Headache Rack Aluminum Standard - Black (04-22 Ford F150/16-22 Nissan Titan)

Ford F-150 Headache Racks: Frames, Hardware Kits and Bed Rails

This guide is for Ford F-150 owners shopping for a headache rack. A headache rack is a frame mounted at the front of the pickup box, behind the cab, that guards the rear window and cab from cargo that shifts forward. On an F-150 the choice comes down to your generation, your bed length, and whether the rack is sold complete or as a frame that needs its own hardware kit.

What to check first on an F-150

  • Generation. Our headache rack pages follow the F-150's generations: 2021-2026 F-150, 2015-2020 F-150, 2009-2014 F-150 and 2004-2008 F-150. Start on the page for your model year.
  • Frame and hardware. Many BackRack frames are sold without mounting hardware. BackRack's installation hardware kit is vehicle-specific and sold separately, so you order the kit for your year, make and model with the frame. Look for "Frame Only", "Frame Not Included" or "Kit Sold Separately" in the title.
  • Bed length. Bed side rails are cut for one box: the 6.5 ft bed (the 6'7" box) or the 8 ft bed. Know which one your truck has.
  • Body. Some BackRack titles for 2015 and later trucks say "Aluminum Body", so read the years in the title against your truck.

The options

Three kinds of product share the Headache Racks & Cab Protectors category: a rack sold as one listing, a rack frame that needs a separate hardware kit, and side rails or toolbox hardware that mount on the bed rails beside or behind a cab guard. The first is the simplest order. The Westcan Headache Rack Aluminum Standard - Black (WE6002000-01) is an aluminum rack with a black finish. Its title names no truck, so check the fitment table on the product page for the years it is listed for before you order.

2021-2026 and 2015-2020 F-150

Westcan for 2021-2024

The Westcan Headache Rack for 2021-2024 Ford F-150 is titled for those years. Westcan's own description calls it a "Headache Rack Hold Down Kit - Black (21-24 Ford F150)", so open the product page and confirm what is in the box before you order.

BackRack side rails

BackRack's side rails run the length of the bed and fit with or without a BackRack cab guard. Both pairs below are heavy-gauge HRPO tube fully welded to an angular base, and they install without drilling, dropping into the stake pockets over custom bolts. They also double as tie-down points. Choose by bed length:

2009-2014 and 2004-2008 F-150

The BackRack Toolbox Hardware Kit for 2004-2014 Ford F-150 (30112TB) carries 21-inch toolbox brackets for mounting a toolbox on a Safety Rack or BackRack frame, along with rail plates, neoprene strips, stake pocket hardware and fasteners. It is a no-drill kit, and the frame is not included.

For a 2004 truck, the BackRack Three Round Rack (149TR) is titled for the 2004 Ford F150. It is the frame only, and the install kit is sold separately. Use the fitment table to confirm your 2004 truck before you order.

Older trucks: 1997-2003

The BackRack Original Headache Rack (15003) is titled for the 1997-2003 Ford F-150, as well as some Silverado, Sierra and Titan years. Its hardware kit is required and not included.

One frame titled for 2004 and later

The BackRack Open Rack Frame Only (14900) is titled for the 2004+ F150 and the 2019+ Silverado/Sierra new body. It is the frame only and needs a hardware kit, so check the product page for the kit that matches your year.

In a Canadian winter

A rack and rails fixed to the bed rails and stake pockets sit in snow, slush and road salt all winter, so check the mounting hardware in spring. We ship across Canada and prices are in Canadian dollars. Each product page lists the years, makes and models it fits, and the vehicle selector confirms your exact year.

FAQ

Does a headache rack come with mounting hardware?

Not always. The BackRack Three Round Rack, Original Headache Rack and Open Rack listings in this guide are frames that need a separate hardware kit. Read the title for "Frame Only", "Hardware Kit Req" or "Kit Sold Separately" before you order.

Which BackRack side rails fit my bed?

Choose by bed length. One pair is cut for the 6.5 ft bed (the 6'7" box) and is titled for the 2015-2025 F150 aluminum body; the other is for the 8 ft bed and is titled for the 2015+ F150 and 2022+ F150 Lightning aluminum body.

Do the side rails need a cab guard?

No. BackRack says these side rails fit with or without a BackRack cab guard.

Will a rack listed for a 2015-2020 F-150 fit my 2022?

Only if the product's title or fitment table covers your year. Start on the 2021-2026 headache rack page and use the vehicle selector to confirm.

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