Ok,
I know these are typically a bad idea and shot down regularly, but..I’m going to rig up a temporary ladder rack to use on my 2ndary truck as my main work rig with the steel ladder rack is off the road for a few weeks.
I’m trying to decide between using some clear Douglas Fir, clear Spruce, or Teak that I have cut-offs off in the shop. I’m going to make it so the posts fit precisely in the stake pockets and bolt them through the side of the stake pockets there, then also make a diagonal brace between the wood crossbar and the stake. Bolt everything together with some leftover stainless bolts I have in the shop. Also going to run some leftover steel cable to the top of each post to the middle stake pocket and tension it, if I have enough left over also run a cable and tension it to the bed floor tie-down. I think it will be overbuilt for 4 weeks of light use and I have all the material so it won’t cost anything.
It won’t be carrying much in the way of weight and I always use ratcheting tie downs to secure my loads, all it will have on it will be a dozen or so hardiplanks, maybe a ladder or two, or a few 2x4s or trim lumber(not all at the same time. Any input anyone has on the wood species they think I should use or a design modification please chip in.
Thanks.
Replies
How temporary is temporary ? I'm not a pro by any means, but when I had to return some rented scaffolding and a 24 foot walk board on my pickup, I assembled one section of scaffolding, and strapped the walk board to it - voila ! I was good to go.
For a week or three, this might be an easy answer.
Greg
Greg, That's a great idea I hadn't thought of...unfortunately all my pipe staging is on a wall paneling job and won't be free for probably all of 2 months. About as long as I'll be needing the ladder rack :( I'd consider buying more but I'm trying to use up the scrap in the shop for it if I can.
If it is only temporary, why would it matter?
You mean like pine 2x4s?
I had a 2x4 pine rack on my 79 ford truck. It worked well. I made it to haul some 16' masonite siding. I think the rack lasted as long as the siding. I took it off when I went to sell the truck because it made a very ugly truck even uglier.
Sometimes temporary has a way of becoming more permanent, while ideally I'll be selling this truck in the next 2 months things often don't work out that way. Figured I'd build the rack in a manner that it would continue to function if it's still there in 6 months...and not look like such an eyesore my customer's cringe.
Sometimes temporary has a way of becoming more permanent
heh, that's the voice of experience talking there.
I think you are right in spending some time building it.
Seen trucks going down the road with homemade racks on it that contained nice joints and curves that made it attractive. Almost as if advertising their craft.
My rack would have looked better if it had a coat of paint on it. This was not the kind of a truck anyone would use for a company vehicle. It just kept going, probably had over 500,000 miles on it, and was rusted to pieces. I sold it to a guy who drove it for a couple years, but the engine was leaking a lot of oil, so he sold it. Probably still running somewhere.
you'll be putting wooden bumpers on next : )View Image
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you'll be putting wooden bumpers on next : )
Had a 55 Ford pickup with 2x6 front.
Joe H
I already made temporary engine mounts out of Azek one day when the motor mount broke on the way to work so I'm halfway there.
Sure
I wouldn't even do this temporarily. To me it's just not worth it safety wise.
Scan Craigslist for used racks. I see them ALL the time.
Saw this on sale for around 59.00, see attached link:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=66187
got to be easier and quicker than building one.
Doc,Thanks for the link I was about to cut up some nice Douglas Fir and make one up. The link shows 99 but I'll see if I can score it for 59, I'm going to call the local stores tommorow to see if anyone has it.
No sweat, good luck.
So, how'd ya make out?