Poor Man's Headache Rack installation

[slicer]

I have a bak revolver cover on my zr2. I had it on my old truck too, and the ATV bumping into it has ruined the top over time. It's not from me hitting it, it's from the ATV bumping/rubbing into it as I drive, suspension cycling, etc.

I devised this cheap headache rack to hopefully help prevent this from happening with my new cover. My ATV would be rubbing against the wood instead of the topper now. Bonus would be that it'd hold miscellaneous ATV-related gear in one spot (oil, straps, etc)

My cost was $0 because I used everything I had on hand around the garage. Old milk crate. scrap 3/4 lumber, leftover bolts and nuts.

What do you guys think of this creation?

 

[LSnTX]

I think you did good. Solves the immediate problem.

In case that milk crate cracks at some point, consider cutting a 2x6 that slides right into those cutouts into your bed half way up, the one for splitting your bed storage in half vertically, that might also give you some protection for your cover.

 

[NullNomad]

$0 garage parts mods are the BEST! All of us want to spend and build way past what our budgets can handle, as i always say… rigs are like a love affair, mostly between the rig and our wallets.

 

[8ball_99]

That should work. Over the years I've rigged up a bunch of things for hauling quads or motorcycles in beds, lol. You are a little brave trusting that tailgate though. I usually make my kid toss a couple of 2"x12" cut to length in his truck when he hauls his quad. Just to help spread the weight some. I've seen tailgates let go before. Heck I had a 08 Tundra that I hauled a RZR 800 in the bed. First time I hauled it on a 5 hour drive. I had two nice dents in the tailgate where the tires sat, lol.

 

[AXE]

Personally, I wouldn't carry a heavy quad like the Griz like that. Not only is it secured up front by "squishy" materials, but you have likely exceeded the weight limitation of the tailgate. When you bounce down the road, brake, accelerate, etc. it'll multiply forces by magnitudes. It'll work just fine, until it doesn't....... doesn't is usually only a hard brake or drainage dip away at 50 mph.

 

[ZR2NYC]

I have a bak revolver cover on my zr2. I had it on my old truck too, and the ATV bumping into it has ruined the top over time. It's not from me hitting it, it's from the ATV bumping/rubbing into it as I drive, suspension cycling, etc.

I devised this cheap headache rack to hopefully help prevent this from happening with my new cover. My ATV would be rubbing against the wood instead of the topper now. Bonus would be that it'd hold miscellaneous ATV-related gear in one spot (oil, straps, etc)

My cost was $0 because I used everything I had on hand around the garage. Old milk crate. scrap 3/4 lumber, leftover bolts and nuts.

What do you guys think of this creation?

i agree with @AXE thats a heavy load for tailgate.

 

[slicer]

Personally, I wouldn't carry a heavy quad like the Griz like that. Not only is it secured up front by "squishy" materials, but you have likely exceeded the weight limitation of the tailgate. When you bounce down the road, brake, accelerate, etc. it'll multiply forces by magnitudes. It'll work just fine, until it doesn't....... doesn't is usually only a hard brake or drainage dip away at 50 mph.

i agree with @AXE thats a heavy load for tailgate.

Interesting, because I've been doing this for years with my previous truck, never had issues. My quad is a 550cc if that makes any difference.

I don't want to pull or deal with a trailer. It's so easy to load on the truck. 2 ramps and done.

 

[GO2JAIL]

Google "Louisiana Guard Dog". I made one similar for my last truck, painted it to match and it was solid as a rock. However, with the shorter bed on my ZR2, I'm not chancing going down the road with that much weight on the tailgate. I bought a light duty 5X8 trailer and that's what I use now. Easier, safer to load, etc. And- I can fill up the truck bed with more crap.

 

[ZR2NYC]

Interesting, because I've been doing this for years with my previous truck, never had issues. My quad is a 550cc if that makes any difference.

I don't want to pull or deal with a trailer. It's so easy to load on the truck. 2 ramps and done.

im gonna say your quad is upwards of 700lbs. our 1500 trucks payload max is prob 1400lb in the bed. tailgate load may be 350. i say if its working for you, keep doing it, just keep an eye in it.

 

[XkenX]

Interesting, because I've been doing this for years with my previous truck, never had issues. My quad is a 550cc if that makes any difference.

I don't want to pull or deal with a trailer. It's so easy to load on the truck. 2 ramps and done.

Its a lot of times the bounce of the load, plus worn or rusty cables. Cables are a strand rope and funny how a little water wipes out the lubrication and forces of failure take over. Your weight doesnt sound that heavy. The old 2500 hd used to carry a 500lb rating per cable, I believe that gm doesnt commit to hard number any more. Weak link is cable wear. There are companies that make stuff like pics below. They turn your tailgate into ridged bar connection for those heavier loads that are marginal. It requires both component's. The tailgate tie down does slide in and out if used. On the flex tailgate it has a little sticker that says 170 kg load. That is at the flex part. I dont think 2 buddies sitting on there going to do anything, but 3 sitting there bouncing down road might tweak it

 

[slicer]

Google "Louisiana Guard Dog".

Interesting! Never knew about that. That would have worked great for my purposes.

 

[slicer]

Went out on an ATV park yesterday and it worked fabulous. You can see a lot of marks from the ATV's movement on the bed. The wood protected the cover from all of that. Here's some pics.

 

[ZR2NYC]

Went out on an ATV park yesterday and it worked fabulous. You can see a lot of marks from the ATV's movement on the bed. The wood protected the cover from all of that. Here's some pics.

very nice.