the TracRac to work on a smaller truck and it made me want to try it on my mav. An expensive gamble, but its a tax write off if all else fails!

Lots of cutting and measuring later, it fits like a dream and the adjustability of being able to slide the racks on/off or different positions has already been helpful.

Willing to do a longer write up of the process if anyone is interested, but wanted to share the finished product first. (Ignore the disaster of our garden in the background, 7 weeks of travel has taken its toll!)

I like it a lot

 

[MetalsGeek]

I rolled my own folding ladder rack using the Truxedo Elevate rails for a base. I'm now looking for a hard folding tonneau that will fit between them (55" max width) AND that simply clamps on top. I reach over the sides a lot and all the covers that require their own clamp-on rails get in the way. Most tonneaus do not publish this dimension, so if anyone has a suggestion, RSVP!

 

[glassman]

they are great racks.

I heavily modded mine on my Colorado a few years back and had it powder coated closely to match my paint.

 

[marp]

What track rails did you use?

 

[bdaniel230]

My maverick is a work truck (carpenter) and as such will need to frequently carry 8' and 10' material with a bed full of tools, and occasionally 12' and 16' items, including my 34' extension ladder.

I wanted to find something that was tonneau compatible and didn't rely on mounting on/to the roof for a variety of reasons. Cantilever style racks were appealing (rack-it was first to come to mind, but their nearest dealer is several hours away and they weren't sure they could do a drill install that would keep tonneau compatibility…).

I saw a thread about someone modifying the TracRac to work on a smaller truck and it made me want to try it on my mav. An expensive gamble, but its a tax write off if all else fails!

Lots of cutting and measuring later, it fits like a dream and the adjustability of being able to slide the racks on/off or different positions has already been helpful.

Willing to do a longer write up of the process if anyone is interested, but wanted to share the finished product first. (Ignore the disaster of our garden in the background, 7 weeks of travel has taken its toll!)

I would absolutely like to know how you pulled it off. I have the hard trifold tonneau and I can see the room for a thin aluminum T-track but it is very close to the edge and with the snow and splash I get in the winter I really want to keep it away from the freeze and thaw which usually causes damage to things like rails.

 

[Wojty]

What track rails did you use?

Rails are the standard Thule ones that comes with the full kit. I had to cut off about 18", and then let them run just about flush with the tailgate, and trimmed the black plastic at the back of the cab to get maximum length for the rails.

I would absolutely like to know how you pulled it off. I have the hard trifold tonneau and I can see the room for a thin aluminum T-track but it is very close to the edge and with the snow and splash I get in the winter I really want to keep it away from the freeze and thaw which usually causes damage to things like rails.

The way the unibody bed frame goes together, none of the pre-drilled holes in the rails lined up with the narrow portion available inside the bed itself. I pulled the wheel well liner and found some room up inside that space that would have allowed the bolts to come through, but decided against it for accessibility reasons.

I had to drill new holes in the rails, and even they they barely lined up inside that narrow overhang within the bed. The tonneau is a clamp on style that goes between the sides of the bed, and you can see in the attached photo it is still pretty tight clearance between edge of cover and beginning of rail.

Can take more detailed photos, these are just some from install day.

 

[Irone]

Looking at the same setup. Wish it was offered in black

 

[Ren E Gade]

Looking at the same setup. Wish it was offered in black

I've seen pics of this setup with a roof rack set at the same height.

 

[Maverickorange]

I am very interested in modifying a tracrac SR. Can I ask, was it easy to cut down the uprights? can they just be cut and re threaded?
Thanks for any help

 

[Wojty]

I am very interested in modifying a tracrac SR. Can I ask, was it easy to cut down the uprights? can they just be cut and re threaded?
Thanks for any help

The hardest part was breaking the thread lock on the existing bolts. The top and bottom pieces are both attached with threaded bolts, so once those are out, it’s just an aluminum extrusion that was easy to cut on the chop saw. The holes were already the right size for re-tapping without having to re-drill them or anything. Will look up the thread size when I get home.

edit: they are 3/8-16 bolts.

Sponsored