How to Hook a Boat Rack on the Front of a Pickup

When you're carrying a boat on a rack that attaches to the front of your truck, it's usually because the truck bed is occupied by something else, such as a fifth-wheel camper. Attaching such a rack to the front of the truck takes a few common tools and a 2-inch receiver mounted to the frame of your truck, underneath the bumper.

Things You'll Need

  • White permanent marker
  • Drill
  • 2 adjustable wrenches
  • 2 1/2-inch bolt and nut
  • Lock washer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lift a 2-inch hitch receiver to the truck frame behind the bumper. Use a white permanent marker to mark the location of the receiver's four mounting holes onto the truck frame behind the bumper.

    • 2

      Lower the receiver. Drill mounting holes for the receiver at the locations marked in the frame, with a drill.

    • 3

      Raise the receiver to the mounting holes in the frame. Bolt the receiver to the frame using the bolts supplied with the receiver and two adjustable wrenches.

    • 4

      Bolt the fifth-wheel base rail to the angle iron on the front of the stinger mount using two the bolts included with the rack. Insert the stinger into the 2-inch receiver on the front of the truck. Move the base rail so that the hole in the receiver aligns with the hole on the tongue of the stinger.

    • 5

      Lock the stinger to the receiver by inserting a 2 1/2-inch bolt through the hole in both. Place a lock washer over the end of the bolt. Thread the nut onto the bolt and tighten securely. Place the legs of the over-cab rack into the base rail's uprights and secure with the bolts provided with the rack system.