Bed Rail Weight Limit?

[CharlieRanger]

Does anyone happen to know the static/dynamic weight limit of the bed rails? I was looking at a cap or bed rack and I want to know if it's possible for a RTT back there. I assume you can, but it would be comforting to have an official number from somewhere.

Sponsored

 

[Msfitoy]

Does anyone happen to know the static/dynamic weight limit of the bed rails? I was looking at a cap or bed rack and I want to know if it's possible for a RTT back there. I assume you can, but it would be comforting to have an official number from somewhere.

Don't have actual numbers but Diamondback has two versions of armored folding bed covers mounts to the rails...light duty SE (one I have) can handle around 1,200lbs...the HD (looks the same) can handle 4,000lbs for carrying ATVs...that should give you some idea...

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Don't have actual numbers but Diamondback has two versions of armored folding bed covers mounts to the rails...light duty SE (one I have) can handle around 1,200lbs...the HD (looks the same) can handle 4,000lbs for carrying ATVs...that should give you some idea...

Diamondback cover for Ranger lists capacity at 400lbs for the SE and 1600lbs for the HD.

HD

https://diamondbackcovers.com/produ...iant=32674415280227&chosenFinish=Rugged_Black

SE

https://diamondbackcovers.com/en-ca/products/diamondbackse?variant=28905652553

 

[Msfitoy]

Diamondback cover for Ranger lists capacity at 400lbs for the SE and 1600lbs for the HD.

HD

https://diamondbackcovers.com/produ...iant=32674415280227&chosenFinish=Rugged_Black

SE

https://diamondbackcovers.com/en-ca/products/diamondbackse?variant=28905652553

Well...I was close lol...

 

[OFC Ranger]

I'd venture more than the average user will ever get close to for structural failure...

I have had a permanent load on mine for years in the range of 500+ lbs without issue. Not to mention I have two 800lb ratchet straps cinching it down even more to two bed hooks on either side as a fail safe in the event of bolt failures from the bolts going through my bed rack legs through drilled bed rail holes.

You would have to hoist my truck up by my monolithic rack in the air to get it to rip the bed up long before it will ever crush or cave.

 

[CharlieRanger]

I'd venture more than the average user will ever get close to for structural failure...

I have had a permanent load on mine for years in the range of 500+ lbs without issue. Not to mention I have two 800lb ratchet straps cinching it down even more to two bed hooks on either side as a fail safe in the event of bolt failures from the bolts going through my bed rack legs through drilled bed rail holes.

You would have to hoist my truck up by my monolithic rack in the air to get it to rip the bed up long before it will ever crush or cave.

You say that, but I had the wind get under my tonneau cover and can-opener the bed rails. The aluminum is very thin.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

You say that, but I had the wind get under my tonneau cover and can-opener the bed rails. The aluminum is very thin.

Photos?

 

[P. A. Schilke]

You say that, but I had the wind get under my tonneau cover and can-opener the bed rails. The aluminum is very thin.

Not on a Ranger as the bed is steel, not aluminum.

Best,
Phil

 

[CharlieRanger]

Photos?

 

[OFC Ranger]

Well like I said for the rails to fail you have to have upward force. Even then you would not have catastrophic failure unless it was just a massive amount of force that could rip metal apart.

This is also why I have those secondary straps directly to the cargo hooks, so when going over terrain with enough force to transfer upward momentum it is negated.

I'm no engineer but I'm a pretty smart cookie.

 

[Wes Siler]

Also depends on how the load is braced, distributed and supported. I've put 5,000 lbs on top of a bed cap on a Taco and driven around, thanks to an appropriate structure. I've also seen bed rails beer canned by a fraction of that.

 

[subquark]

Our design flaw of the insane bed rake factors in too - cantilevers the weight toward the cab. *BS alert*

Too bad the Ranger's not as good as the Taco (massive eye roll).

Maybe the Ford's humpin' the Taco?

 

[Wes Siler]

Our design flaw of the insane bed rake factors in too - cantilevers the weight toward the cab. *BS alert*

Too bad the Ranger's not as good as the Taco (massive eye roll).

Maybe the Ford's humpin' the Taco?

The amount of bracing we had to weld into the Taco's bed to hold that load weighed almost as much as that F250. But yeah, that Topper is bone stock, and is still used by one of the guys.

 

[Wes Siler]

Does anyone happen to know the static/dynamic weight limit of the bed rails? I was looking at a cap or bed rack and I want to know if it's possible for a RTT back there. I assume you can, but it would be comforting to have an official number from somewhere.

But to answer your question, I'm running a 275lbs camper on my bed rails, have added probably another 100 pounds in accessories to that weight, and routinely carry an 80lbs canoe on top. And I've done that since 2019, across two Ranger, with daily off-road driving, trips to Baja, gnarly off-road, etc. Zero issues.



You can see how all that mounts in this photo. Triangulated frame distributes the loads to avoid point loading.

Sponsored