Conquering the road has never been so easy thanks to modern-day trucks. Automotive manufacturers aren’t the only ones making strides in improving trucks for drivers. Companies who design accessories to help upgrade your truck are also making important updates for drivers.
If you’re setting out on an adventure in your pickup truck, headache and bed racks for trucks are two partners you don’t want to leave behind.
Bed Racks vs. Headache Racks: What’s the Difference?
Bed racks for trucks and headache racks have vastly different uses, though you should not discount either. Despite their differences, they can work together to create the peak adventuring upgrade.
Just purchased a headache rack, and you’re ready to install? Maybe you bought a rear rack, and you’re ready to pop them on your truck. Before you get your handy drill out to bore into your truck’s body panels, let’s have a quick chat about stake pocket ties.
What are Stake Pocket Ties?
If you’re like us, then you probably drive your truck year-round. And unless you live in a dry climate, chances are that your truck is regularly exposed to rain and snow.
This moisture can wreak havoc on your truck. Where there is moisture, there is rust. Rust can be a truck killer. While most truck manufacturers spray a rust-inhibiting coat on body panels, puncturing (a.k.a. drilling) into these body panels exposes your truck’s vulnerability to rust.
That’s where stake pocket ties come in. Stake pocket ties can be a truck owner’s best friend. Instead of having to drill into the truck bed to install accessories, stake pocket ties fit neatly into the stake pockets. They are a convenient way to secure accessories without having to pierce your truck’s exterior armor.
Easy Installation
Stake pocket ties are a fast and easy way to install your new aftermarket accessories onto your truck. So easy, you can do it with your eyes closed.
Ok, maybe that’s a stretch, but you get the point.
Just pop the inserts into the stake pockets and tighten the bolts enough to hold them in place. Make sure you leave them a bit loose until you’ve got your accessory attached and in position. This will give you a little bit of wiggle room to get it in the right place. When you’re happy with the placement, go ahead and give the bolts a good tightening to keep your new goods in place. If you need installation visuals, you can check out our stake pocket tie installation video here.
Think stake pocket ties are just for headache racks? Think again. While you might think that they’re only used to help install headache racks, these little suckers have multiple uses.
If you’re in the market for a rear rack, we’ve got good news for you. You can use stake pocket ties to install your new rear rack. Gone are the days where you had to damage your truck body to make your cargo-hauling life easier.
Or maybe, you’re looking for a damage-free way to install your new bed rails? There’s a good chance that stake pocket ties can make that happen for you, too.
When it comes down to it, stake pocket ties can be used for a variety of purposes. If there’s a stake pocket, stake pocket ties may be the answer for you. If your trailer has stake pockets, you can use stake pocket ties for your trailer. These little guys have nearly endless utility and are a great, cost-effective DIY way to secure accessories and loads to your truck or trailer.
When you’re ready to install your new accessories, do yourself a favor and use stake pocket ties if you can. Because we know how damaging drilling into your truck can be, we include a free set of stake pocket ties with every Magnum truck rack purchase.
Ahhh. There’s nothing like that new truck smell – especially when you’re driving your new 2020 GMC Truck off the lot. With an average consumer review of 4.4 out of 5 stars, the 2020 GMC Trucks are a solid win. You know what goes well with that new truck? Accessories.
If you’re like us and you can’t wait to customize your new truck with a few accessories, you might be struggling to find accessories that fit your new truck. But we’ve got good news. If you’re in the market for an aftermarket headache rack, we’ve got the breakdown on what will work with your shiny new GMC toy.
New Year, New Features
So, what’s so different about the new 2020 GMC Trucks? Well, for one, they’ve loaded it up with a smorgasbord of updated technology to make your life easier – including 15 different camera views to give you all the visuals you need while towing.
If you’re wanting to find the right headache rack, there’s one primary feature that you need to keep in mind: the rearview camera. If you haven’t spotted the rearview camera yet, it’s not easy to identify from a distance. GMC did a doozy of a job tucking it into the third brake light, just above the rear window.
However, this can mean bad news bears for any aftermarket accessories that get in the way of these tiny little lenses. Let’s look at which headache racks get an all-clear from us.
Standard Duty vs. Heavy Duty
The first thing to note is that there is a difference in which racks will fit which body styles. Whether you opted for the SD or one of the HD models, you should understand how this affects which headache racks you should choose from.
For the Standard Duty model, the cab height is just a smidge shorter. To make sure your sight is as clear as day, you should stick to either the high profile or standard headache racks. These racks will have enough clearance to make sure that they don’t get in the way of your rearview camera. For full rear window protection while you’re hauling, try the full coverage standard headache rack.
If you’re a regular hauler, chances are you went for one of the HD models. Because the HD models have a taller cab height, they can accommodate just about any of the racks that you can find. Looking at a low pro model like this one? Great! That’ll do. Prefer a high pro fit like this one? Go for it! No matter what you opt for, the height of the heavy-duty cabs prevents your new headache rack from obstructing your rearview cameras.
Whether you’re team SD or team HD, you’ve got great taste. Why not add a little protection with an aftermarket headache rack? Because, hey, we don’t blame ya. Your truck is your baby, and you’d go to any lengths to keep her safe. Before you hit that ‘buy’ button, double-check to make sure you’ve got the right fitment for your new toy.
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