Unistrut for Bed Rails/Bicycle Rack
08-30-2012, 09:49 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Unistrut for Bed Rails/Bicycle Rack
I'm wondering if anyone has done anything with unistrut in their truck beds. I want to fab up a rack to mount my bicycles. I have the holes in the sides of the bed to install a cargo management system so that is one possibility. I've also looked at using the stake pockets and have considered them as another option. I don't have access to weld so I'd like to avoid that if possible.
The key points are:
Bike racks are pricey for anything decent, and even then, it seems kinda weak with too many options for easy theft. Probably won't leave it unattended much, but if I wanna run in to grab post ride "drinks", I don't want it to be a 5 minute job for a thief.
Anyone ever used unistrut for this type of thing? I'd rather make as few trips to the hardware store as possible. And, I don't want to drill into any part of the bed.
The key points are:
- I'd like it to be bolted without drilling
- I'd like it to be removable if I need the full bed for something
- I don't want it flapping around
Bike racks are pricey for anything decent, and even then, it seems kinda weak with too many options for easy theft. Probably won't leave it unattended much, but if I wanna run in to grab post ride "drinks", I don't want it to be a 5 minute job for a thief.
Anyone ever used unistrut for this type of thing? I'd rather make as few trips to the hardware store as possible. And, I don't want to drill into any part of the bed.
08-30-2012, 09:56 PM
#2
Senior Member
I dont know about using strut for this sort of project, but strut is very strong, reasonably priced, and is almost like a lego set to put together
B-Line makes lots of hardware for strut and if you look at what they have you will probably find what ever you'll need to make your rack with what ever extra tie off points you could use
B-Line makes lots of hardware for strut and if you look at what they have you will probably find what ever you'll need to make your rack with what ever extra tie off points you could use
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vtatds (08-30-2012)
08-30-2012, 10:03 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I dont know about using strut for this sort of project, but strut is very strong, reasonably priced, and is almost like a lego set to put together
B-Line makes lots of hardware for strut and if you look at what they have you will probably find what ever you'll need to make your rack with what ever extra tie off points you could use
B-Line makes lots of hardware for strut and if you look at what they have you will probably find what ever you'll need to make your rack with what ever extra tie off points you could use
08-30-2012, 11:17 PM
#4
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Custom bike rack
I bought a 4 foot piece of steel from home depot for $10 and spent $1.25 on parts. I used the original holes. I love this set up, you lower the tail gate and the bike comes to you! Very easy loading and unloading.
08-30-2012, 11:22 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by xxxx51xxxx
I bought a 4 foot piece of steel from home depot for $10 and spent $1.25 on parts. I used the original holes. I love this set up, you lower the tail gate and the bike comes to you! Very easy loading and unloading.
08-31-2012, 01:00 AM
#7
Senior Member
Originally Posted by xxxx51xxxx
I bought a 4 foot piece of steel from home depot for $10 and spent $1.25 on parts. I used the original holes. I love this set up, you lower the tail gate and the bike comes to you! Very easy loading and unloading.
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08-31-2012, 09:31 AM
#8
08-31-2012, 08:54 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I looked around for some unistrut but didn't find the items I was looking for so I went with xxxx51xxxx's setup. I need to buy another piece of steel cause 4' wasn't quite enough for two.
I stacked some washers under the steel to help raise it up a little so the bolts under the bike mount wouldn't push against the inside of the tailgate. Here's some close-ups of my setup.
I stacked some washers under the steel to help raise it up a little so the bolts under the bike mount wouldn't push against the inside of the tailgate. Here's some close-ups of my setup.
08-31-2012, 09:20 PM
#10
Senior Member
So in the 3rd picture, the thing that the bike actually attaches to at the end of the fork, what is that? Just a random bracket with a dowel type thing that is free so it can swivel? I am just wondering what that other bracket is and if that is something that can be found at home depot or wherever or if it is a specialty part that is integrated into the homemade steel rail.
