Okay, here’s my blog post about building a pickup truck bed bike rack, written in the style of a seasoned, down-to-earth blogger:
Alright, folks, let’s talk about hauling bikes. I love cycling, but I also love my pickup truck. The problem? Throwing bikes in the back just ain’t secure, and they end up scratching each other and the truck bed. So, I decided to build a simple, sturdy bike rack for the truck bed. No fancy stuff, just something that works.
Planning and Gathering
First thing I did was measure my truck bed. I have 65 inch and 55 inch long. Got to know your dimensions, right? Then, I sketched out a rough idea. Basically, I went for a simple frame that would hold the front wheels of the bikes. Nothing too complicated.
Next, materials. I used:
- 2x4s: The backbone of the whole thing. Cheap and strong.
- Some scrap plywood: For extra support and wheel chocks.
- Wood screws: Lots of ’em. I like to overbuild.
- Eye bolts: For tie-down points. Gotta keep those bikes secure!
- Some old inner tubes: To pad the wood and protect the bike forks.
The Build
I started by cutting the 2x4s to the width of my truck bed. I made two main rails – one for the front and one for the back. Then, I cut some shorter pieces to act as vertical supports. These would hold the bikes upright. I used a good, basic “butt joint” to connect pieces of wood, made secure connections using screws.
I spaced these supports out based on the number of bikes I usually carry (three, in my case). I made sure to leave enough room between them so the handlebars wouldn’t bang into each other.
Now, for the wheel chocks. I used some scrap plywood and cut out simple triangles. These would cradle the front wheels and keep them from turning. I screwed these onto the front rail, making sure they were aligned with the vertical supports.
Next, I wrapped the areas where the bike forks would rest with old inner tubes. This is key for protecting the bikes. Just wrapped them around the wood and secured them with some staples. Good and snug.
Finally, I added eye bolts to the rails. These are crucial for using tie-down straps. I put a couple on each side, making sure they were securely fastened into the 2x4s. Safety first, people!
Testing and Securing
With the rack built, I slid it into the truck bed. It was a snug fit, which is what I wanted. No sliding around. Then, I loaded up the bikes! I lifted the front wheel of each bike into the chocks and rested the fork on the padded supports.
The final step: tie-downs. I used ratchet straps, hooked them onto the eye bolts, and secured the bikes down tight. Gave them a good shake to make sure everything was solid. And it was!
I took it for a test drive, and everything held up perfectly. Bikes stayed put, no scratches, no problems. This simple, DIY rack does the job just as well as any fancy store-bought one, and it cost me a fraction of the price.
So, there you have it. My pickup truck bed bike rack project. It’s not pretty, but it’s practical, strong, and it works. If you’re handy with some basic tools, give it a try! It’s a great way to haul your bikes without breaking the bank or scratching up your truck.
