What You Need to Know About Truck Cab Racks
When talking about cool-looking cars, it's no doubt that pickup trucks will always be part of the conversation. They're eye-catching, and their visuals are pretty versatile, too. Whether it's on or off the road, they're great to look at wherever you take them.
But, that doesn't mean their appearance can't get any better. If you're a pickup truck owner yourself, you can add accessories that not only looks cool but are also functional - and the truck cab rack is the best example. But, what is it?
What's a Truck Cab Rack?
Also called headache racks, truck cab racks are vertical frames attached to the overhead rack in front of your window. Their main purpose? They protect the glass from debris, preventing it from shattering and causing headaches, or rather, injuries.
Aside from that, headache racks also help increase your truck's hauling capacity by being a carrier on top of the cab. They come in 3 major types, which are:
· Commercial-grade: These are mainly for adding carrying capacity to the truck's cargo. The horizontal slats also provide shade to the cab, and its upright posts are great for securing ladders and lumber.
· Painted: Aside from adding cargo space, they're also great for improving your pickup truck's visuals. They come in different colors, which you can use to match your vehicle's coat.
· Stainless steel: Not only do these have a high-polished sheen, but they also give more space for other add-ons like light bars, toolboxes, and bed rack kits.
How to Install
Planning on installing a new truck cab rack to your pickup truck? Before you do, make sure you have an overhead rack first.
Overhead Rack
The overhead rack is the base for the truck cab rack, and the latter can't be installed without it. If you don't have it, here's what you need to do.
1. Mount the load bars on your pickup bed then secure the bolts into place. This acts as the load bearer for the overhead and truck cab racks.
2. Mount the left and right upright supports to the load bar according to the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Attach the clamps to secure the load bar and upright supports to the pickup bed.
4. Insert the bolts of the overhead bar into the holes, and then secure the nuts in place.
5. Stick the rubber stripping and similar protective pads.
Truck Cab Rack
Once your overhead rack is bolted to the load bars, you can now install the truck cab rack.
1. Use clamps to mount and secure the truck cab rack to the overhead rack.
2. Insert the bolts into the holes, then tighten the nuts using an adjustable wrench.
The headache rack is a functional accessory to pickup trucks. Not only do they make your vehicle look cooler, but they also protect your windows and add cargo space. If you're planning to install them, you can hire an expert to do the job for you. But, if you want to do it yourself, simply follow the steps mentioned in this article.
