Headache Racks

American-made aluminum headache racks — built to order for light pickups, working fleets, and Class 8 semis.

A headache rack earns its keep every mile. Wickum Weld builds aluminum headache racks for every kind of truck on the road, from half-ton pickups to long-haul semis, each one welded in-house and built to stand up to the work. Whether you need a clean light-truck setup or a full Class 8 cab rack, we manufacture it to fit your truck and your job.

What Is a Headache Rack?

A headache rack is the barrier that stands between your cargo and the cab of your truck. Mounted at the front of the bed or behind the cab, it keeps a shifting load from coming forward during hard stops and gives you a solid place to mount lights, tools, and gear along the way.

The name says it all: a good headache rack saves you the headache of a load that won't stay put. Beyond the safety angle, it's one of the most practical upgrades a working truck can carry, adding mounting real estate for everything from work lights to tire chain hangers without crowding the bed.

Wickum Weld manufactures three series of headache racks, each built for a different class of truck and a different kind of work.

Adventure Series (Lt. Truck)

Built for the light-truck crowd — half-ton and three-quarter-ton pickups put to work and to play.

The Adventure Series headache rack is hand crafted from aircraft-grade 6061 aluminum, delivering serious strength without the weight penalty of steel. It's the right call for contractors, outdoor crews, and anyone hauling ladders, lumber, or gear who wants a clean, durable rack that won't drag down payload or fuel economy.

Built For: Light pickups, work-and-play setups, weekend haulers

Material: Aircraft-grade 6061 aluminum

Mounting: Bolt-on, configured to your bed and cab Part of the Adventure Collection.

Commercial Series

For mid-duty trucks and working fleets that run hard every day.

The Commercial Series headache rack is built heavier and tougher for service trucks, utility rigs, and commercial haulers. Welded from marine-grade 5052 aluminum, it holds up to the punishment of daily use and gives crews a dependable mounting platform for lights and accessories. When you're running more than one truck, we build to spec so every unit in the fleet matches.

Built For: Service trucks, utility fleets, mid-duty commercial work
 
Material: Marine-grade 5052 aluminum Mounting: Configured per truck; fleet-spec builds available Part of the Commercial Collection.

Heavy Duty / Class 8

This is where Wickum Weld built its name. Our Class 8 cab racks are engineered for the long haul and the heaviest loads on the road.

Manufactured from marine-grade aluminum and built to take real-world abuse, our Heavy-Duty cab racks are sized 65–68 inches tall and 70–96 inches wide to fit a wide range of cab configurations. Window Cutouts are available in 27-inch width or the full width of the rack, keeping rearward visibility open without compromising the build.

Built For: Class 8 semis, long-haul and heavy commercial trucking

Material: Marine-grade aluminum Sizing: 65–68 in. tall, 70–96 in. wide Window Cutouts: 27 in. wide or full width of the rack Mounting: Three Piece Clamp system

Part of the Heavy-Duty Collection.

Materials & Build Quality

Every Wickum Weld headache rack is built from aluminum chosen for the job. Light-truck racks use aircraft-grade 6061 aluminum for high strength at low weight; commercial and heavy-duty racks use 6061 extrusion in combination with marine-grade 5052 aluminum for outstanding corrosion resistance and durability in harsh conditions.

Every rack is welded in-house at our Vancouver, WA manufacturing facility using American-sourced materials. Nothing is outsourced. We build each rack to order, which means consistent welds, tight tolerances, and a finished product that's made to last the life of your truck — one weld at a time.

Custom Options

No two trucks work the same way, so we don't build every rack the same way. Wickum Weld headache racks are made to order, and we'll configure yours around the truck and the job.

Window Cutouts — 27-inch width or the full width of the rack, for open rearward visibility Light

Mounting — work lights, light bars, and beacon mounts positioned where you need them Tire Chain

Hangers — integrated storage for chains on heavy-duty and Class 8 builds

Fleet-Spec Builds — matched configurations across an entire fleet

Three Piece Clamp Mounting — clean, secure installation on Class 8 applications

If you have a configuration in mind, we'll work with you from design through delivery.

Where to Buy / Distributors

Wickum Weld headache racks are built to order and available direct as well as through our distributor network. To spec out a rack, get a quote, or find a dealer near you, reach out to our team.

See our distributor network for dealer locations, or contact us directly to talk through options and delivery or pickup arrangements.

Series Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions