Board Rack for Truck

collinsdon · Joined: 25 May 2000 Posts: 3

What type of board rack works well on a small pick-up (ranger?). Do most people make their own, or buy? thanks

JeffEarl · Joined: 03 May 2000 Posts: 3

I recently retired my trailer and sports car and bought a S-10, essentially the same size truck as the Ranger. This is what I did.
I bought a fiberglass low rider lid and ten installed Yakima racks on the top. I used the Yakima rails so that the racks would be adjustable and removeable. You can also just bold the plates directly to the lid (no rails=adjustment but still removeable). It works amazing. All my gear is locked inside the bed and the boards on top. Obviously lots of variations. You could mount the racks right to the bed rails of the truck and not buy the lid, or get a bed liner with the little 2x4 slots in it, use horizontal crossbeams to mount the racks.
Have fun
Jeff

victor · Joined: 03 Aug 1998 Posts: 478

I got some 1 square, hollow aluminum stock and cut a groove through one side with a table saw with metal cutting blade.
I screwed a piece on each rail. The cross bars are attached with screws and the same flat nuts you use for attaching your mast in the mast track. I used regular square steel tubing but with compact you can use the yakima cross bars that come coated with vinyl. These arent long enough for larger truck beds.

artofwindsurfing · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 182

I have a NISSAN pick up with a metal cap on the bed and a woodan aluminum box/rack on top of it. I always carry 6 boards on this small pick up. Everything is locked and safe and relatively light.

I would need to know what kind of truck you have in order to help you better,

Sylvain Pilon, windsurfing instructor,HI

and I would recommend getting

fiesta · Joined: 21 Jun 2000 Posts: 9

I have a glass cap with a Yakama rack that works nice. I used bolt on rain gutter brackets. But before the cap was made I simiply cut a 2x4 to fit snugly the width of the bed under the edge of bed. Then cut a 2x4 long enough to fit onto of the bed and placed bolts and nut to hold in place. I used foam as not to scratch the truck or the boards. This is a nice set up because you can use the entire bed for sails and stuff and open the tail gate without moving the boards - using two of the racks I described. Simply lossen the bolts and turn the racks sideways to remove from the truck bed.