Best ladder rack! Rack-It installed

[PlantMan]

Really nice rack. Anyone thinking of purchasing needs to check with your local rack-it dealers. All the dealers near me only sell the modular racks, not the fully welded versions.

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[Moby]

I wonder what the difference in weight is between the aluminum and the steel ?

 

[Moby]

Any idea if this will fit with a hard cover/Roll up? Best rack I have seen yet.

Go to their website . They sell what they call a camper shell rack . It is offset ,so just flat angle down the sides

 

[fishfund]

I wonder what the difference in weight is between the aluminum and the steel ?

I was told by the sales rep 75-100 pounds less for the aluminum

 

[Moby]

I was told by the sales rep 75-100 pounds less for the aluminum

Wow that's a lot . Funny from what I understand the aluminum is cheaper as well.

 

[fishfund]

The aluminum is cheaper. I think it holds less weight though. I’m not sure. I would call and ask.

 

[FloodingdowninTX]

Also, the aluminum extends less forward over the cab due to structural engineering stuff according to their website, so it is smaller. Must presumably bear less, and apparently needs extra wind buffers to reduce noise on account of this shortcoming, so to speak.

 

[helderman86]

Looks nice! Wonder how much it weighs/affects payload capacity. I saw the harbor freight version which is similar but a little different on the road a while back on a different truck model and the front bounced down the highway quite a bit. Have you noticed a lot of rack bounce in the front?

I like this but I think I would personally be better serviced with 4 rack bars - 2 across the bed and two across the roof - all level. That way I don't have a lot of steel, can take them off easily, can still load long loads although tying down is more tricky, and can buy attachments for special loads like bicycles. The nice thing about the Maverick being unibody is that the bed doesn't free-float from the cab so we can extend loads over bars attached directly to the cab roof. Note the roof can't handle a lot of weight but that's not an issue for me as I'll never go over 100lbs.

I just bought the harbor freight haul master 800 ladder rack. It’s made to be universal all the way up to 8’ beds. I started tearing into my new truck today and have had to cut away at the plastic cover over the bed rails and couldn’t use the included “J- hooks”. The bed rails are too narrow for it to work. So I also had to drill into the bed rails and then go to menards (my only local hardware store in northern illinois where I live), and buy stainless steel hex bolts, washers, lock washers and nuts. I’m going to start recording my steps and upload it to YouTube. Hopefully I’ll figure out how to do that this week and I can upload my steps, materials bought, costs, and show how it looks and functions and help other cheapskates like myself know if it’s a good fit. So far it’s feeling very promising. I’m very excited to get this done and see how it looks. I’m thinking about copying the whole cotter pin thing on the rear bar by drilling into the harbor freight ladder rack. That’s really smart and simple. Not sure if I should just post on this thread or make my own thread. Maybe I can do both and post that thread here. Kinda a noob at forums so we will see.

Right now harbor freight has the ladder rack on sale for $250. I’ll try and post the coupon. It’s normally $310!

 

[helderman86]

I hope I’m posting the thread to my harbor freight ladder rack correctly.

https://www.mavericktruckclub.com/forum/threads/harbor-freight-haulmaster-800-ladder-rack.22428/

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Also, the aluminum extends less forward over the cab due to structural engineering stuff according to their website, so it is smaller. Must presumably bear less, and apparently needs extra wind buffers to reduce noise on account of this shortcoming, so to speak.

The front cross bar needs to be out over the windshield at least 3 or 4 inches and have a rounded leading edge to cut down the noise. Do not make it wide enough to create a wing with lift!

 

[helderman86]

I did it but it’s not great.

 

[nathanchrisman]

I’m about to pull the trigger on ordering a Rackit. The weight of the aluminum is attractive, but it has an extra support bar in the middle of the bed that is not quick to remove. The price through my local dealer is identical. Will update as things change.

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