The Hawaiian Sawhorse Rack consists of two sections, one mounted at the front and one at the back of the bed. Each section consists of the metal leg and clamp assemblies supplied by U.S. Rack, and you supply a wooden “crossbar”. This crossbar is typically cut from a standard construction grade fir 2 x 4 to a length appropriate to the width of the truck in accordance with the assembly instructions. When the rack is assembled, the height at the top of a crossbar made with a 2 x 4 is about 25-1/2 inches above the truck bed rail and provides at least 3 inches of clearance above a 22” high cab. If you have a taller cab such as the 26-inch tall Ford Super Duty or the Dodge Mega-Cab or just want more height above the cab, you can use 2 x 6 or 2 x 8 lumber for the crossbar instead of a 2 x 4 and this will add 2 or 4 inches to the height.
The later model Toyota trucks often have a rail that runs just below the bed rail on the sides and front on the inside of the bed. This is called the Toyota Deck Rail System. All 2005 and later Tacoma’s and some 2007 and later year Tundras come with this rail system. The Deck Rail on the Tundra can be removed. The Hawaiian Sawhorse Rack cannot be used when the Deck Rail System is installed, nor can it be used on a newer model Tacoma from which the Deck Rail has been removed.
The later model Nissan trucks often have a rail that runs just below the bed rail on the sides and front on the inside of the bed. This is called the Nissan Utili-Track System. Since 2004, some Titan and Frontier model trucks have been outfitted with this rail system. The Hawaiian Sawhorse Rack cannot be used if the Utili-Track Rail System is installed.
The Hawaiian Sawhorse Rack is a very versatile truck rack. It can be installed or removed in minutes without any drilling, can be located anywhere along the bed rails to carry loads of varying lengths, can be easily loaded with a forklift, and will carry up to 300 lbs of cargo. This rack is not just for carrying heavy loads, however. It is ideal for carrying canoes, kayaks, ladders, and other lighter cargo. It can also be easily removed at the job site and employed as a sturdy sawhorse. The rack has four small cargo stops that can be rotated upward above the crossbar to guide and help contain cargo. These may be easily rotated down below the top of the crossbar when the rack is being used as a sawhorse or when extra-wide cargo is being carried on the truck. Remember, since you determine how long you cut your 2 x 4, if you have a special need to carry cargo such as an extra-wide aluminum boat, you may make the crossbar wider to meet your need.
The Hawaiian Sawhorse Rack is constructed of 4 sets of metal legs, bases, clamp assemblies, and all hardware necessary to assemble the rack with your 2 x 4 or other wooden crossbars. The legs are 16 gauge 1-inch square tubes, which are welded to the bases in a bi-pedal configuration for strength and stability. The bases are formed from 14 gauge steel. The clamp assembly and crossbar mounting plate are heavier gauge material. The exterior surfaces of these parts are then powdercoated. All threaded parts are zinc-plated or stainless steel. The high-density polyethylene plastic used is in the end caps. High-density rubbery pads are affixed to the bottom of the bases that rest on the bed rails and on the top of the clamp bottoms that make contact with the underside of the truck bed rails.
The Hawaiian Sawhorse Rack attaches by clamping. An eye-bolt projects down through a tube in the base of the rack and connects to a threaded L-shaped clamp bottom. This part, which extends under and around the lip of the bed rail, is drawn upward as the eye-bolt is tightened. This squeezes the bed rail of the truck between the clamp below and the base of the rack above. Because of the bi-pedal base, this structure is quite sturdy and stable in all directions. This rack will safely carry up to 300 lbs of cargo when the load is evenly distributed.
When one is familiar with the rack, it can be installed in about 5 minutes. When it arrives in its shipping box the first time, please read the general and safety instructions carefully. The first-time assembly will require some additional time.
The top of the truck bed rails, upon which the rack rests, is protected by rubbery pads on the bottom of the rack. The underside of the truck bed rail is contacted by a rubbery pad on the top of bottom part of the clamp.
There are many different types of bed liners. Spray-on bed liners offer no obstacle to installing the Hawaiian Sawhorse Rack. The rack can be used in any case where the clamp bottoms can hook around the lip of the bed rail and tighten against the bottom of the bed rail. The newer style under-the-rail bed liners work easily with the rack because they allow access to the bottom side of the bed rails. The older style over-the-rail bed liners, which are a single piece, will require a slit or a hole being made in the bed liner. U.S. Rack offers a bed liner kit, consisting of a 2-1/2 inch hole saw to make a hole plus 4 plastic caps to plug the holes again later when the rack is removed.
The vast majority of people who see a Hawaiian Sawhorse Rack on a pickup assume that it is bolted into the sheet metal of the truck. On close examination one can see that the rack is clamped on to the truck, however, the crossbar is cut to fit your truck and so it will only fit a similar model truck. As of this day, U.S. Rack has not received a single report of the theft of a Hawaiian Sawhorse Rack from a truck.
Eye-bolt loops are provided at the center of each of the four corner bases for use with ropes or ratchet straps.
Yes. Simply ensure that the front and back portion of the rack are far enough apart to allow the forks of the lift to pass between them.
Once you are familiar with the Rack, you can remove each section in one minute or less.
The Hawaiian Sawhorse can be stored on two wall hangers. U.S. Rack Wall Hangers are an optional accessory that can be purchased with a rack. They can be screwed into studs of your garage or other wall 32” apart. When hung, the rack fills a space only about 5 feet wide, 2-1/2 feet high, and 1-1/2 feet deep. Optionally, the racks can be used as stands for kayaks or other items, as shown in the photo below, sent by a customer from the Hawaiian island of Molokai.
The Hawaiian Sawhorse Rack is offered only in a mat black color. Many people paint the wooden crossbar black or stain the wood to an attractive tone. It is also possible to notch the crossbar to fit and transport canoes or other cargo.