Choosing the Right Truck Rack with BACKRACK

If you own a pickup truck, chances are it sees at least a little work. And frankly, if you’re doing any kind of hauling—especially of heavy or bulky items—you’re risking damage to your truck cab. Supplies shift, cargo jostles around, and perhaps on one very unlucky occasion, you slam on the brakes, and a ladder or piece of lumber crashes into the rear window.

You need a truck rack.

But not just any truck rack. You need something sturdy, dependable, easy-to-install, and affordable. But how do you find the best truck rack that suits your needs?

First, you start with BACKRACK.

We’ve introduced you to BACKRACK’s bellwether, the original BACKRACK truck rack, which does a bang-up job of securing cargo and protecting your cab. But modern-day trucks are more than just workhorses for hauling supplies to the work site. The applications for today’s pickups are as diverse as the people who own them, so there’s a good chance you need something more comprehensive.

BACKRACK’s got options for everyone from the contract worker to the weekend warrior.

Whereas older racks were made exclusively for work truck owners, BACKRACK’s taken note of a growing market of drivers who need a four-wheeled workhorse for more than just hauling tools and supplies. That means, you’ll find modernized truck racks with attachment points for accessories like antennas, speakers, or strobe lights, easy drill-free installations, and compatibility with a broad set of tonneau covers.

It’s a lineup that offers as much to the Overlanders and off-road enthusiasts as the full-time electrician and construction worker. And for those DIY junkies, the storage, attachment, and securable spots on BACKRACK’s truck racks make them a perfect choice for the weekend trip to grab garden supplies and home renovation gear. That’s because, as the manufacturer states on its website, BACKRACK truck racks are built to be sturdy and functional. But the design concept doesn’t stop at utility. BACKRACK offers several styles of racks, meaning you’ll get a rack that’s up to the challenge of securing your cargo while also looking good on the back of your ride.

Here are a few worthy candidates.

The Professional Goalie: BACKRACK’s Safety Rack

If choosing the right truck rack means choosing the safest truck rack, then the BACKRACK Safety Rack is the rack for you. The safety rack boasts complete and total coverage of a truck’s back window while providing needed visibility via a two-inch welded wire screen.

BACKRACK takes the safety element one step further with a two-inch wire screen manufactured using 3/16-inch cold rolled wire that’s welded at every intersection. That makes the Safety Rack rugged enough to tie items to it, but easy to see through.

Robotically welded into a heavy gauge square steel frame, the Safety Rack’s generous width provides more ladder and cargo-carrying capacity than the company’s traditional BACKRACK. Plus, it still leaves room for mounted lights and accessories via some handy brackets.

Fully compatible with most tonneau covers, the Safety Rack ensures you don’t have to choose between bed coverage and cab protection. If you want a little more uncovered window space, BACKRACK also offers the Safety Rack in a half-rack variation.

The Fresh New Hair Cut: BACKRACK’s Louvered Rack

Maybe you’re more interested in choosing the best-looking truck rack. In that case, BACKRACK’s Louvered Rack is a solid choice. BACKRACK touts the Louvered Rack as a product with great styling and a popular option for “truck owners who want to add a trendiness to an otherwise serious-looking vehicle.”

While all BACKRACK truck racks are crafted from hot-rolled pickled and oiled steel (HRPO) to remove the scale that usually forms on the surface, the Louvered Rack’s horizontal slats (or, well, louvers) are built from the same quality materials. The rack also features a rolled edge to ensure better powder-coat adhesion.

Paired with BACKRACK’s multi-stage electrostatic dip process to ensure no area of the Louvered Rack is exposed to the elements and an industry-leading powder coat finish to prevent rusting and corrosion, this rack is an investment that’s here to stay.

Easy to mount with little-to-no drilling necessary, this low-profile cab guard plays nice with in-bed toolboxes and tonneau covers, so you can maximize form and function. Plus, BACKRACK accessories like strobe lights, directional arrows, antennas, or speakers, attach easily to the louvers with no drilling necessary. And, like the Safety Rack, you can also opt for the Half Louvered Rack if it better suits your application.

The Basic Butch: BACKRACK Open Rack

Sometimes, choosing the right truck rack means choosing the simplest solution. If you’re on a tighter budget and don’t need a lot of bells and whistles but still need something reliable, rugged, and versatile, The BACKRACK Open Rack is hard to beat on all three fronts.

The simple and open design means you can quickly hook a bungee cord or ratchet strap around the flat bars. And the sturdy construction ensures you can rest a ladder or lumber between the uprights—without fear it’ll go flying through your window like a bad deleted scene from Final Destination.

No matter what you’re securing, you can do so knowing your rear window and cab won’t pay the price of shifting cargo. And really, what more can you ask of your truck rack?

The Open Rack is also compatible with most tonneau covers—allowing you to have your cake and eat it too. With just a few adapter brackets, things slot into place for easy installation.

Adding in a no-fuss, no-drill installation, toolbox placement options, and a brand-new low-profile hardware kit, the Open Rack is an excellent option for truck owners who favor usability without sacrificing affordability.

For the Retro Fan: BACKRACK TRACE Rack

If you’re searching for a rack that merges classic, aggressive style with functionality, the BACKRACK TRACE rack takes cues from chase racks loved by off-road enthusiasts. Originally debuting at SEMA 2021, this rack is one of the newer additions to the BACKRACK lineup and departs from the traditional headache rack style.

Still, it doesn’t skimp on a durable build. Crafted from rugged 14-gauge black powder-coated steel, the TRACE rack boasts a sculpted design for a sleek finish. BACKRACK also offers an optional Cab Shield to enhance cab and passenger protection and create a complete racking solution. If you’re concerned about marring up your ride with holes, the rack’s design cuts down on installation headaches with a simple, secure drill-free install for most late-model trucks.

And speaking of a complete solution, the BACKRACK TRACE gives drivers options if they want to pair the rack with a tonneau cover. The rack is compatible with most wide-top tonneau covers that sit on top of the siderails. That includes popular tonneau models like Extang Solid Fold, Extang Trifecta, Lund Genesis Elite Folding cover, and TonnoPro folding covers.

Whether you want a rugged rack for a dirt bike ride out on the trails, a complete package for hauling all your equipment for a few days out in the wild, or a more stylish look for your construction gear, the BACKRACK TRACE is a versatile and slick-looking option.

The Ultimate Workhorse: BACKRACK Three Light Rack

For the driver who wants a reliable rack for the worksite, or just an option that perfectly merges safety and functionality, BACKRACK’s Three Light Rack is a great choice. Built with the same hot-rolled pickled and oiled steel as other products in the lineup, the Three Light Rack is designed to protect the truck’s finish and reduce peeling.

The Three Light Rack gives you added safety and visibility thanks to spots for a set of high-mounted brake lights that sit on both sides of the cab’s back window. This added feature protects you and your passengers, plus other drivers on the road, if you need to make a sudden stop with a load of masonry bricks or copper piping in the truck bed. (NOTE: lights are sold separately.)

The rack comes with two powder-coated inserts to reduce corrosion that easily bolt into your truck’s frame with stainless steel cap screws. Both sides of the rack have three posts perfect for attaching all types of accessories like bungee cords, extension cords, and rope.

You’ll want to check the specs of the Three Light Rack before choosing it for your truck since it requires the purchase of a hardware kit (sold separately), which varies by part number.

NOTE: If you want a more straightforward option with three posts on either side of the cab window but no brake light slots, check out the Three-Round Rack. It offers the same sturdy build and slick design but with six total posts for attaching your ladders, cargo, or anything else you’re hauling in the truck bed.

The BACKRACK Difference

While it’s easy to talk about bells and whistles, the price point is one of the biggest factors when choosing a truck rack. Thankfully, BACKRACK’s products are as affordable as they are durable.

Since all the options we introduced here are quite budget-friendly, your decision will likely be based on how you plan to use your truck and, by extension, your truck rack.

So, what will it be? The Safety Rack for security, the Louvered rack for style, the TRACE Rack for adventure, the Three Light Rack for safety, or the Open Rack for usability?

BACKRACK is a market leader in pickup truck cab guards in North America since 1988. The company’s success is largely owed to the company’s high-quality products and excellent customer service. Staying in constant dialogue with customers has given BACKRACK vital lessons in what people want and need when it comes to truck accessories, allowing the company to streamline its production and focus on the important things. Thanks to BACKRACK’s experience and dedication, choosing the right truck rack has never been easier.