Tonneau Rack?
Posted: Thu Sep 25, 2008 4:40 pm
As I was messing around with the truck I thought it would be cool to have a rack for stuff. I didn't want to toss it up on the roof when there is a lot of space over the tonneau. So I started to think about a rack for the tonneau cover
Below is a link to a 'rough' design I drafted up this morning. It is about 18" h at the front, 9" h at the rear, 55" l and 55" wide. The rack is wide enough to hold a set of tires standing up - I thought it was a handy idea. This is also why the side is raised near the front. For the bottom and front I thought a mesh would be good to stop stuff from falling through or rolling through the rear window.
Tonneau Rack
A couple of things I need to work out. The first is the material. Square steel tubing would probably be out of the question for weight reasons unless I can get some thinner walled stock. So for weight I was thinking of square aluminum stock but this raises its own issues (not many can weld aluminum).
Welding is another issue as there are a lot. Rough count is around 100 welded joints
Another item I need to work out how to gain access to the bed with the rack mounted. Once loaded lifting the tonneau is out of the question. Even if the rack was not loaded lifting the tonneau will cause the rack to punch through the rear window. So I need to work out a way that would let me unlock and slide the rack back. It will have to move back enough so that when the tonneau is lifted the rack clears the rear window.
Of course the rack would have to be emptied to lift the tonneau. This is okay as I plan to use the rack mainly for transporting stuff I don't normally do (ex. hauling stuff to AW). The stuff I haul day-to-day would still go in the bed.
The last thing to figure out and the easiest is spacing/support so the rack sits level and flush with the not-flat tonneau cover.
Maybe this is a fleeting idea cause now I an thinking it would be easier to sell the tonneau and buy a cap.
BTW - if you need any plans drafted up give me a shout.
Below is a link to a 'rough' design I drafted up this morning. It is about 18" h at the front, 9" h at the rear, 55" l and 55" wide. The rack is wide enough to hold a set of tires standing up - I thought it was a handy idea. This is also why the side is raised near the front. For the bottom and front I thought a mesh would be good to stop stuff from falling through or rolling through the rear window.
Tonneau Rack
A couple of things I need to work out. The first is the material. Square steel tubing would probably be out of the question for weight reasons unless I can get some thinner walled stock. So for weight I was thinking of square aluminum stock but this raises its own issues (not many can weld aluminum).
Welding is another issue as there are a lot. Rough count is around 100 welded joints
Another item I need to work out how to gain access to the bed with the rack mounted. Once loaded lifting the tonneau is out of the question. Even if the rack was not loaded lifting the tonneau will cause the rack to punch through the rear window. So I need to work out a way that would let me unlock and slide the rack back. It will have to move back enough so that when the tonneau is lifted the rack clears the rear window.
Of course the rack would have to be emptied to lift the tonneau. This is okay as I plan to use the rack mainly for transporting stuff I don't normally do (ex. hauling stuff to AW). The stuff I haul day-to-day would still go in the bed.
The last thing to figure out and the easiest is spacing/support so the rack sits level and flush with the not-flat tonneau cover.
Maybe this is a fleeting idea cause now I an thinking it would be easier to sell the tonneau and buy a cap.
BTW - if you need any plans drafted up give me a shout.