If you’re of the ilk who uses their Toyota truck for actual work, there’s a solid case to be made for investing in a Toyota Tacoma headache rack. These units are generally made of metal and, at minimum, provide a bit of protection against objects rudely introducing themselves to your truck cab through the rear window. In other words, it’s a bit of insurance in case you don’t stop the dirt bike in time while loading it into the bed.
They also provide a myriad of new places on which to tie down your cargo, though it should be noted that haphazardly tying rope in all directions can create a dangerous situation. Be methodical with your securing techniques and never rely on simple gravity to hold your stuff in place. But if everything that you carry relatively small and can fit your toolbox or under a tonneau cover, then a headache rack may not be necessary.
Lead photo courtesy Zachj6497/Shutterstock
Table of contents
1. Editor's Choice: Black Horse Black Atlas Roll Bar
Purists will scream into their carburetor kits but we’re including this so-called ‘roll bar’ on our list of headache racks for Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks. Its rigid 4-inch diameter tube construction is more than stout enough to handle whatever tie-down duties you throw at it, while the mesh basket introduces a level of versatility not seen in many of its competitors. The sellers say this unit is designed to carry an LED light bar measuring up to 50 inches in length, before going on to needlessly point out that such a light is not included. At least the mounting tabs are in place. Protected by a black powder-coat finish, this rack should look good for many years into the future. With all the features this Toyota Tacoma headache rack has to offer, our editors easily made this the favorite of them all.
2. Best Budget Friendly Headache Rack: Backrack 10200 Safety Rack
This brand is one of the leaders in products of this type, to the point where a lot of truck-minded gearheads simply call them ‘Back Racks’ instead of headache racks. Like Kleenex or Zamboni, companies know they’ve made it as a brand when the general public uses their name to reference all products in the genre. This particular example has a wire mesh pattern to protect the truck’s back window and provide places to tie down items. This headache rack for Toyota Tacoma is said to sit higher above the cab than some other options, so heed any clearance signs lest you inadvertently become the subject of a viral video on YouTube. Note that mounting hardware for this thing is sold separately.
3. Addictive Desert Designs Venom Chase Rack
Made right here in America and featuring a color that’s billed as ‘Hammer Black’ the testosterone just oozes out of the ad for this particular headache rack. It has mounting points for not one but two LED light bars – one 50 inches and facing forward, one 30 inches and facing to the rear. Specifically built for 2014+ Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks, it should take any sessions with the angle grinder or a large deposit in the swear jar to get this thing installed. It comes with satin black aluminum panels, but the seller states the rack can be upgraded to several color options. Select features include a .120″ wall steel main tube construction plus laser cut panels, tabs, and plates to provide a precise and direct fit.
4. Fab Fours Headache Rack
If you want your Toyota Tacoma to resemble an angry tow truck from the mean streets of Chicago, this headache rack from the crew at Fab Fours will be right up your alley. It dispenses with the typical mesh insert, which hampers its functionality as a tie-down point but permits a truck to retain use of its sliding rear window and keep some semblance of rearward visibility. This rack is made of stout 12-gauge steel and is single-stage black powder coated for longevity. There are provisions for a couple of 2×2 square LED pods, which is all you really need if you’re using the lights for off-road recovery purposes instead of being a total dudebro and blinding everyone in the vicinity.
5. Over The Rail Tonneau - Headache Rack Mounting Kit
We mentioned the lack of mounting hardware in some of these products, so this product is a good one with which to round out our list. It permits the installation of a headache rack on a Toyota Tacoma that’s equipped with an over-the-rail tonneau cover. This is an accessory found on just about every Tacoma plying our nation’s off-road network. Real-world customers on Amazon report it works as advertised – not something that always happens with products purchased online – and that one does not have to take a drill to their expensive new Tacoma in order to install the things. Natty pictures from customers who’ve shelled out the money for one prove its worth.
Why are they called headache racks?
Go for a ride over dirt roads and washboard surfaces in a pickup truck equipped with one of these things and you’ll soon find out why. Back in the bad-old-days, a headache rack was often just a loose assemblage of metal that hammered and squeaked its entire life all while residing just a few inches from the driver’s head and ear. On the flip side, some also say these things got their name from the ability most of them must prevent tools and such from crashing through the rear window. This indecent would be headache inducing, leading to the adoption of ‘headache racks’ for this type of kit.
Why should I install a Toyota Tacoma headache rack?
Some people install headache racks on their Tacoma because they transport a ton of supplies or equipment for their jobs. These racks allow drivers to secure items such as lumber, PCV pipes, or machinery so that you can get them safely to and from a place of work. Other just thing they look cool on the back of a pickup, though we’re relatively certain even the greenest of city slickers could benefit from a headache rack and its extra tie down points.
Additional Resources
Best Truck Bed Extender Options
Must Have Toyota Tacoma Accessories
Best Toyota Tacoma Bed Rack Options
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