Head ache rack, question

Crossmember location is a big one. If you're mounting it with u-bolts sometimes the crossmember gets in the way and you have to either modify or put the rack closer/further from the cab than you'd like.

I would also highly recommend draining all the air so the cab suspension drops. Then mock up the headache rack. When the cab suspension deflates, it pivots the top of the cab back towards the rack. Too close and it'll hit. I'd give yourself some clearance with the cab deflated so it won't make contact.

 

Just make sure there’s clearance when turning. Remember there’ll be times hauling flatbed that you’re going to be in an active construction area. You may have to turn very tight to get in or out. Check your turning radius before heading out after head rack is installed. Other than that look for something that allows for storage of equipment.

 

Clearance with turning but enough room to get a brush behind it while washing should be about right

 

We mounted ours so we could use both sides of the rack. On the trailer side was all the usual; chains, boomers, cabinet, etc. On the truck side we put ladders, poles, etc., long or awkward stuff we needed to carry but didn't need all the time.

Measure from the kingpin to the corner of your trailer to determine trailer clearance (fifth wheel placement). Or, use the Pythagorean theorem (a2 + b2 = c2; solving the length of the hypotenuse). This was my preferred method because we pulled a lot of different trailers and also pulled a lot of pipe with front overhang so I could tell them how to preload the trailer without having to be there.

1. A line from the center of the front of your trailer back to the center of the kingpin is the "a" leg.
2. A line from the center of the front of the trailer across the front of the trailer to the corner is the "b" leg.
3. Center of the kingpin to the corner is the "c" leg (hypotenuse).
4. As @AModelCat posted, also allow for truck and trailer pivoting together when going up an incline.