Decided to build a bike rack

[Midnite-CTD]

I wasn't sure where this thread fit best, so mods feel free to move it

After digging around on the internet for ideas for hauling a couple of mountain bikes in the back of the truck (with topper), I decided to come up with my own design, mostly because of what I had lying around for material vs buying PVC or whatever else. Some have made some very cool PVC bike racks though, and I may still build one of those to haul more bikes if the need arises... but I like that I won't have to climb in the back to secure the bikes with this one.



This is a quick mock up before I start to bolt it all together. Once I have it all together I'll probably paint it black to match the truck and I'll also be adding some rubber feet to help keep it from sliding around. I'm not to keen on bolting anything to the truck just yet.

Let me know what you guys think or any ideas you have to improve it?

 

[jadocs]

Nice I'd like to see how it fits in the bed. Keep the pics coming.

 

[14hemiexpress]

Looks good to me, I don't know much about bike racks but I'm assumeing remove front wheel and it locks in on the rack?

 

[sbarron]

Cool idea. Standing by for more pictures.

 

[EagleChief]

How long is that? Just out of curiousity, do you really need the back portion? I guess, since it's just going to sit in the bed, you can use it for stability. I have the same mounts, just put them on a piece of particle board.

 

[Zeak]

I think you are putting too much into it. I used the same type of mounts (cheaper versions) and just screwed them to a 2X2. Has worked flawless for a few years and still use it when I don't use my hitch rack. What you have there definitely looks better and if your just wanting to tinker on something is all good, but a 2X2 or 4 does the job just fine and is easier to store. You could also just screw the mounts to the front Al piece if you don't have any wood lying around.

 

[VegasDragger45]

Looks good, Are you going to mount it so the front tires are facing the tailgate? If it has a topper I was thinking then you could slide this out onto the tailgate the hook up the front tires. I like it tho

 

[jadocs]

Now that I look at it the op may be trying to have the entire rack elevated to the height of the bed, hence the tracks?

 

[Zeak]

I believe it is meant to set in the bed since he has topper on the truck.

 

[sbarron]

Good use for an old set of crutches...lol

 

[TruckNut]

I like the look. Mine looks more like Frankenstein's monster as I took a hitch mount Saris and bolted some 2X4's to it so it sets in the bed. The 5'7" bed forces me to mount my bike at angle as it's a 29" mountain bike and just over 5'7". Keep us posted!!

 

[jadocs]

I believe it is meant to set in the bed since he has topper on the truck.

I think you are right. The bar would butt up against each side of the bed on the inside.

 

[QwikKota]

I like the look. Mine looks more like Frankenstein's monster as I took a hitch mount Saris and bolted some 2X4's to it so it sets in the bed. The 5'7" bed forces me to mount my bike at angle as it's a 29" mountain bike and just over 5'7". Keep us posted!!

Things like that are what baffles me about seeing so many short beds on the road. I had a 10' piece of PVC hanging out of my bed last week, full bed was barely big enough to keep from being a wagging tail out back.

 

[jadocs]

If you guys are looking for the best bike rack bar none. Look at 1UpUSA. In 4 bike mode each tray is rated to over 50lbs (for a total of 200lbs). If you adjust it to 2 or 3 bike mode, the weight rating is 75lbs per tray. Super sturdy and quick and easy to take bikes on and off. No top tube hooks or any BS bars to adjust. No wheel removals, bike is secured by the wheels.

 

[Midnite-CTD]

Thanks for all the comments guys! 12 hour workday didn't let me work on it at all, so maybe tomorrow night.

I realize there are a lot simpler ways to go about this, but I love to tinker around in the garage anyways, and anyone can screw those mounts to a piece of wood. (No offence meant to those who have.) And I'm kind of OCD about how my truck looks and wanted something that looked a little better than that. And I like the challenge of fabricating something from scratch since I really have no fabrication skills to brag about. (I'm an electrician by trade)

The rails are more for stability than anything else, but I also like that I'll be able to push the bikes in from the tailgate and have them sit straight, especially if I pack gear around the bikes, should be able to pull them out and put them back in without too much hassle.

Or, like Vegasdragger suggested, I could fasten the bikes down on the tailgate and then push the whole thing in... never thought about that before.

sbarron, I made the rails from 1" conduit, but they do look like crutches!

Thanks again guys! Its as much fun sharing the idea with a good group of guys as it is building it!

 

[Midnite-CTD]

If you guys are looking for the best bike rack bar none. Look at 1UpUSA. In 4 bike mode each tray is rated to over 50lbs (for a total of 200lbs). If you adjust it to 2 or 3 bike mode, the weight rating is 75lbs per tray. Super sturdy and quick and easy to take bikes on and off. No top tube hooks or any BS bars to adjust. No wheel removals, bike is secured by the wheels.

I like those racks, but they aren't a lot of good to those of us yanking tandem trailers around for holidays... glad you like it though!

 

[sbarron]

I like them being inside the topper. My experience with the receiver racks means a filthy bike...lol

 

[Midnite-CTD]

Got it all bolted together today and I'm pretty happy with the results. I still want to paint it black to match the truck and put better feet on it, but it will do for now.

 

[jadocs]

Very nicely done!

 

[sbarron]

Pretty sharp! What anchors it to the truck bed?