Was thinking about constructing drop-in stake-rack sides and front/back for my '02 2500 - Need to haul a bunch of boxes from TX to NY - no serious weight - just household goods.. Most of the stuff I find online looks like 1X6 rails (front/back) with 2x2 uprights or something similar - has anyone had any luck fabricating a rack themselves? Would really like to be able to load up to the roof level of the truck but really cannot without side/back supports. Also wondering if anyone makes a hardware kit of brackets that I could just purchase and then cut the lumber to fit - any thoughts?

 

If you want to save headaches, get the more expensive star-drive screws from the lumber store. They are hardened and self tapping. They go into pine like butter. A good drill will push them right through oak without snapping.

 

I made a set of racks but I used aluminum stakes and bolted on the 2x4 using 1/4" bolts. They are extremely strong and don't rattle except over rough roads. Great for hauling 1 cord of firewood.

 

i made some for my 1st gen, i'm not sure if the pockets are the same on the 02 because mine has rail caps, which i have yet to look under, but i put pieces of 1X2" tubing into the pockets, welded a nut on the soutside with a hole on the inside, bolted it thru the hole in the pocket with a washer, welded 1/4" X2" flat stock to it and screwed 2X8s to them. you can make a simple slide on back by using flat stock with slits which slide into each other also.

 

i made some with 2x4 stakes that i shave down to fit tight the screwed a sheet of plywood so its a half inch off the rails. works good i just use the bolt on hinges so i can put each piece on by itself and just drop a couple pins to hold it all together

 

Man, great ideas - thank you! Think I'll give it a go next week.. now to find a cheap flatbed trailer in the Houston area to haul my two motorcycles on!

 

Here is a pic of my truck with racks. I have since painted the Ram insert blue to match the truck, and removed the top board. [IMG]jpg[/IMG]

 

Here is a set of pics for my setup...



Close up of the post and fasteners...



Someone was asking about my setup now everyone can see it...

 

Where did you find the channel aluminum? Lowes / HD? Looks really nice! Definately a Cadillac Solution.

 

Sorry to say it's a local boat builder that sold it to me... You might have to hunt around for metal shops to find something like it...I fits the stake pcket fairly good. Just a little bit of movement to allow a single person to handle a single panel. There are two other boards that go across the front and bolt on as well.

Basically I seen the same set up on the boat builders truck and had to have a set...

It called "The Metal Shop" in Riggins Idaho...