LegendaryLawman
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Post some photos of your favorite headache racks for 2019+ Rams
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Headache racks?
- Thread starter LegendaryLawman
- Start date
Used BACK RACK my son picked up for me from a used car dealer in the area for $20, a lot of dealers take them off when they get trade-ins and have racks and toolboxes behind the buildings. I really like using it as a handle while standing on the step to reach into my toolbox.
LegendaryLawman
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Sweet deal, anyone run a highway products model? They are really nice but $$$
I am running one of the highway products headache racks. The guardian open mesh with lights. Had it about two years now. So far so good. Really like it. No it wasn’t as cheap as some of the others out there for sure, however it also has more style than many. Though that is surely personal preference. It fits my truck really well, matches the lines pretty good, doesn’t make noise like some I have ridden with.
on my 01 I had a b&w headache rack that I really liked. Had it for 15 years, it was showing its age and I transferred it to my 17 it fit and worked but the lines didn’t match as well as they did on the 01. When I moved it over I had it sandblasted and repowdercoated. it started rusting again fairly quickly so either a poor prep and or poor powder coat job. So when I sold the 17 it went with it and got the 22 that’s when I got the hpi rack and have been pleased with it.
on my 01 I had a b&w headache rack that I really liked. Had it for 15 years, it was showing its age and I transferred it to my 17 it fit and worked but the lines didn’t match as well as they did on the 01. When I moved it over I had it sandblasted and repowdercoated. it started rusting again fairly quickly so either a poor prep and or poor powder coat job. So when I sold the 17 it went with it and got the 22 that’s when I got the hpi rack and have been pleased with it.
LegendaryLawman
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I’m thinking about the guardian with the side rails for my 24 when it comes. My only concern is the side rails being too high to reach in the bed at all or being annoying…Please post some pics if you have time
Last edited:
I will try to get some pics tomorrow
however I do not have the side rails. Just the regular mounts for the headache rack. Then my tool box (which is also an HPI box) sits on top of them. While I have not seen their side rails in person they look to be 3 inches or so tall. If that is the case I know I couldn’t reach the bottom of my bed.
You might try calling hpi for the specific dimensions of them. I know when I ordered my stuff who ever I talked with about my order was very helpful.
however I do not have the side rails. Just the regular mounts for the headache rack. Then my tool box (which is also an HPI box) sits on top of them. While I have not seen their side rails in person they look to be 3 inches or so tall. If that is the case I know I couldn’t reach the bottom of my bed.
You might try calling hpi for the specific dimensions of them. I know when I ordered my stuff who ever I talked with about my order was very helpful.
LegendaryLawman
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Hey Barry were you able to get any photos?
H3LZSN1P3R
You're doing it wrong
Those dealers are stupid then i would be more inclined to buy one with a back rack than without one
legendary
sorry it took so long. A deer decided to broadside my truck and has been in the shop for several weeks getting the repair work done
so far so good on the rack been on there a couple years 40k miles. As you can see I also have one of their tool chests but have it hanging from the bed rails instead of on the floor. I wanted as much space as I could underneath it. A standard toolbox that would have to sit farther out and also need as much of that space as I could get. In addition to it being deeper and losing space underneath. This setup allowed me to set the toolbox about 3/4 of an inch from the front bed wall and still be able to fully open the lid
the top rail of the headache rack is adjustable up or down a couple inches. I have mine set low enough to have some ears or stops on the top to keep lumber from sliding off but not too low to block the third brake light
while the mesh covering the window looks wavy in the pics it is not
there are also several tie down areas on the top of the top rail that you can’t see in the pics. They are more like cutouts but they do work well and are handy at least for me
it does not make any wind noise while moving. I have had some in the past that did.
on my previous trucks I had a b&w headache rack. It was also very good. It was heavy and made of steel. I had it on my 2001 for at least 13 years then moved it over to my 2017. The only reason I switched it was that the contours of the 2022 just didn’t work with that b &w rack, of course a new b&w rack probably wouldn’t have that problem. It stuck out too far on the sides. The 2022 cab is angled in more. It worked on my 2017 but did stick out more than on the 01 and on the 2022 it stuck out more yet. Also it being made of steel it was powder coated and was a pretty good job. Though when I moved it to the 2017 I stripped it by blasting it then had it powder coated again. I sold it with the 2017 when I got rid of it
hope this helps
Ps please forgive all the pine pollen all over the truck our property is very heavily covered with ponderosa pine and right now it is spitting out tons of pollen
sorry it took so long. A deer decided to broadside my truck and has been in the shop for several weeks getting the repair work done
so far so good on the rack been on there a couple years 40k miles. As you can see I also have one of their tool chests but have it hanging from the bed rails instead of on the floor. I wanted as much space as I could underneath it. A standard toolbox that would have to sit farther out and also need as much of that space as I could get. In addition to it being deeper and losing space underneath. This setup allowed me to set the toolbox about 3/4 of an inch from the front bed wall and still be able to fully open the lid
the top rail of the headache rack is adjustable up or down a couple inches. I have mine set low enough to have some ears or stops on the top to keep lumber from sliding off but not too low to block the third brake light
while the mesh covering the window looks wavy in the pics it is not
there are also several tie down areas on the top of the top rail that you can’t see in the pics. They are more like cutouts but they do work well and are handy at least for me
it does not make any wind noise while moving. I have had some in the past that did.
on my previous trucks I had a b&w headache rack. It was also very good. It was heavy and made of steel. I had it on my 2001 for at least 13 years then moved it over to my 2017. The only reason I switched it was that the contours of the 2022 just didn’t work with that b &w rack, of course a new b&w rack probably wouldn’t have that problem. It stuck out too far on the sides. The 2022 cab is angled in more. It worked on my 2017 but did stick out more than on the 01 and on the 2022 it stuck out more yet. Also it being made of steel it was powder coated and was a pretty good job. Though when I moved it to the 2017 I stripped it by blasting it then had it powder coated again. I sold it with the 2017 when I got rid of it
hope this helps
Ps please forgive all the pine pollen all over the truck our property is very heavily covered with ponderosa pine and right now it is spitting out tons of pollen
LegendaryLawman
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Barry awesome photos, I love it.
Curious on the wiring, does it run down the side channel and you run it under the truck to the aux switches? Are they worth it on your opinion ($125 cost)? I have the factory bed lights but they are not perfect. the rack looks open on the rear top rail so I assume the back of the light is visable left from the side of the truck?
Curious on the wiring, does it run down the side channel and you run it under the truck to the aux switches? Are they worth it on your opinion ($125 cost)? I have the factory bed lights but they are not perfect. the rack looks open on the rear top rail so I assume the back of the light is visable left from the side of the truck?
Dinky503
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Protech 2in over cab.
LegendaryLawman
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The two vertical posts are only 2” over the cab? The photo looks like those are higher. Maybe it’s an illusion. Looks nice too! The rear matching rack is awesome for pipe or lumber, is that pro tech also?
Dinky503
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No the actual rack is over 2in and the ears are 3in more. Yep the rear hoop is protech as well. I've ran the same thing on my last three trucks and love it. Rear post removes in 2mins screws in at rear pocket holes.
Business during the week and looking good for the weekend lol.
LegendaryLawman
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That rear rack is awesome, especially since im stuck with a short bed since I needed a mega cab for family/work. Mostly when im working, im using the sprinter van anyways but the truck is for towing the dump trailer and larger loads.
I'm not sure I could fit that front rack with the ears in the garage, it would be tight, ill have to measure it.
I'm not sure I could fit that front rack with the ears in the garage, it would be tight, ill have to measure it.
Dinky503
Well-Known Member
Protech is custom order you can order without the ears. You can do mesh back vs louvers or no backing. You can even order with rear window cut out.
LegendaryLawman
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Nice, approx cost for both? How does the front attach? does it need to be drilled through the top like the highway products one?
Legendary
yes on the wiring
yes the front of the top rail is mostly open
no I don’t see the lights in the rear view mirror they are above the window
can you see them from the side of the truck well technically yes if you try looking between the post and the rear of the cab but they don’t stick out, pretty much the same thickness as the side rail and top rail
the rear lights are ok not the best dang lights out there but suitable for me, worth $125 probably subjective but I do like the flush mounts, saved me from cutting holes or doing some janky surface or post mounting
the bed lights work ok for seeing in the bed but do very little if anything beyond that
I could use some better side of truck lighting ie work/scene lighting and have sort of been looking for something that would work but my requirements are many so having a tough time finding just what I am looking for. Need some for my tracked skid steer as well with the same requirements. Not to big, enough light and in the right places and coverage, can’t stick out far at all. So going to experiment on the skid steer if it works for what I want it should work on the truck assuming the size/length is small enough. Too bad when shopping for lights you can’t grab one, plug it in and see exactly what it does in the dark before purchasing.
yes on the wiring
yes the front of the top rail is mostly open
no I don’t see the lights in the rear view mirror they are above the window
can you see them from the side of the truck well technically yes if you try looking between the post and the rear of the cab but they don’t stick out, pretty much the same thickness as the side rail and top rail
the rear lights are ok not the best dang lights out there but suitable for me, worth $125 probably subjective but I do like the flush mounts, saved me from cutting holes or doing some janky surface or post mounting
the bed lights work ok for seeing in the bed but do very little if anything beyond that
I could use some better side of truck lighting ie work/scene lighting and have sort of been looking for something that would work but my requirements are many so having a tough time finding just what I am looking for. Need some for my tracked skid steer as well with the same requirements. Not to big, enough light and in the right places and coverage, can’t stick out far at all. So going to experiment on the skid steer if it works for what I want it should work on the truck assuming the size/length is small enough. Too bad when shopping for lights you can’t grab one, plug it in and see exactly what it does in the dark before purchasing.
Dinky503
Well-Known Member
Both were like $1600 but that was 2 years ago lol. Yes it bolts down through the bed rail but there are already holes in the bed rail. The plastic cover is actually clipped through your bed rail like ever 8in..... I cut the tabs off and drilled through from the bottom through factory hole.