Headache Racks, Truck Racks & Window Guards

It doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination to see how truck headache racks got their name. That’s because the best headache racks are designed to protect both you and your cab from shifting cargo in your truck bed.

What Does a Headache Rack Do?

A good headache rack serves as a critical barrier between the stuff in your truck bed, and the rear window of your truck cab. From ladders and lumber to row boats and race bikes, if you haul a lot of long, oddly-shaped, or otherwise cumbersome cargo with your truck, consider a headache bar to be cheap insurance against shifting cargo and a shattered rear window—or worse.

Choosing the Best Headache Rack

Figuring out how to pick the best headache rack for your truck depends on a few factors. For starters, you should assess the kind of cargo you typically haul around in your pickup. If it’s exceptionally heavy, you may want to opt for a stout set of headache rack bars made from steel. Conversely, lightweight aluminum headache bars deliver plenty of durability for light-duty hauling.

You’ll also need to determine how your visibility will be affected. A rack that offers a robust array of headache bars will perhaps have a more significant impact on your rear window visibility than, say, a more spartan headache rack. To that end, Summit Racing includes as many pictures as possible to give you a good idea of what the headache rack will look like once it’s installed.

Finally, don’t overlook the value of aesthetics. A good headache rack adds a rugged, off-road look to any pickup truck.

Other Benefits of Installing a Truck Headache Rack

Vital window, cab, and passenger protection aside, installing a good headache rack has tons of additional upside. To begin with, many headache racks feature mounting points for a supplemental set of auxiliary lights, strobes, or beacons. Headache bars can also serve as an extra mounting spot for a truck bed toolbox or bed tie-downs—which is why headache racks are often seen on vehicle recovery and service trucks.

As an added bonus, some headache racks are modular, which means you can install the headache bar, then scale up with other compatible accessories later.

How to Install a Truck Headache Rack

While all headache rack models and truck applications differ, installing a headache rack is usually a straightforward bolt-on job using typical hand tools. But to make sure, Summit Racing often offers downloadable installation manuals for many of the headache racks you’ll find on this page. That way, you’ll be able to assess what skills and tools you’ll need to finish the installation.

You’ll find both universal and truck-specific applications at Summit Racing as well. But when choosing the best headache rack for your truck, regardless of whether it’s a universal or model-specific option, you’ll definitely want to double check some critical truck bed measurements—namely the rail-to-rail distance between your truck bed sides and the overall height of the cab above the cargo box bulkhead. When possible, Summit Racing includes all those vital measurements on each rack’s part details page.

All told, with dozens of models and configurations available, you’ll have no problem finding the best headache rack for your truck right here. And with handy search filters, comprehensive tech support, and blazing-fast shipping, you’ll soon discover that getting your truck rack at Summit Racing isn’t a headache at all.