This will be my first high rack to build for a pickup. The platform is 60"x72", and will sit right at the top of the cab. There's a basket that runs across the entire front rail and the fixed ladder will tie into the receiver hitch for support.

The crossmembers are a little funky bc I didn't do any figuring on exactly where I needed to tie the mounts up underneath until after the deck was pretty well together. I'm using 1.5" 14 gauge tubing for the structural part and 1.25" 16 gauge for a few of the floor supports as well as the handrails.





I got *most* of the expanded metal tacked onto the floor, I was about 3" short of being able to use one whole piece so I cut it at a cross member and will tie them in there, shouldn't make it any less stout.



Uprights for the rails welded in and straight.



Rail welded up



Added some mounting points on each corner for the straps



Flipped her upside down and tacked up the stand, the deck will end up being about 44" off the bed floor. Should give an eye level height of somewhere around 10'-11'.



Right side up



Front basket is added plus most of the 3" lip on the platform to keep stuff from rolling off:



That's how she sits for now, I will get back to it tomorrow morning!

Very Nice

Nice! Looks as if you and I are using the same welder set up.

I like it. How much do you think it will weigh?

I will be able to calculate that by the end, but as it sits right now I can put it on my table by myself

Looks good.

Keep us posted on the progress. I'm interested in one and will also need a firewood rack. Please PM with cost for both.

PM sent-

Tacking in the expanded metal for the basket:





Finishing the floor. I had enough of a drop laying around to cover what I needed, but it would have put the pattern perpendicular to what the rest of the floor already was. Not sure why but I just can't stand to do it that way, so I grabbed another sheet and added it the right way.



Flipped it over and climbed up in it to see how it felt. It was a little wobbly, so I threw it in my pickup and strapped it down to see how it was once secured. It's still light enough for me to put it on the table, take it off, flip it over, then put it in the truck by myself.

That looks good but will be a tree catcher for sure it needs to be about 2 feet lower where your knees would be about even with the cab but just the way i would do it .

Looks great. My hunting buddies and I are about to build one similar to that.

How much would that cost if you had to figure in your time at welding shop rates.

Awesome work R36

$800

It will for sure, but I built it to customer specs so whatever they want is what I make! If I ever get around to building one for myself it will be this high too, if I wanted a short one Id set a barstool in the bed!

90% of them I've seen are that same height if not higher. I've seen some that the floor was several feet above the cab.

x2

Most we use are taller. They arent made for a place with real trees anyway. The tall ones are made for the brush country!

Very Nice

Nice! Add a padded bench seat with grab handles, mounted gun scabbards and swivel mounts for lights

The ladder is rigged up to be removable, for now I left quite a bit of excess on it that will have to be trimmed off this afternoon when I fit it up to his pickup. I used 1 3/4" 14 gauge tubing for the pockets, ladder is made of 1.5" 14 ga and will also end even with the receiver hitch will will tie into it...if I did my math right.

FINALLY got the truck over to fit up the ladder. It went pretty smoothly, everything fits nice and once he picks his seats and paints the ladder I will have some finished pictures. I used 2" 11 gauge for the receiver with 2" 3/16 strap connecting it to the ladder. Thing is stout as can be with not a lot of play at all. 3/8" boots hold the top part of the ladder on.

Awesome rig right there!

Can you make a rack for the top of my tahoe

More awesome work.