Best Truck Ladder Racks – Reviews & Guide

Transporting anything on a truck can be challenging especially if not strapped tight enough.  The solution is to strap anything you load to the car as tightly as possible, so it can be one with the truck and move the same state of motion as the truck. That is easy, but what if the load you need to transport is longer than the truck? Like a ladder for example. While strapping a ladder to the truck is a good idea, overtime the straps may deteriorate, break, and may just not be too strong to allow the ladder to slide off the truck. This is what truck ladder racks are for.

The best truck ladder rack helps you use your truck by transporting heavy and long cargoes with ease. It doubles your capacity, increases the truck’s efficiency, and adds safety to your truck and the cargo itself.

Comparison Table

Product Name	Images	Features	Current Price
1. Rola Haul-Your-Might T3 Truck Bed Ladder Rack		- Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra and Tacoma trucks - Up to 800 pounds
2. MaxxHaul Side-Mount Truck Bed Ladder Rack		- Compact Pickup Trucks - Up to 250 pounds
3. TracRac [Thule] SR Sliding Truck Bed Ladder Rack		- Vehicle-specific base rails are required for installation - Up to 1,000 pounds
4. MaxxTow [MaxxHaul] Truck Bed Ladder Rack w/ Load Stops		- Fits most trucks - Up to 400 pounds
5. Erickson Truck Bed Ladder Rack w/ Load Stop		- Fits almost any truck but will not work with tonneau covers - Up to 800 pounds
6. Bully Adjustable Ladder Rack for Full-Size and Compact Trucks		- Fits almost any full-size and compact truck beds - Up to 500 pounds
7. Adarac Custom Truck Bed Ladder Rack		- Fits almost any truck beds but can't be used with other bed-rail-mounted accessories - Up to 500 pounds

Best Truck Ladder Racks

#1. Rola Haul-Your-Might T3 Truck Bed Ladder Rack – Adjustable, sturdy, and great in reducing wind noise

[amazon fields=”B00V9T0HZ4″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_title =”Truck Ladder Racks” image_alt = “Rola Haul-Your-Might T3 Truck Bed Ladder Rack” image_width=“250” image_height=“250”/]

Rola, Australia’s premier outdoor outfitter of vehicles has been building cargo management systems that are designed for extreme usage for everyday lives. They have been around since 1989 and have strongly speared through the market with their quiet, durable, stylish and vehicle-friendly gears.

Materials and Fabrication:

Move kayaks, ladders, lumber, and other lengthy cargoes safely with Rola Haul-Your-Might T3 Truck Bed Ladder Rack. These ladder racks are durable, lightweight, and rugged without adding bulk to your truck. Made from anodized aluminum load bars coated with black powder, they offer excellent rust resistance and are scratch and corrosion-proof.

Haul-Your-Might’s design features easy clamp-on installation. No need to drill or cut. All mounting hardware is included (crossbars, locking end caps, upright supports, and installation hardware). Its adjustable arms allow customizable placement within your truck bed. Just loosen the knobs and move it anywhere along the track you feel will work for you. This sure helps when you haul items with different dimensions.

This truck ladder rack’s uprights are 25 inches tall and can carry up to 800 pounds. Its aerodynamic design uses the elliptical shape of load bars instead of round or square crossbars help with reducing wind noise and drag.

Features:

• T-Slots lets you attach Rola channel-mounted carriers and accessories
• Anti-theft system that includes locking covers for crossbar accessory channel and locking knobs for slide feature
• Rubber strip in T-slot to help slip resistance and cushion your load

Specifications:

• Over-bed Rack
• Capacity: Up to 800 pounds
• Height: 25 inches
• Application: Nissan Titan, Toyota Tundra and Tacoma trucks with cargo management systems
• 5-year limited warranty

Pros	Cons
Adjustable uprights that conform to your needs	Limited pickup models it can fit with
Durable and rust resistant	Poor assembly instructions
No drilling/cutting required installation

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#2. MaxxHaul Side-Mount Truck Bed Ladder Rack – Adjustable, lightweight, and compatible with virtually any truck

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MaxxHaul Towing Products has been a household name for towing solutions in the Northern America region. Their mission to provide the best-in-class service to their customers, they have a long-range of hauling systems designed and engineered by over 260 employees based in US and China sales offices and facilities.

Materials and Fabrication:

Secure your ladders, lumbers, kayaks, and canoes during transport with MaxxHaul Side-Mount Truck Bed Ladder Rack. With a sturdy steel construction and black powder coat finish, it is durable and corrosion-resistant.

Its side-mount design leaves your truck bed open than most racks that spread across the width of your truck. Stability is sure at its maximum with the bolt-in installation. Drilling is required but this assures that it holds steady to the side of your truck. You will not have a hard time installing since the package comes with all the hardware needed and installation guide.

This ladder rack system that is ideal to long materials has multiple tie-down points built-in on its uprights. Its strong frames are gold-plated zinc for superior strength.

Features:

• Heavy duty all steel construction
• Integrated tie-down points for securing your load
• Design is of smaller stature

Specifications:

• Side-mounted Rack
• Capacity: Up to 250 pounds
• Height: Adjustable from 19 to 34 inches
• Application: Compact Pickup Trucks

Pros	Cons
Black powder coat makes it corrosive resistant	Mounting hardware wouldn’t fit on some side rails
Durable and sturdy	Poor assembly instructions

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#3. TracRac [Thule] SR Sliding Truck Bed Ladder Rack – Sturdy rack made for carrying materials up to 1,000 pounds

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Thule lives up to its group’s motto, “Active Life, Simplified.” With this embodied in every product they produce, they surely have provided outdoor enthusiasts with a wide range of products ranging from roof racks, roof boxes, bike racks, to camera bags as well as multisport- and bicycle trailers. They are passionate about their consumers ideal getaway that allows them to bring everything and not leaving anything behind.

Materials and Fabrication:

Protect your materials while transporting them with Thule TracRac SR Sliding Truck Bed Ladder Rack. This system made of 6000-Series aluminum construction is strong, sturdy, and durable. Load stops which are also made of heavy-duty aluminum material keep your lengthy cargoes in place. The dual-layer powder coat finish improves rust protection and resistance to scratches.

This truck ladder rack is designed to provide versatility. Its sliding system allows the racks to adjust according to the maximum length your vehicle’s bed can accommodate. The T-track base rails that are sold separately lets users remove the rack from the base quickly if not needed. Installation requires vehicle-specific Thule TracRac base rails. As with anything, items really work better if paired from the same brand.

Its durable construction won’t detract from load rating even when they are made of lightweight material. It features not just elliptical crossbars to minimize wind resistance, but airfoil strips too to prevent air whistling through slots.

Features:

• Corner brace design and aluminum crossbars
• Aerodynamic and noiseless because of having integrated wind deflectors
• Aluminum ARC cleats that offer extra tie-down points

Specifications:

• Over-bed Rack
• Capacity: Up to 1,000 pounds (Caution: Check your owner’s manual to make sure you don’t go beyond the truck’s carrying capacity)
• Height: 25 ⅜ inches
• Application: Vehicle-specific base rails are required for installation and use of this truck rack system
• USA-made with lifetime limited warranty

Pros	Cons
Wide base on each upright gives superior stability – no need for added locking	Must re-tighten occasionally, to make sure bolts aren’t stripping out the threads
Designed to reduce drag and wind noise	Compatible base rails are sold separately

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#4. MaxxTow [MaxxHaul] Truck Bed Ladder Rack w/ Load Stops – Universal truck ladder rack

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MaxxTow belongs to the same group of companies that are dedicated to producing innovative and high-quality hauling solutions, Maxx Group LLC. They run alongside MaxxHaul at serving consumers according to their specific needs. MaxxTow product line is but one of the many creations that Maxx Group came up with to meet and exceed customer’s expectations.

Materials and Fabrication:

Crafted with aluminum, this lightweight truck rack remains durable and rust-free, thanks to its no rust construction finish. This technology resists years of light and heavy wear and tear due to normal usage. Even though it is made of aluminum, its inner chamber of crossbars is reinforced to give increased structural strength. Therefore, holding up to 400 pounds of maximum weight capacity.

MaxxTow Truck Bed Ladder Racks are easy to install as they allow you to choose how to install them. Drill holes or clamp them, however, you want to put them up, they will sure to hold your gears secured due to its adjustable mounting brackets.

Fit the width of whatever you are carrying by adjusting the cargo bumpers found on both sides of each rack. These keep the haul from sliding off the side of the racks during driving speeds. Like most rack systems, an additional way to make sure they are secured is to tie them down with your trusty bungee cords.

Features:

• Powder coated finish to resist wear
• Package includes adjustable cargo bumpers
• Rigid aluminum construction

Specifications:

• Over-bed Rack
• Capacity: Up to 400 pounds
• Height: 26 inches
• Application: Fits most trucks

Pros	Cons
Allows you to adjust anywhere along the length of the cross bar to ensure stability	Rack will not install on pickup bed with cleats and railings and liners
Easily mounts onto your pickup truck rail system
Strong, sturdy, and fits perfectly on most trucks

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#5. Erickson Truck Bed Ladder Rack w/ Load Stops – Best single clamp-on installed rack for 800 pounder hauls

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This North American leader in manufacturing tie-down straps, loading ramps and securement products started in a tiny garage in 1977 and has since progressed to be known internationally. They branched out in Michigan nearby states and in Ontario Canada. Erickson Manufacturing promises no product goes out their doors that they wouldn’t want in their toolbox. This is their mindset to make sure their products provide safe and secure cargo management.

Materials and Fabrication:

Confidently carry your canoes, carpet rolls, ladder, lumbers, and more with Erickson Truck Bed Ladder Rack w/ Load Stops. Constructed with rustproof aluminum materials, it is also yellow-chromate-plated to add to resisting corrosion and scratch. Being made of lightweight aluminum, it won’t take up much of your vehicle’s carrying capacity.

Their patented clamps allow easy installation without any drilling or cutting required. The simple clamp-on installation will fit almost any pickup truck. The crossbars are designed aerodynamically to reduce wind resistance, drag and noise. Worried about moving loads? Its sliding technology allows you to keep them in place. Simply loosen the hand knobs, slide the haul to your desired position and retighten the knobs.

These load stops are also useful as they can be used as tie-down points for straps. These are perfect when you need to carry items that have no rungs that can potentially slide off the track.

Features:

• Patented Clamp design – no drilling required
• Adjustable crossbars fit all pick-up trucks
• Constructed from lightweight and corrosion-resistant materials

Specifications:

• Over-bed Rack
• Capacity: Up to 800 pounds
• Height: 29 inches
• Application: Fits almost any truck but take note that it will not work with tonneau covers. Some alteration may be required to properly install this ladder rack if there is a bed liner
• USA-made with 90-day limited warranty

Pros	Cons
Can hold ladders and other items securely	Users have reported of weld joints breaking
Takes less than an hour to install and reinstall	More expensive than most brands
Materials are solid but customizable

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#6. Bully Adjustable Ladder Rack for Full-Size and Compact Trucks – Fully adjustable racks for 500 pounders

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Pilot Automotive is one of the industry leaders in designing high-quality products to help outdoor enthusiasts live their outdoor dreams. What started as a small venture in 1996 quickly became a big name in the growing DIY market. Their foundation of success lies in their truck accessories that are competitive at its fair prices.

Materials and Fabrication:

Ideal for carrying ladders and light construction materials, Bully Adjustable Ladder Racks are constructed with steel tubing that is 2 inches in diameter and beefy 3/16 In. thick x 14 In. long footplates. Its rugged design and sturdy look are owed upon its heavy-duty, powder coat finish that also helps it to be rust and corrosion-free.

Installation requires drilling but with the help of the base plates’ pre-drilled hole, you won’t have to guess which part of the rails you will need to drill through. Just make sure that there are no obstructions during drilling that might prevent access to the nut and washer. This rack is versatile, you can use it as a single, front-mounted rack when the rear upright is removed.

Need a better truck bed clearance? With its telescoping load bars, you may adjust them to fit all bed widths, except the step or flare side beds.

Features:

• Adjustable telescopic crossbars and load bars
• Steel tube construction
• Heavy duty powder coat finish

Specifications:

• Over-bed Rack
• Capacity: Up to 500 pounds
• Height: Adjustable from 26 ½ to 28 ½ inches
• Application: Fits almost any full-size and compact truck beds
• Comes with 1-year limited warranty

Pros	Cons
Lightweight compared to other steel racks	Height may be too tall to fit in garage
uUsed as single, front-mounted rack	Set of screws are flimsy
Allows better match cab height

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#7. Adarac Custom Truck Bed Ladder Rack – Best for vehicles with inside-the-rail tonneau covers

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Agri-Cover, Inc., the makers of Adarac ™ Truck Bed Racks has been around since it was established in 1981. Since then they dedicated to manufacturing quality products that range from roll up covers, roll tarp systems, utility plows, to truck bed racks. They take pride in the products they produced that have surely exceeded customers’ needs and expectations.

Materials and Fabrication:

Carry ladders, lumbers, pipes and other long equipment without sacrificing space on your bed truck or your bed covers. Adarac allows you to do so with its streamlined ladder rack system that works well with installed bed liners or in-rail tonneau covers. Its durable construction of extruded anodized aluminum finish helps against corrosion and ensures strength and durability.

Without compromising your need to have your bedliners and covers, install this rack system easily by attaching them to stake pockets on your truck bed rails. No, you don’t need drilling or cutting. It also allows you to customize according to your truck’s fit. That way, you won’t have the elevated top bars obscuring your rearview.

Worried about your ladder or kayak sliding off as you drive? Its full-length slotted utility rails give you multiple tie-down options, as well the tie-down points you see on the upright bars. You may also adjust them by spreading out the upright bars. for long cargo or moving them closer for shorter loads.

Features:

• Integrated mounting channels allow you to easily attach accessories.
• Easy installation – no drilling or welding required.
• Works even with your covers and other inside-the-rail truck bed covers.

Specifications:

• Over-Bed Rack
• Capacity: Up to 500 pounds
• Height: 25 ⅞ inches
• Application: Fits almost any truck beds but take note that it can’t be used with other bed-rail-mounted or stake-pocket-mounted accessories like side rails, bed-rail-mounted toolboxes and metal rail caps.
• Comes with 1-year limited warranty

Pros	Cons
Sleek, aerodynamic design with additional tie down openings at the top prevent wind drag and noise	May still need to modify to make it work with bed-rail-mounted or stake-pocket-mounted accessories like side rails.
Contoured uprights are easy to remove
Effortless tie-down spots

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Our Top Pick

You wouldn’t have picked a truck if the items you haul with it aren’t valuable to you. While a truck’s size is way better at loading your items than a car, there could still be instances when you will need the right equipment to handle your cargo. The trucks ladder racks that we reviewed all possessed a massive number of characteristics that are ideal for a tool to help you with your freight.

Considering the buying factors for truck ladder racks, we choose the last item on our list as our top pick – Adarac Custom Truck Bed Ladder Rack. The strength it offers to carry your load at the same time keep them secured with all the tie-down spots are a major plus. Not to mention, it works with truck beds that have bedliners and covers. We are sure you love your truck beds you cover them with anything you need to protect them, so it’s a positive for us that it can work with other accessories you use to care for your truck.

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Accessories That May Go Along with Your Truck Ladder Rack

Forces of nature just might not be able to keep us from transporting what we need to transport. Whether it is the sun, the rain or the snow we would want to protect our long items with, we would want a reliable tarp or cover-ups to cover not just our ladder rack but our items too. Make sure to check with the ladder rack’s brand if they have their own enclosure tarps. Erickson Manufacturing has Erickson Heavy-Duty Silver Tarp, 14 x 14 Weave – 16′ x 20′ which is perfect for Erickson Truck Bed Ladder Rack w/ Load Stops.

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Do You Need a Truck Ladder Rack?

Whether it is a ladder or a kayak you need to transport, a truck ladder rack can cover it for you. Certain items, especially the long ones may be hard to fit on your truck. Truck ladder racks can do that and some more. This cargo management system allows you to use your truck bed for other loads without your longer gears getting in the way.

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What Type of Rack Do You Need?

Truck ladders racks, while they mostly cater to long and large hauls are different from one another. They vary from the items they carry, materials they are manufactured from, and how they are mounted. Here is a comparison guide to let you understand which type you need for your truck.

Over-Bed Racks

The most practical method of transporting longer and larger items is over the truck beds. Since these gears are too long for the truck beds, a suspended truck ladder rack on top of the truck bed is the best solution. Most over-bed racks have arms that allow them for adjustable heights. This gives enough room for your truck bed to accommodate other loads such as coolers, luggage, and toolboxes while adding 1000 pounds more of load capacity. Brands like Hauler Racks, Thule, and TracRac have over-bed racks that are designed with adjustable poles and secure fasteners to guarantee safe and secured transportation of any items. Over-bed ladder racks are often mounted with no drilling required. This allows easy setup and removal as needed.

Over-Cab Racks

This type of rack is mostly like what you can see with cars. They are literally over the truck’s cab. Over-cab racks allow you to create more space if you have already filled your truck bed to the brim, by making your vehicle into a double-decker. This allows you to transport some ladder or kayak, or any long items. These racks are available for full, mid, or compact-sized pickup trucks for a maximum weight capacity of up to 1200 pounds. Makers like Pace Edwards and AA Racks have such over-cab racks to offer that installs easily without drilling required.

Side-Mount Racks

If you prefer your long loads to be perching on just one end (or both ends) of your truck, then side-mounted ladder racks are best for you. Perfect for carpet rolls, ladders, pipes, and some lumber, side-mount racks, they free up your truck bed for other important things to bring. Side-mount racks hold up to 500 pounds of weight, making it a stable platform for your lengthy gears. Knaack and MaxxHaul are some of the makers that offer reliable side-mounted ladder racks.

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Buying Guide: What to Consider in Getting a Truck Ladder Rack?

It is strongly suggested to get a truck ladder rack if your truck driving lifestyle includes you transporting heavy cargoes from point A to point B. If this is your first time to get one, here are some points you may want to go over to get the best truck ladder rack.

Capacity

Depending on the usual weight of the items you haul is how you should decide on the carrying capacity you will need your truck ladder to have. It isn’t always necessary to get the one with the highest weight capacity especially if you don’t need it. Pick one that matches just what you need and will also comply with your truck’s load rating.

Truck Rack Benefits

Determine whether you really need this type of cargo management system. If you often transport lengthy and large items and always feel out of storage area on your truck bed, then getting a ladder truck rack wouldn’t be so bad. This will allow you to haul longer and larger items while giving way to other things you can load on the truck bed.

Type of Rack

As discussed above, truck ladder racks come in various types. Compatibility with your vehicle should be your first concern in picking which type to get.

Installation

Most truck ladder racks require drilling just to be sure of the rack’s stability. But, a lot of times you won’t be using these racks and you may want to remove them for some time. Consider getting a rack that can be set up and taken down effortlessly.

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Conclusion

There are a lot of truck ladder racks in the market and it may be confusing to pick which one you need especially if this is the first time you are doing it. If you establish what you need and what your truck can work with, making the right decision won’t be too hard.

Let your fellow drivers help you too, it pays to read comments and reviews on online stores because these are real experiences of real people who bought these items.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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