Decisions to Make for Your Truck’s Custom Ladder Racks

Admin • Nov 20, 2017

When you work in construction, you need to be able to haul around tools and supplies easily. Trucks are available that have boxes built into the sides of the truck beds that allow you to keep your smaller tools neatly organized. The only issue with these truck beds is that it can be difficult to find ladder racks to fit the beds due to their unique design.
Fortunately, if you purchase a truck that has storage compartments built into the sides of the truck bed, you can have custom ladder racks created. The following guide walks you through a few things that the manufacturer will need to know to make the perfect ladder racks for your specific truck.

Determine If You Want a Ladder Rack With a Single Rack or Double Rack

Some construction workers do not have to carry long materials and so can have only a single ladder rack added to their truck. The rack is installed near the cab of the truck and material is simply leaned against the rack and secured with straps.

This is not a good option for anyone who needs to carry long material. The material would stick up too high above the truck and create a hazard when driving. Some areas have low power lines, and a board sticking up a few feet in the air above your truck could hit the power lines and cause a dangerous situation.

Consider If You Want Freestanding Racks or Racks That Are Connected

You can have two singular racks installed in the truck bed or you can have ladder racks created that are connected together with rails that are welded together. The former racks are cheaper than the latter.

The benefit of the ladder racks that are welded together is that you often have a rail that goes across the center of the rails. This rail runs along the sides of your truck bed and connects the two racks together. This rail allows you to carry shorter material with ease because the material will not have to span the entire length of your truck bed.

Decide What Material You Want Used to Create the Ladder Racks

When you are having the ladder racks custom made, you can choose the material you want for the racks. If you know that you will be carrying heavy material, invest in the most durable option that you can, which is steel. Steel can withstand the elements, is durable and can hold a lot of weight. Aluminum is a cheaper material for truck racks. Aluminum is not as durable or as strong as steel.

Take the time to consider the weight of the items that you need to carry to ensure the material you choose is strong enough to carry the loads you need to carry on a regular basis.

Consider Having Ratchet Straps Added to the Side of the Rails of the Ladder Racks

When you have to haul long boards or pipes on the top of your ladder racks, you will need to secure your loads with straps. Ratchet straps are adjustable straps that allow you to easily secure things in place. You can have a ratchet strap system added to the ladder racks to ensure you can easily secure anything without having to search for the straps.

When you need to have custom ladder racks created for your truck, contact Diamond Truck Body Manufacturing . Ladder racks take time to be created, so order them as soon as you can so that the manufacturing can begin right away and you can begin using them as soon as possible.

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