Propickup Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/93724
ROCKIN' RACKS Custom and customizable cab- protecting barriers for those seeking function with form By Larry D. Walton Ranch Hand makes three levels of headache racks: light duty, rack and Hauler, which is seen here. The Hauler comes equipped with lights, but the window cutout is optional. It must be installed with Ranch Hand's short or long bed rails. Ranch Hand; ranchhand.com; (800)366-9712 F orm and function come together in many of the headache racks we've spotted in our recent travels. Cab protectors in general are designed to prevent expensive cab damage (and worse) by stopping the intrusion of objects in motion that want to stay in motion, to paraphrase my high-school physics teacher. Cab damage can occur during the loading of the bed, like an employee tossing a piece of rebar or wood into the bed, or from the load shifting under hard braking or impact that allows it to continue on its path according to the laws of motion. If the cargo has enough mass and the stopping of the pickup is suffi ciently abrupt, something's coming into the cab to do some damage unless appropriate protec- tion is in place. Landscapers often cringe at the sight of their guys beveled high lights, and rogue red tie down knuckles. Backbone also off ers their VBack, which is a rack for the back of the truck bed that can be moved forward on their bed rails. Backbone; getbackbone.com; (877)992-2252 30 PROPICKUP April 2012 This new look by Backbone features their skull screen design, powder coat with throwing prunings, pipes, hand tools and hardscape scraps into their pickups. That sound of breaking glass means you just spent a quick $1,000 or more just to replace the rear window. So much for that day's profi t. Headache racks, like the cage on my hockey helmet, are designed to protect something near and dear to us from taking the impact. This is the function part of the equation.