E-track Rear Deck Bed Support

[Aqua Puttana]

I needed a raised bed for my 2006 Freightliner 2500HC 140 passenger. I contemplated removing the plastic trim under the rear windows to install the supports, but decided against it. My decision was to install E-track right over the plastic trim.

The E-track will serve other purposes also. I used multiple sheet metal screws on the top anchors. The bottom was fastened where body metal allowed. I thought about jumping the empty spaces with angle iron to allow more fasteners on the lower part. For my medium weight load service the fastening I used will be fine. I don't regularly haul heavy cargo.


The E-track mounting could be moved up a bit. I needed to maintain a specific distance from the bed deck to the ceiling. If that wasn't necessary the E-track may have been able to be shifted up enough to allow more fasteners on the bottom section.

10 foot long E-track seemed a waste. I used 3 ea. 5 foot sections of E-track with a 4 11/16" electrical box blank cover as a splice backer. I later discovered that Amazon sells 8 foot sections. (No splice needed.)

The 4 each 2x3's were cut by Home Depot to 66" long. Under 10 bucks.

Some of the cross pieces.

2006BedEtrack02.jpg

The socket end with 2x3 installed.

2006BedEtrack01.jpg

I'll likely use deck screws through slots in the socket fittings into the 2x3's.

Added:
I ultimately used a single deck screw in the slotted hole of each bracket. That locks the cross support in. Because the deck screw is near the edge of the board I pre-drilled for the screws. Through bolts would be overkill in my opinion. The deck can then be attached to the cross supports to keep things from flying loose in the event of a collision.

The decking pieces will then be screwed or lashed to the cross supports. I haven't decided on the platform design as yet. It will likely be 3/8" possibly 1/2" sheet stock, or webbed slats. Slats will make for easier storage during non-use than does flat stock.

Some parts info.

10 E-Track Wood Beam End Socket
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

8 Foot E-track (Galvanized. Gray color will match the interior plastic better.)
https://www.amazon.com/Pack-Horizont...8+foot+e-track

I purchased 10 ea. E-track web fittings for another design that didn't work out. I will use them with heavy trucker bungee S hooks or carabiner clips for securing medium loads. They also offer 5 ea. at good price.

https://www.amazon.com/10-Fittings-C...ack%2Bweb&th=1

That's it for now.

vic

Added:
I used screws similar to these. I believe what I used were a #12 or #14 size that I had on hand. If I were purchasing screws I'd probably buy #12 or #10.

https://www.amazon.com/Steel-Finish-...+%2312+x+3%2F4

[pfflyer]

Looks good.

[Aqua Puttana]

Thanks. I was worried about rattles with all the brackets. Today I drove around a bit with the cross pieces installed. There wasn't any rattling back there except for a couple really poor places on the road. It should get even better with the deck installed for real use.

Bouncing all my 225# on the center of the one 2x3 didn't give any sign of problem. It will be even better with the decking installed to distribute the loads.

vic

[pfflyer]

Because my platform was not fasten down so I could quickly remove it, I strapped it down with a ratchet strap. Even though The cleats on the bottom of each of the four sections kept it from sliding and the cleats were wedged between the supports the strap was for worse case scenario. That may have eliminated any rattles in my case.
bed panels strapped in.JPG

[Surly Biker]

Looks nice! I've been planning something similar but have a couple extra challenges. I want to use L track for the van and they don't seem to sell a joist hanger that mates with that system. Also I want to raise the bed platform up to a more standard bike hauler configuration of about 39". Perhaps some standard joist hangers and metal channel to fabricate a riser. Not a welder, so I gotta keep it simple. Any thoughts or examples out there?

[pfflyer]

E track seems like it would be the easiest but there are plenty of l-track examples here on the forum. A lot of the moto builds here have a bed platform that would work for your application. I cant think of any off hand but look in the "Sprinter RV's and conversion write-ups" section. Several of the threads have moto in the title.

[Aqua Puttana]

Originally Posted by Surly Biker

Looks nice! I've been planning something similar but have a couple extra challenges. I want to use L track for the van and they don't seem to sell a joist hanger that mates with that system. Also I want to raise the bed platform up to a more standard bike hauler configuration of about 39". Perhaps some standard joist hangers and metal channel to fabricate a riser. Not a welder, so I gotta keep it simple. Any thoughts or examples out there?

I like the L-track which I added on the floor of my 2004. I did the same on my 2006.

I don't know of any joist hangers for L-track either. That was one of the factors that led me to using E-track.

vic

[hkpierce]

Since I still use my van with passengers, the normal grey E-track is surprisingly inconspicuous when the seats are installed. There is no interference with the seats.
http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2966

[NevadaBlue]

Thanks for the info! I am planning a removable shelf inside the back door, just below the window level. This should work well. I also want a 'wall' from the shelf to the floor, it will be just behind a captains chair and wheelchair between the wheel wells. I bet the track could work for that too.

[Aqua Puttana]

Originally Posted by hkpierce

Since I still use my van with passengers, the normal grey E-track is surprisingly inconspicuous when the seats are installed. There is no interference with the seats.
http://sprinter-source.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2966

I didn't recall seeing your low bed. That looks great.

HKbed.JPG

I was pleasantly surprised at how well the gray color blended in. For my 2006 I made the E-track sections on each side the same length. Were I to buy the 8 foot pieces I would chop the passenger side to fit, but just run the driver side the full 8 feet. More tie off points is a good thing.

For the height that I used I needed to remove the ash trays. They were useless for me anyway.

One of my plans is for cup holders that will mount to my unused, and now plentiful 10 ea. web brackets.

Originally Posted by NevadaBlue

Thanks for the info! I am planning a removable shelf inside the back door, just below the window level. This should work well. I also want a 'wall' from the shelf to the floor, it will be just behind a captains chair and wheelchair between the wheel wells. I bet the track could work for that too.

I don't know what your design plans are. Be aware that there are also vertical oriented E-track pieces. They have worked for some van owners.

vertical-galvanized_1_375.jpg

vic