review Installed: Agri-Cover ADARAC Aluminum Series Utility Rack

[Zane]

Zane & Josh, The Merva Brothers

Co-Founders, GM-Trucks.com

October 2018

 

Pickup utility racks have been an option for anyone looking to haul around longer objects for decades. They've gotten the job done when stuff like ladders, wood, and canoes needed moved from one place to another.  With the options of bed sizes shrinking over the past few years, a stylish and functional utility rack can add, well , a lot of utility to your full size or midsize truck.

 

Unfortunately, not many racks look as good as they function and take away from the aesthetics of our vehicle. So, when we found a new aluminum utility rack that looked as professional as our truck, we wanted to try it out. In an effort to find a stylish utility rack we're reviewing the Agri-Cover ADARAC Aluminum Series. 

What is it?
Agri-Cover ADARAC Aluminum Series
Model Number 4001238 For 2007-2013 Silverado/Sierra 1500 with 6' 6" bed
MSRP: $491.30 / $578 MSRP (as of October 2018)
Manufacturer Website: https://www.agricover.com/truck-bed-racks/

Installation Time: 1-hour

Installation Difficulty: Easy with basic mechanical skills and a helping hand

 

 

Main Features

• Rust resistant aluminum construction
• No drill installation
• Compact and narrow upright designs
• Four load dividers included
• Compatable with Access-Cover bed covers

 

What We Like

• Modern and stylish brushed aluminum design
• Thick stamped upright supports are super staunch
• Modular attachment points and accessories
• Uprights can be removed or installed with one person
• 500-lb capacity

 

What We Don’t Like

• Stamped parts have sharp edges out of the box
• Can't re-position uprights without tools
• Rack as a whole can restrict what you put in the bed unless removed
• Tie-down holes are only barely bigger than a standard hook

 

ADARAC Aluminum Series Unboxing

 

The ADARAC came securely shipped in a long and moderately heavy box. One person can move the packaging around but two would be easier. 

 

 

We started out by unpacking our rack, laying out all of the parts and reading the manual. We found hardware packaging was excellent with no missing parts. The manual was clear and easy to understand. Nothing was scratched or damaged. 

 

 

The stamped aluminum uprights came covered in a protective sheeting/fabric and looking as if they were straight out of the forming machine. We almost cut ourselves on the uprights because no clean up work had been done to remove burrs or sharp edges. A smooth edge would have been a lot better and easier to handle. 

 

 

 Once everything was organized and we had familiarized ourselves with the installation manual, we started to get to work. 

 

ADARAC Aluminum Series Installation

We installed this rack at the same time as our Access-Cover Lorado Roll Up Cover. If you're doing something similar, don't make the same mistake we did and try to install the rack before the cover. It won't work, as the ADARAC blocks the bed-stake holes when installed. The same stake holes you need access to for installing the Lorado, so install your bed cover first. 

Speaking of...check our our full review of the Access-Cover Lorado here

 

After getting ahead of ourselves, we detoured and installed our cover before coming back to the ADARAC. The first step was to lay down the side rails and secure them to the stake pockets on the bed using compression style fittings. The attachment method is slick, requiring no drilling or cutting. It's also fully reversible and doesn't damage your bed. Best of all, the rails are never going to move. 

 

 

The first step is to drop the compression plates into the stake holds and tighten down the rails with two clamps/bolts per rail. 

 

Then we measured the distance between the installed rails on the bed and set the uprights at the same distance on the floor. We used some old shop towels to prevent scratching the pretty aluminum. 

 

 

Next, we attached the crossbars at the measured width making sure to center everything up. We then tightened the assembled front and back racks on the ground before lifting them up to the truck bed. 

 

 

A few bolts and adjustments later... our racks are on the truck. The best part about aluminum racks is that the front and rear sections are light enough for one person to install or remove them without help. 

 

 

The rear upright mounting bolts are in a tight space when installed with a bed cover and we couldn't use a socket wrench to tighten them down. 

 

 

And before we knew it, our Sierra had a new utility rack and bed cover. 

 

 

Total installation time took right around one hour and was easy enough to do with one person but would be quicker with two. 

 

ADARAC Aluminum Series Final Thoughts

An entire summer has gone by since we first installed our ADARAC Aluminum Series Utility Rack and we've been extremely glad we've had it as a tool on our GMC. 

 

We've used the ADARAC to help build a new bathroom, take our canoe to the local lake for a relaxing afternoon, and moved our ladder around to help with projects at home and work. 

 

 

The ADARAC has conquered every task we've thrown at it. It's never bent, felt flimsy, or failed to hold our cargo firmly in place. Basically... exactly what you want from a utility rack. The brushed aluminum finish and sleek stamped uprights also look good too. 

 

If the $500 price tag is too much, Agri-Cover offers the standard version of the ADARAC which is constructed with steel instead but uses the same basic design. Or, if you need a little wider load, the ADARAC Aluminum Pro Series is designed for larger objects and capacities. 

 

If you're in the market for a good looking, well functioning and indestructible utility rack for your truck, we recommend you look at the Agri-Cover ADARAC Utility Rack. 

 

Editor's Note: This product was provided at no cost for the purposes of a review. We only publish our honest opinions and give no consideration for the gratis product. 

 

ADARAC Aluminum Series Installation Gallery

 

 

[Black02Silverado]

That is a nice looking  rack and very functional!  Good job on the write-up.

[DougFL]

I thought you were getting the Tri-Fold Hard Cover?

[Zane]

12 hours ago, DougFL said:

I thought you were getting the Tri-Fold Hard Cover?

That's up next. 

[rkj__]

I was looking at these online the other day.  I really like the design.  The new style rear stake pockets / hand holds forced a re-design on their mounting, but it looks like they figured it out. 

 

I'd like one to carry my canoe, but I'm not too keen on pay more for the rack than I did for the canoe....

[Sierra Dan]

Zane, 

 

When will you be reporting on the new blue 2019 LTZ?

[Zane]

3 hours ago, Sierra Dan said:

Zane, 

 

When will you be reporting on the new blue 2019 LTZ?

When we get back from SEMA we'll have a full introductory post. We definitely got sidetracked over the last month, so it's taken longer to put together than we wanted. 

[Sierra Dan]

Sounds good.

Enjoy SEMA! 

[lazilililasie]

The other day, I was looking at these online. The layout is fantastic. They had to redesign their mounting due to the new form of rear stake pockets and hand grips, but it seems like they figured it out heardle game