ATV Quad Rack for Truck Bed

[Boaring1961]

I have a 2005 Quad cab with the short bed and my Honda Foreman 500 will fit into the bed, but I have to keep the tailgate down. Not a big deal for most, but I have a TireGate (http://www.tiregate.com/hg-series/) on my truck which requires the tailgate to be up in order for the tiregate to shut. So, I am thinking of building an elevated rack for my ATV, kind of like, but different then this: http://www.monsterhauler.com/rackphotos.html.



Instead of building the frame that sits in the bed I had another idea and wanted to see what TDR folks thought.



I was thinking of welding together cross bars that would span the bed from driver's to passenger's side, but instead of riding in the bottom of the bed they'd sit on top of the bed rails and I'd have metal stock going straight down (2-3 inches) into the stake side pockets in order to prevent movement. I'd then do something similar to this, http://www.monsterhauler.com/pages/d2lg.html, with turnbuckles and chain to secure the rack to the truck. The ATV tires would then ride on HD grip strut (http://www.mcnichols.com/images/mediabin/products/productSize/24H2201012.jpeg) mounted perpendicular to these cross bars. The quad would also then be secured with ratchet straps the the tie down locations in the bed.



I'm sure this would as secure and strong as anything out there, but... my concerns is whether or not such a system would be too much weight riding on the bed rails? The quad probably weighs around 600 lbs and I'd be driving on both highway and rocky/dirt roads getting into my hunting areas. I can easily build one like the Monster Hauler, but you loose so much storage space under in the bed for ice chests and gear. This is another idea and it looks like it is riding on just the bed rails, but it's a little to pricey for my wallet (http://www.diamondbackcovers.com/atv-carrier/atv-carrier/packages.php).



Thanks

 

[mfurrh55]

I had a friend who built a rack cross ways on the bed, he carried two 4 wheelers up there and put all his other hunting gear underneath it, had a set of ramps that slid under too, drove the 4 wheelers up on the racks and tied em down, They were sideways, just a thought, Monte

 

[DonaldCopenhaver]

You should check out Diamondback covers. If anything it will give you good ideas for your homebrew model. http://www.diamondbackcovers.com/

 

[JR]

They manufacture racks that lay flat across the bed rails for 2 atv's so I would be comfortable with fabbing one up similar for a smaller machine like youve got. However I would probably fab some support legs underneath it out of some angle or maybe even some pipe with say 3"x3" pads or feet to support some of the weight in the center. I think it would stiffen it up quite a bit and take some of the stress off the bed rails and you could still slide coolers and gear underneath.

 

[Boaring1961]

d4l,

I was thinking the same thing with regards to a center support. If I had two crossbars and then one center support for each one they would be holding most of the weight likely. Now I need to buy a welder. I'm thinking of getting a Millermatic 211 MIG welder for this project and a couple of others I have.

 

[JR]

Miller makes good equipment. The 211 if Im not mistaken is rated for up to 3/8" plate, so that should be more than adequate for use around the shop. Not sure if the machine comes with a regulator and gauge or not but I would recomend running straight wire with gas shield over flux core. Flux core is ok, but its more $$$ and Ive seen it go bad if it sits around for a while in a moist environment and then you have a hell of a time trying to weld anything that could be considered representable. I generally just buy the plain wire and a bottle of gas lasts a looong time

 

[Boaring1961]

d4l,

The 211 comes with a regulator and a gauge (http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/product.php?model=M00245).

I haven't heard one bad thing about this unit. Now I just need to find a way to get it and not let the wife know. She knows that I just bought a new Remington 700 CDL SF and I don't want to cause any tension in the household.

 

[JR]

d4l,



The 211 comes with a regulator and a gauge (http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/product.php?model=M00245).



I haven't heard one bad thing about this unit. Now I just need to find a way to get it and not let the wife know. She knows that I just bought a new Remington 700 CDL SF and I don't want to cause any tension in the household.

Just tell her it will be your very early christmas present

 

[BIGNASTY]

Had a Miller wire feed welder worked fine but before we moved to MT I picked up a Lincoln SA 200 welder so much better is it, than the wire feed took a bit to get use to the kind of stick to use and power to use and welding with stick vs wire feed but welds are so much better. I can take it afield and use it in the south 40 and HAVE!!!! get great results JMO





BIG

 

[JR]

Depending on the machine Stick welding has the capability to produce stronger welds and you can weld heavier material but a nice mig is perfect for around the garage. Like the 211 Boaring is looking at its capable of up to 3/8 plate so it will handle any farm equipment or automotive repairs needed but also has the ability to turn the heat way down and weld light gauge metal and exhaust systems. Kind of the best of both worlds. Each has their own place you cant very well take a mig outside in the wind and run gas shielded wire so it all depends on the application

 

[goodguys75]

Depending on the machine Stick welding has the capability to produce stronger welds and you can weld heavier material but a nice mig is perfect for around the garage. Like the 211 Boaring is looking at its capable of up to 3/8 plate so it will handle any farm equipment or automotive repairs needed but also has the ability to turn the heat way down and weld light gauge metal and exhaust systems. Kind of the best of both worlds. Each has their own place you cant very well take a mig outside in the wind and run gas shielded wire so it all depends on the application

you would never see heavy manufacturing someone with stick weld, always mig and tig... ...

 

[Boaring1961]

If they weren't so expensive I'd probably get a Miller Diversion 180 TIG. Being able to easily weld most anything makes the TIG attractive.