How to Make a Canoe Rack for a Ranger Truck

The quickest and simplest way to cobble together a canoe rack for your Ford Ranger pickup truck is with a combination wood and steel bolts and Styrofoam noodles. Add some strap tie-downs and you'll have an easy-to-set-up rig that is not only inexpenesive, but easier to remove and load than your typical professional rack. It may not be pretty, but it gets the job done just fine.

Things You'll Need

  • 3 boards, 2 by 4 stud length
  • Drill and bits
  • 4 carriage bolts, ½ inch by 4 inch with washers and bolts
  • Circular saw
  • Chalk line marker
  • Tape measure
  • 3 Styrofoam Swim noodles with center hole
  • Large sharp knife
  • Racheting tie-down straps
  • Zip ties
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the two square holes in the sides of the pickup bed, on top near the tailgate. Rip saw a stud narrow enough to fit vertically in the holes. Make two uprights tall enough to sit in the holes and stick up 3 inches higher than the top of the cab of the truck.

    • 2

      Drill two holes in the tops of the wooden uprights, 1-½ inches from one end of the boards. Stick the uprights in the holes on the bed and line them up with each other. Measure the distance between the outside edges of the uprights and cut two 2-by-4s to that width. Drill holes in both ends of each 2-by-4 crossmember in the center, 1-½ inches from the end and sides.

    • 3

      Bolt one crossmember at the top of the uprights. Measure halfway down and drill holes for a second crossmember to add stiffness. Bolt the second crossmember into place. The wooden frame sits in the holes at the back of the bed and looks like an "H" with a top on it. It may be a little loose, but once you tie down the canoe, the frame will be held firmly in place.

    • 4

      Cut a slit halfway through a Styrofoam noodle to the hollow center. Pry apart the noodle and press it down over the top crossmember of the wooden frame. Zip tie the noodle in place to provide padding for the rear of the canoe. Cut two more pieces of Styrofoam noodle halfway through and press the pieces over the gunwales (sides) of the canoe near the front -- where the canoe will rest on top of the cab of the truck.

    • 5

      With the Styrofoam noodles pressed over the gunwales near the front of the canoe, lift the canoe, flip it over and set it down on the top of the rear frame. Set the padded gunwales near the front directly on top of the truck cab.

    • 6

      Hook two tie-down straps to the manufacturer's towing hooks under the bumpers at the sides of the Ranger at the front and back. Attach the other ends of the tie-down straps to the hook eyes at the ends of the canoe. The straps will make an upside down "V" at either end. If the straps rub against the paintwork of the truck, cut another piece of Styrofoam for each strap long enough to cover where the strap rubs the paint. Split the noodles halfway through lengthwise and cut them to the appropriate length. A zip tie around the noodle or a little duct tape will hold it in place once you tighten the straps.

    • 7

      Tighten the straps in short steps so that you don't overload the ends of the canoes. Tighten till the canoe is firmly on the rack and doesn't shift around. Load the rest of the gear in the truck bed and head for the river or lake. After you've driven for 15 minutes or so, stop and retighten the straps if needed. Always check at least once after you start out because the boat can shift after it bounces around a bit on top of the truck.