Bed Rack Options with Rambox

[yashtrojan25]

View attachment 59889

Hi, I am going the route of custom building one as well, however, wondering how to bolt on metal plates to the bed rail caps which support the rack.
The rails ends have holes, but they are not threaded, and also the holes are not round, they are rectangular.
There is no way to hold a nut below and then put a bolt onto the top. Any ideas?
How did you manage this

 

[2019ramrebel12]

Hi, I am going the route of custom building one as well, however, wondering how to bolt on metal plates to the bed rail caps which support the rack.
The rails ends have holes, but they are not threaded, and also the holes are not round, they are rectangular.
There is no way to hold a nut below and then put a bolt onto the top. Any ideas?
How did you manage this

I used scrap metal pieces on the inside of the underside of the bed rail and a washer a nut under it. The setup sandwiches the factory sheet metal fairly well.

 

[yashtrojan25]

I used scrap metal pieces on the inside of the underside of the bed rail and a washer a nut under it. The setup sandwiches the factory sheet metal fairly well.

Thanks 2019ramrebel12!

Do you happen to have a few images to help better visualize?

Greatly appreciate!

 

[RamBlackMX2020]

inexpensive

 

[Warmistead]

Hey guys, I have only had my truck for a month so I haven't played with too many configurations. I wanted to center my bike rack in a way that would allow me to space the bike tracks in a way that fit 4 bikes. So far I have found that off centering them allows me to open one Rambox completely and access to the other one by lifting one side of the racks in an emergency. I used the Rhino Racks from my previous vehicle and they worked great with the 25mm spacers

 

[Tecumseh]

Hey guys, I have only had my truck for a month so I haven't played with too many configurations. I wanted to center my bike rack in a way that would allow me to space the bike tracks in a way that fit 4 bikes. So far I have found that off centering them allows me to open one Rambox completely and access to the other one by lifting one side of the racks in an emergency. I used the Rhino Racks from my previous vehicle and they worked great with the 25mm spacers View attachment 80340 View attachment 80341 View attachment 80342 View attachment 80343

What is the Thule model you are using on the factory bed rails?

 

[Tecumseh]

What is the Thule model you are using on the factory bed rails?

Correction, Rhino Rack model? Thanks.

 

[todfhunt]

Correction, Rhino Rack model? Thanks.

I also used Rhino Rack but did a platform instead. The foot packs are prolly the same tho. Details from earlier post... https://5thgenrams.com/community/threads/bed-rack-options-with-rambox.7514/post-302927
but get the 25mm spacers like@ Warmistead did and RamBox will open wider.

 

[smcleod417]

Modified my rack to make it lower as I found I didn't need to fold or roll the tonneau up.

 

[NewTruckWhoDis]

Modified my rack to make it lower as I found I didn't need to fold or roll the tonneau up.

Hey, saw your comment in that other member's listing, but didn't want to keep spamming it with off-topic stuff. Yeah, I wish I lived in TX too (I did a decade ago), cause I would take you up on that offer. Do you only work with square tubing? Do you do any bending, or is it all welded cuts? My goal would be less like a work truck or overlander and more like a baja roll cage (for lack of a better description). That's kinda why I am not moving forward with the Nutzo style.

 

[smcleod417]

Hey, saw your comment in that other member's listing, but didn't want to keep spamming it with off-topic stuff. Yeah, I wish I lived in TX too (I did a decade ago), cause I would take you up on that offer. Do you only work with square tubing? Do you do any bending, or is it all welded cuts? My goal would be less like a work truck or overlander and more like a baja roll cage (for lack of a better description). That's kinda why I am not moving forward with the Nutzo style.

I'm just a garage fabricator, so don't have a bender....everything is welded. I use both round and square tubing, obviously square tubing is less "pretty" but easier to work with.

 

[1500Bear]

More pics... View attachment 75179 View attachment 75181

Thanks for the part #s and tips for how you built this setup from Rhino Rack. I've been debating between Rhino and Frontrunner who has a similar kit/setup for the 6'4" bed (with rambox) and will tweak the parts for the 5'7" bed. Frontrunner link. Wondering if you've had any issues at all with the silver BUG/bed utility rails under load? Has anyone had issues loading these rails? As it was noted in the chain/on the forum, the manual specs that the tie down cleats are rated for 250lbs each...since they put 2 cleats on each rail and 2 rains in the truck, you'd think that means 1,000 lbs evenly distributed. I also called the dealer and they said the silver rail has a part # rating for just 500 PER PAIR which is significantly less (1/2...I can do math). I don't plan to test the limits of 1,000lbs but it's easy to run above 500lbs static with a 150lb tent and 2-3 people. I'm not a hardcore overlander so an easy install/easy remove platform or bar system on the rails is perfect for me (vs something like the Nuthouse roof racks). Anyone who's got experience or insight re: the load capacity of the bed rails I'd love to hear it. Thanks!

 

[jimothy]

Thanks for the part #s and tips for how you built this setup from Rhino Rack. I've been debating between Rhino and Frontrunner who has a similar kit/setup for the 6'4" bed (with rambox) and will tweak the parts for the 5'7" bed. Frontrunner link. Wondering if you've had any issues at all with the silver BUG/bed utility rails under load? Has anyone had issues loading these rails? As it was noted in the chain/on the forum, the manual specs that the tie down cleats are rated for 250lbs each...since they put 2 cleats on each rail and 2 rains in the truck, you'd think that means 1,000 lbs evenly distributed. I also called the dealer and they said the silver rail has a part # rating for just 500 PER PAIR which is significantly less (1/2...I can do math). I don't plan to test the limits of 1,000lbs but it's easy to run above 500lbs static with a 150lb tent and 2-3 people. I'm not a hardcore overlander so an easy install/easy remove platform or bar system on the rails is perfect for me (vs something like the Nuthouse roof racks). Anyone who's got experience or insight re: the load capacity of the bed rails I'd love to hear it. Thanks!

I do not have a Rambox, but I do have the Front Runner kit for a 6.5” F-150 with Retrax XR, and I can tell you that it fits my Ram 1500 5’7” bed with Retrax. The platform itself is shorter than even the 5’7” bed. The platform is 1560mm long, or 5’1.4”.

I suspect the Frontrunner kit will fit your bed with Rambox, but I’m also sure they’ll sell you a shorter platform. Their customer service was responsive when I asked several questions.

 

[jimothy]

Thanks for the part #s and tips for how you built this setup from Rhino Rack. I've been debating between Rhino and Frontrunner who has a similar kit/setup for the 6'4" bed (with rambox) and will tweak the parts for the 5'7" bed. Frontrunner link. Wondering if you've had any issues at all with the silver BUG/bed utility rails under load? Has anyone had issues loading these rails? As it was noted in the chain/on the forum, the manual specs that the tie down cleats are rated for 250lbs each...since they put 2 cleats on each rail and 2 rains in the truck, you'd think that means 1,000 lbs evenly distributed. I also called the dealer and they said the silver rail has a part # rating for just 500 PER PAIR which is significantly less (1/2...I can do math). I don't plan to test the limits of 1,000lbs but it's easy to run above 500lbs static with a 150lb tent and 2-3 people. I'm not a hardcore overlander so an easy install/easy remove platform or bar system on the rails is perfect for me (vs something like the Nuthouse roof racks). Anyone who's got experience or insight re: the load capacity of the bed rails I'd love to hear it. Thanks!

Oops, I see that the Frontrunner kit you linked to has a longer tray; 5’9”. Nonetheless, I’m sure they could kit you out with a shorter tray.

 

[1500Bear]

Oops, I see that the Frontrunner kit you linked to has a longer tray; 5’9”. Nonetheless, I’m sure they could kit you out with a shorter tray.

As expected. The fine folks at frontrunner were able to kit me together a shorter platform. That said, I've still got questions about the weight limit of the RAM BUG rails (silver bed rails). I've love to hear from anyone who's been using the rails for a rooftop tent (or other heavy load)? It's surely strong enough to hold the tent in my driveway, but I really don't want to get 2-3 days into a trip and have it fail on me in the backcountry.

 

[todfhunt]

As expected. The fine folks at frontrunner were able to kit me together a shorter platform. That said, I've still got questions about the weight limit of the RAM BUG rails (silver bed rails). I've love to hear from anyone who's been using the rails for a rooftop tent (or other heavy load)? It's surely strong enough to hold the tent in my driveway, but I really don't want to get 2-3 days into a trip and have it fail on me in the backcountry.

No issues at all. Two adults and a large dog with gear inside the tent. I’m not an engineer, but I believe the structural fit of the platform certainly helps distribute the load evenly and in a sheer downward manner to the bug rails. That sheer distribution would give the possible best load capacity, and with a full platform structure likely more than rated limit. The mftr load rating is always conservative, but it’s also going be rated based on a single attachment point and accounting for variable load distributions perpendicular or angled to the bug bar (weakest capacity). I am not at all concerned with the set up and load capacity. It’s solid. (Disclaimer: as I said, I am no engineer, so...).

 

[todfhunt]

Added rod holders to the underside. With the tailgate closed the rods are safe and secure. Still plenty of room for my gear box and generator to slide in underneath also. Used basic Berkeley twist lock rack from Amazon (Berkley Twist Lok Rod Rack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XU0NB8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share). Reemed the mounting holes to 1/4” and used basic rail slide nut and bolt.

 

[1500Bear]

I figured I'd follow-up to my prior posts with the end result. I wound up getting a rack from UpTop Overland. They were fantastic to deal with throughout the process. The final delivery was slightly delayed due to some issues with their powder coating partner but it sounds like they are moving that process in house soon. The rack is a 6 pillar / 3 cross bar set up and very modular (you could run it as a 4 pillar/2 crossbar setup). The pillars slide into the RAM BUG rails (silver rails). I mounted my tent on top of the rails without issue. As intended, the rack lets me have access to my Ramboxes...they open about 90% of the way and I put some rubber caps over the ends of the rack crossbars to protect my truck paint. 2 people, 2 dogs. and sleeping gear is ~ 500lbs and the rails/rack/tent felt rock solid.

 

[Filmoreranger]

Hey guys,
Just wanted to show you my setup with the Dethloff rack. It’s a great rack! I have a few gripes about it after using it the last few months. For someone just looking for a regular bed rack, it’s solid.
I did place an order for another bed rack. Just because I want more options with my rack.

 

[todfhunt]

I figured I'd follow-up to my prior posts with the end result. I wound up getting a rack from UpTop Overland. They were fantastic to deal with throughout the process. The final delivery was slightly delayed due to some issues with their powder coating partner but it sounds like they are moving that process in house soon. The rack is a 6 pillar / 3 cross bar set up and very modular (you could run it as a 4 pillar/2 crossbar setup). The pillars slide into the RAM BUG rails (silver rails). I mounted my tent on top of the rails without issue. As intended, the rack lets me have access to my Ramboxes...they open about 90% of the way and I put some rubber caps over the ends of the rack crossbars to protect my truck paint. 2 people, 2 dogs. and sleeping gear is ~ 500lbs and the rails/rack/tent felt rock solid.

Great setup. Did you go with the mid-height 11.5" riser option?