yukonjasper

Howdy,
This is a multi layered question and I hope you can help me.
i'm looking for a good - part time--removable - rack system to haul kayaks, canoes etc. There are several out there and I want to spend as little as possible to get it done. Here are the questions:
- What is the best rack system - stake pocket only (no drilling) - easy to store when not on the vehicle which will be 95% of the time.
- Can that be had for around $200-$300?
- do you have to drill and carve out the plastic rail covers over the stake pockets to accomplish this or are there aftermarket rail covers that expose the stake pockets?

I looked through some old posts and didn't see an answer. I hope you all can help me out with some thoughtful suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

Pauli18c

5.5ft bed, you will have to cut out the stake pockets.
6.5 foot bed, just pop the covers off

yukonjasper

yup its a 5.5ft bed. I was hoping that some aftermarket company made a model that would look better than me hacking up the OEM rail covers.

Any tricks to doing this so it looks OK? I'm thinking of drilling a hole, tracing the stake pocket while still on the truck, popping them off and cutting them out with a roto zip and finising with a dremmel.

Any idea what they cost to replace so if I screw up I know how much money I just wasted?

Pauli18c

This is about as much as I can help you as I have the 6.5ft bed

https://www.f150forum.com/f7/how-ins...ockets-208351/

RLXXI

$87.18 each + tax and shipping. Base part # 291A40 www.fordparts.com

.

Ts01

Here's mine...

Another angle...

Here's all done. I used a dremmel..
Hope that would help....

yukonjasper

So what brand and model of Rack did you guys end up installing?

I'm looking at a few on the interwebs and the one that seems nice and sturdy is the USRack stake pocket rack.
http://www.usrack.com/stake_pocket_rack.php

I wish the price were a little lower.

Anyone else have experience with this rack or another that is lower price and could tell me which they use and why they like it?

Thank you.

Great information on getting access to the stake pockets. Million Dollar idea for an aftermarket company out there would be rails already cut and finished that allows access to the stake pockets and also has a nice snap in cap when you don't need the access. I get 30% royalties for the idea

Agri-Cover, Inc.

Maybe our Adarac™ Truck Bed Rack System will give the result you want.



It uses a set of rails that attach on top of the bed rails, and then the racks mount to that. The rack rails are black and would blend in with the rail covers. It bolts to the stake pockets with no drilling.


If it looks good to you, I'd be happy to help you out. But if you're looking for something different, I won't bug you about it.

yukonjasper

Thanks for this, I have a Truxedo Low Profile tonneau cover already installed on my 5'6" bed with solid rail covers. Would it still work? I assume I'd still have to punch the rail covers to get it to work? Thanks for the great information.

yukonjasper

I see from the website that it would work but I'd have to punch the rails - don't think there is anything I can do about that. I did notice the cost was starting a little under $500. I'll keep in on the list but was hoping for something more enconomical.

thank you.