Aluminum Cab Protector

[Dustyhaze75]

Can anyone help me find some cab protector plans or designs? I have a Syncrowave 250DX with pulse mode but need a little extra $$ for a tube bender, notcher, plasma etc. any help would save many hours on my knees in the back of a pickup.even a simple square tube design will do. Aluminum tool box designs would also be helpful.

[Steven DeMmars]

Headache Rack?

I assume you are talking about a headache rack for the back side of a pick-up cab.

http://www.millerwelds.com/education/projects/mboard/showthread.php?t=52&highlight=headache

http://www.millerwelds.com/education/projects/mboard/showthread.php?t=46&highlight=headache

[Dustyhaze75]

Cab Protector

Ya thats what I'm talking about. looking for more info. measurements, material thickness etc. I'll let my imagination go wild once I figure out basic dimensions(outside) and material thickness. I know It's a no brainer, I just thought I could save a little time.Thanks for the links.

[Jolly Roger]

My experience has been that unless it is purely decorative aluminum is not very good for a headache rack. Kinda like trailers and truck beds. looks nice but mostly show, not much go.

[HMW]

costs more too......but is shiiiiiney

[dabar39]

plans

Like some one else mentioned, unless it's just for show aluminum is not a good choice to try and stop a projectile from entering the back of your cab when you drop your cell phone and hit the car in front of you while trying to pick it up. But It sure is shiiiiny

BTW, I don't have any plans for any of the ones I have done, I just kinda make em up as I go. Maybe a stick drawing on a scrap piece of paper at best.

As far as the toolbox goes, unless you want something pretty custom to fit your particular need, you can't make one for anywhere near what you can buy em for. Dave

[Dustyhaze75]

rack

98% of the racks I see are aluminum. Every company I see is rigged with aluminum headache racks. Forestry, mining, logging, road construction, contractors, even the government vehicles have them. When I do see a metal one it's usually on an old beat up company delivery truck or something. I do see them, just not that often on a nice new truck. I understand what your saying. I know a guy that rates his metal ladder racks at 1000 lbs. load capacity and his aluminum racks(same size) at 500 lbs. load capacity. If aluminum is no good for a cab protector then why do I see so many of them ? why do all the big companys with fleets have them? they can't be that bad if almost every truck has them. can they? I don't want to stop loggs from comming into the cab. It's just a pickup. When I was hauling loggs every truck I ran had an aluminum bullboard. Even when I ran highway the trucks had aluminum bullboards. I don't understand what your saying. Thanks for taking the time to reply, I appreciate it.

[SignWave]

Y'know dusty, I always carry no less than 50 sheets of plywood on my rack...maybe i'll stack a few bags of concrete on that too..

My definition of a headahce rack is an accessory for your truck that looks good and the primary function is to prevent a ladder from damaging the cabroof and giving you a headache...
Very few guys carry much more than ladders on them. and the guys that do usually have a 24ft, a 32ft and a couple of tens... the guy that made the first rack is probably sitting on a beach in the Bahamas right now...

[SignWave]

oh i forgot... Last sumer while gathering fire wood for the cabin, I tossed a log into the box. It bounced up off a piece that was already there and just dinged the corner of my slider... guess whgat happend, guess what it cost to repair, guess what I really would have liked to have had on the truck..

if you guessed: it smashed the window, 50 bucks from the wrecker, 10 bucks for a tube of urethane, and a headache rack... YOU WIN!!!TADAAA!!! Todays prize is not a headache rack though... or a trip to mexico all expenses paid..

[FusionKing]

A lot of the factory made aluminum truck (1/2-1 ton) IS crap but the real truck stuff is usually pretty good. Just make it thicker than you would use with steel and more gussets and welds and you should be fine.
Aluminum can be very tough.

[Dustyhaze75]

cab protector

lol .................................thanks. you couldent pay me to go to mexico, unless it's on a bike. can I exchange it lol. ya thanks fusionking.