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Ladder rack

37K views 32 replies 19 participants last post by  BlackBearLadder  
#1 ·
Hello everyone.

I'm in search for a heavy duty ladder rack for my new f250, regular cab long bed. I've used rack-it fork lift loadable before. Looks slim & nice. Also, current truck (for sale) has a system one aluminum rack & tool boxes. Looks nice, but not very heavy duty.

Also looking at 2 square tube rack. Similar style they have on service box trucks. These are powder coated. ~$1000

Question is: which one you think is better looking? Truck is white, debating if rack should be white too. I'll spray the bed in black. So if round tube (rack-it) then it'll be black. But I'm undecided on color if I go w square tubes

Anyone cares to share some photos?

Thanks

Nhi
 
#27 ·
I was going to suggest those. I've got a cheap a$$ rack on my current truck, all I carry on it is ladders ... materials are delivered, or go in a trailer or the bed sometimes - I've got a single cab, so 8' goods fit with the gate closed. I've had as much as 6 square of shingles (about 3200 lb) in there too, and it handles it just fine - close to the limit for a my truck though.
 
#5 ·
i had a system one on my van and loved it.

i now have a trac rac G2 on my pickup and i love that too. what swayed me was the the trac rac now has straps you can bolt on which are actually much better then the system one straps.... this is my first impression as i have only had them for about a month.

http://www.orsracksdirect.com/tracrac-cargo-buckle.html
 
#9 ·
I got my rack from him a couple years ago. Stuart is a very nice guy to deal with. The will ship the rack right to your door or I picked mine up at the nearest freight place. I have no complaints, I acctually just had about 1500lbs of 16' decking on the rack the other day the rack didn't even know it was there. The other nice thing about them is he uses anodized aluminum, so it won't get that faded dirty look. After two years mine still shines.

Dave


Image
 
#7 ·
For big loads I usually have them delivered too. But some time it's ether shorted, miscounted, or smaller jobs. For my system one's, it becomes really shaky only with about 12-15 of 2x10-20. Because everything is bolted, not weld.

I'm double thinking about keeping again. I just wanted a forklift loadable one, but that's probably not a need, a "want" only. Maybe if I plan things better, a more heavy duty rack is not necessary.
 
#8 ·
You have to remember that 1000 lbs is alot of weight to be putting on a sheet metal truck bed. And they arent beefing up these truck beds every model year. I see some guys with the tool boxes on the rails as well as tue rack. Just insane the amount of weight on the bed rails. If you want to carry real weight, get a flatbed and rack and load it up.
 
#10 ·
A local welder in business for over 45 years does most contractor rigs around here. He'll make you anything you want, but has standard designs for trucks and vans.

I asked him how much will they hold - he smiles and says "whatever you put up there" :laughing:

Thank god, cause I have on several occasions hauled local Ipe decking "down the shore" - about a 60 mile jaunt for me.

Regardless, done well, these racks will last a lifetime.

Rack sits on 3x4x1/4" angle iron which is bolted and welded around the rail of the truck. Removable back bar, window screen (saved my life once with a load of block) and stone guard extension on roof for gravel and dirt pick-up.

I helped my nephew install his system one and it just felt flimsy to me :blink:
 

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#19 ·
What your sign board made of? aluminum? Looks nice.

I plan to do similar thing on my system one rack, but it'll be between the legs 'cause I'm not planning to insall the boxes back.

Was thinking about wrap the truck, but now my dealer has a "total care" package that re-touch/renew any scratches & dents, no deductible for $400/in 5 years. :) So I think I just keep it like that so I can just bring it in whenever it look scratchy.

Nhi

A local welder in business for over 45 years does most contractor rigs around here. He'll make you anything you want, but has standard designs for trucks and vans.
...
...
I helped my nephew install his system one and it just felt flimsy to me :blink:
 
#12 ·
how much are those ryderracks? It seems like the rear cross bar is not removable. Can it be done? Mine needs to be removable. We load tall stuffs all the time.

I'm thinking about getting a trailer, so my System One tool boxes won't be needed anymore. I took them out of my system one aluminum rack last light, shake the rack a bit, and it's really shaky. :( flimsy. I was thinking of keeping my system one rack to save the hassle of selling old rack & getting a new one. But still not really happy with the sectional part of it (vs one piece).

About the load limit, my truck listed at 4290 lbs payload, definitely not 1500. :) and occassionally, being able to carry a heavy load is a big plus. Also, you don't wanna push the limit all the time.

Thanks again.

Nhi
 
#16 ·
thanks everyone.

I moved my system one rack over my new truck today. Tighten the supports for rear cross bar and the whole rack becomes alot more rigid now. I'm happy with that. The only thing is it takes a while to remove & reinstall this cross bar when needed. I'll try (with better planning) to minimize the chances of this happening.

So for now I'm keeping the rack. Some of the pluses are: I don't have to try to sell it, it still has 4 tie down winches, so it'll save me quite a bit of money. How do I make it looks new again? :thumbup:

I still think the ryder rack looks real good though, and it's one piece. It's just quite expensive once everything is said & done, & delivered. Probably $1600-$1700.

Now who wants to buy my System One tool boxes? :laughing:

Nhi
 
#20 ·
I always made my own ladder racks so that I got exactly what I wanted, and for heavy loads I would recommend mounting the rack through the bedsides and down to the frame. You have to make some alterations to the bed, but it gives you a much more stable base.
 
#22 ·
I have access to sign supply store. I'll ask them about it. Having my logo remade right now. Hopefull it'll come out okay.

I'm still thinking hard about putting a sign on side of the ladder rack vs truck body. Has anyone had it done? Pictures please?!

Thanks.

Nhi
 
#25 ·
If you don't take the rear bar out that frequently, system one rack is really nice and sturdy. Taking out the rear bar takes about 1.5-2 minutes. But putting it back probably double that.

The boxes are really really really nice and functional. I just got a trailer so no need for them any more, I'm selling them. Or else, they're the best.

skillman said:
My last truck i had TracRac aluminum racks. Was thinking of the system one for my new ford super duty With tool boxes,

:rolleyes:Been just doing hill billie style since i cant pick something.
 
#26 ·
Morning Wood said:
You have to remember that 1000 lbs is alot of weight to be putting on a sheet metal truck bed. And they arent beefing up these truck beds every model year. I see some guys with the tool boxes on the rails as well as tue rack. Just insane the amount of weight on the bed rails. If you want to carry real weight, get a flatbed and rack and load it up.
Well, I guess I need to bite my tongue. I just bought some used boxes for my system one rack. Dont plan on loading them up, but they will have some weight in them anyway
 
#28 ·
I have the TracRac similar to the one they sell at lowes only it slides from front to back. Slick setup:thumbsup:

The only thing I don't like is that my trailer sits higher than the rack, so it limits what I can carry when I have the trailer.

I am now looking for a trailer rack.
 

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#31 ·
#33 ·
the ryder racks look really cool. We have used Kargo Master pro 2 for deliveries for years and have had very good luck. Be careful of your bed rail capacity which will be listed by the manufacturer of the truck (chevy is 800lbs. even if the rack is good for 1700lbs.) - we recommend to our customers that you use a rack with long foot plates or a full length bed rail kit on gm and toyota trucks. We learned the hard way after bending up a few gm beds... We have also had excellent luck with Trac Rac.