Okay, it's been some time since I've posted an update. About a month ago I bought an All Pro Off-Road APEx bed rack to replace the Thule Xsporter that I've had for about a year. I ordered it as a weld-together kit to save on labor ($100) and freight (don't know how expensive that would have been).
Finally had some time on Saturday to weld, paint, and install it, so here goes!
Doing some dry fitting. Note all the paper on the truck to keep the spalling off.
We used the stabilizing bars to determine spacing. This was the only way to get the spacing between hoops just right.
All the hoops are on, and the bars have been dry-fitted as well. We squeezed them between the hoops using a cargo strap, and my brother is tacking them in place in this photo.
I'm no welder. I actually kind of suck at it, but Joe insisted I weld
something, so there I am welding a gusset in place.
Two things: the weld was horrendous (lol), and I have a sunburn on my arms (lol).
All primed! Had to mount it and close up shop since my brother had somewhere to be.
Fun fact: the rack is mounted using eight grade 5 bolts on four backing plates with threaded holes. They are 5/16-18 bolts with 1/2" heads and are very easy to confuse with M8 metric bolts. This is probably why I had 7 SAE bolts and one metric bolt in the kit.
I didn't figure that out right away, and at first thought I just had a wonky bolt with a jacked-up thread. Of course, that's the bolt that I brought into the hardware store with me to buy a replacement. So then I had two of the wrong bolt. Amazing.
After I figured out what the problem was (the markings on the head were what tipped me off), I went back to hardware store, and of course they didn't have the right bolt in the right length in grade 5. So now I have two M8 bolts and a spare grade 8 5/16-18 bolt.
The lulz are plentiful.
Aaaanyway, I brought the rack home, and with the help of my prettier (and better-smelling) half put the rack on the ground in my side yard to finish painting with some flat black Krylon camouflage paint. I chose that brand because it's readily available at any Walmart or hardware store, and it's especially flat, so far as my calibrated eyeball can tell.
Of course, I didn't take any pictures of it finished and put on the truck with the awning and tent, because I derped pretty hard after finishing the job. I'll post again later tonight after I get home and get the cool-guy Hi-Lift mount bolted on, as well.
