I couldn't find any low pro bed racks for my RTT that weren't rather expensive...so, I made my own for about $100 in supplies. I reckon that this rack could easily hold 500 lbs...the superstrut is quite strong. The weak point would probably be the bed metal rather than the rack itself.
Final product first, then a list with instructions follow:
Supply list:
2x - Superstrut 10' x 1 5/8" - home depot superstrut
2x packs - square washers with 3/8" hole (5 in each pack, but will only use 8) - Home depot - 3/8 washers
2x packs - 3/8" spring nuts (5 in each pack, but will only use 8) - home depot 3/8" spring nuts
1x - truck bed liner spray paint - home depot spraypaint truck bed liner
1x - four pack of truck topper clamps - amazon - 4x truck topper clamp pack
2x - two pack of superstrut end caps..they didn't have them at HD so I got them from Lowe's - Lowe's - superstrut end caps
First, I cut the superstrut to length (74" for my 2020 Ram 1500, 6'4" box)
after cutting to length, make sure to grind/file ends so they arent sharp.
Next, I drilled out the bolt holes in the bottom half of the topper clamps.
Then you have to break the spring off of the spring nuts...here is a photo of two that I broke the spring off of, and one to show how it looks with spring still attached. I just bent the spring until metal fatigued led to the break.
Next, I painted the clamps, superstrut, spring nuts, washers, end caps, and bolt heads black with the truck liner spray paint
Now, we can start to assemble. The way that it goes together is bolt through the bottom of the clamp, then a square washer over the bolt as shown below. The foot of the clamp will go under the edge of your truck bed, the bolt will bolt into the spring nut that is inside the superstrut.
The spring nut has little channels on it that slip into the channels on the superstrut...you slide the nut into the superstrut, then thread the bolt/washer/clamp combo into the spring nut from the bottom, while you have the teeth/foot under the overhang of the side of your bed. Kind of hard to explain, hopefully the next photo help.
Overall, I'm very happy with the build. It took longer to drive and get the supplies than it did you cut, paint and assemble the rack. It's low profile so my RTT won't stick up above the top of the cab and also adds some cover to the bins of camping things in my bed, hopefully that will mitigate against prying eyes and sticky fingers.
Final product first, then a list with instructions follow:
Supply list:
2x - Superstrut 10' x 1 5/8" - home depot superstrut
2x packs - square washers with 3/8" hole (5 in each pack, but will only use 8) - Home depot - 3/8 washers
2x packs - 3/8" spring nuts (5 in each pack, but will only use 8) - home depot 3/8" spring nuts
1x - truck bed liner spray paint - home depot spraypaint truck bed liner
1x - four pack of truck topper clamps - amazon - 4x truck topper clamp pack
2x - two pack of superstrut end caps..they didn't have them at HD so I got them from Lowe's - Lowe's - superstrut end caps
First, I cut the superstrut to length (74" for my 2020 Ram 1500, 6'4" box)
after cutting to length, make sure to grind/file ends so they arent sharp.
Next, I drilled out the bolt holes in the bottom half of the topper clamps.
Then you have to break the spring off of the spring nuts...here is a photo of two that I broke the spring off of, and one to show how it looks with spring still attached. I just bent the spring until metal fatigued led to the break.
Next, I painted the clamps, superstrut, spring nuts, washers, end caps, and bolt heads black with the truck liner spray paint
Now, we can start to assemble. The way that it goes together is bolt through the bottom of the clamp, then a square washer over the bolt as shown below. The foot of the clamp will go under the edge of your truck bed, the bolt will bolt into the spring nut that is inside the superstrut.
The spring nut has little channels on it that slip into the channels on the superstrut...you slide the nut into the superstrut, then thread the bolt/washer/clamp combo into the spring nut from the bottom, while you have the teeth/foot under the overhang of the side of your bed. Kind of hard to explain, hopefully the next photo help.
Overall, I'm very happy with the build. It took longer to drive and get the supplies than it did you cut, paint and assemble the rack. It's low profile so my RTT won't stick up above the top of the cab and also adds some cover to the bins of camping things in my bed, hopefully that will mitigate against prying eyes and sticky fingers.
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