Does anyone know the dimensions of the stake pockets for a 2005 F150 Lariat? I want to build a kayak rack and need to order the correct size rectangular tubing. Thanks for your help!

 

Personally, I'd measure it myself for peace of mind.

 

I would, however, my stake bed openings are covered with a plastic bed rail cover, and therefore, before I cut into the plastic to open the stake pockets, I want to be sure I can purchase the right size rectangular steel tubing to fit the stake bed pocket.

 

bear_catt, hate to bring bad news and I would hope that someone would prove me wrong.....

Why would Ford cover up stake pockets?
If there there are no access hole 'covers' in the bedrail caps then there are no stake pockets.

Do you see any kind of buldge on the inside wall where a stake pocket may be?
If there is a buldge, what are the chances that it is fitted with a 'sleeve' making a true stake pocket?
If it is there and fitted with a sleeve, why in the name of Henry would Ford cover it?

 

This should help. Cut them open and measure.

 

I don't get my they covered them up completely like they did. They're there, but you have to cut that plastic bed rail cap to get at them. Maybe an oversight?

 

I think you have to find a truck with the actual stake holes covers to see the difference.
They have a bracket that would have specific dimensions.
The pic above looks like a bottomless hole.

 

Try this:

https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas..._pdf/96-97.pdf

 

The flareside has the pockets covered by the bedrails as well. I can carry two kayaks in the bed. One is 14 ft long and the other 15 ft. Anything beyond 15 ft would pose a weight distribution problem. With the tailgate down, you have roughly 8 1/2 ft of flat surface to support your kayaks.

I also use foam on the tailgate to keep them from sliding around.

Another alternative is to support your frame by securing it to the inside tiedown hook screw holes after removing the hooks. The drawback is that you can't remove the frame quickly unless you were to use wingnuts at the base.

 

Thank Yoy Lee F. !! Just what I was looking for.

 

I have to ask have any of you looked at your damn beds lately?

Theres no drilling, no cutting, no nothing. There is covers over the hole that can simply be taken off with even a butter knife .

I guess ford did a good job in foolin the fools

 

Sounds to me like you are the fool. Do you think he/she would really ask if there were covers? Come on!

My stake pockets were covered with the plastic bed caps. I had to cut holes in the plastic cap to get to the stake pockets underneath to put my bed rails on (thanks to trytokeepup for the pictures he put together for me). Mine is a screw with the 5.5' bed. I'm guessing yours is not. Your truck isn't the only model F150 Ford produces!!

 

My 2005 fx4 supercrew bed rail caps cover the stake holes too.
no access cover like the older model.

SportFX4

 

Is your '04 the old body style Heritage? The new body style F150's don't have the access covers like the old body style did, I had an '01 that had those and my '05 doesn't.

 

bear_catt, this thread has bothered me and I've racked my brain trying to figure out what's going on.

I have built some bed racks for styleside pickups and I recall the depth is about 7.5 inches. There is a 'cage' with a bottom inside the hole. There is also a 'bolt' hole inside the bed centered on pocket to secure what goes in the hole.

For your rectangular tubing what measurement are you allowing for depth?
Will the depth be the same for the front and back?
The pics on here don't appear to have a defined bottom.

I can only figure one reason as to why the styleside has caged pockets with access covers while the Flareside and Supercrew have no cage and the pocket holes were covered from the factory....fiberglass.

The supercrew holes can be exposed and a bull ring inserted or bedrails added that use expansion bolts.

However, I am concerned about your application as I envision some kind of rectangular tubed 'leg'.

There are 'rail clamp' type racks out there.

Just a heads up, good luck.