Best Bed Rack for Ram 1500

Intro

The Ram 1500 offers a complete lineup of do-it-all full-size trucks known for durability, technology, efficiency, performance and convenience. With up to 12,750 pounds of towing capability and 2,300 pounds of payload, the Ram 1500 can pull or haul a multitude of recreational toys and outdoor gear. The range of powertrain options include V-6 and V-8 engines with the eTorque 48-volt mild hybrid system, the V-6 EcoDiesel that delivers 480 lb.-ft. of torque and up to 33 mpg, and the 702-horsepower supercharged V-8 in the TRX, the quickest, fastest and most powerful half-ton pickup truck in America. Leitner engineered the Active Cargo System (ACS) rack to fit both the 5-foot-7-inch and 6-foot-4-inch beds of the fifth-generation Ram 1500, compatible with most trucks from model years 2019 - 2023. The ACS is also compatible with many third- and fourth-generation Ram 1500 trucks from model years 2002 - 2018.

ACS Benefits & Features

ACS Classic
The ACS Classic has been a hit with bed rack shoppers since it broke onto the scene in 2014. With such creative features as eye-level side storage and a rear sliding load bar, the ACS Classic is a rugged and unique modular rack that can accommodate tall or large items such as motocross bikes. It’s also available with integrated GearPODs for even more versatility, and a variety of compatible Leitner Accessories.

Technical Highlights:
    ● 81 pounds
    ● 23” tall measured from top of bed caps
    ● 250-pound off-road dynamic weight capacity
    ● 500-pound on-road dynamic weight capacity
    ● 1,000-pound parked static weight capacity

ACS Forged
The ACS FORGED is the modern, next-generation Active Cargo System from Leitner Designs. Equipped with single piece aluminum alloy uprights and custom 10.9 Alloy steel fasteners, the ACS FORGED offers extreme load carrying capabilities. Beyond its sleek design, the ACS Forged features Leitner’s patented sliding load bar, eye-level storage, available GearPODs and other accessories.

Technical Highlights:
    ● 85 pounds
    ● 23” tall measured from top of bed caps
    ● Grade 10.9 black Zi-NI coated fasteners
    ● 400-pound off-road dynamic weight capacity
    ● 800-pound on-road dynamic weight capacity
    ● 1,400-pound parked static weight capacity

ACS Tonneau
The ACS TONNEAU is available to further complement the ACS Forged rack. Featuring a compatible T-Slot Rail Tonneau Cover, the ACS Tonneau brings a standout storage solution along with the convenience and security of a seamlessly integrated covered bed tonneau to any truck bed.

Accessories

The modular design of the ACS rack means it can be tailored to fit all of your outdoor activities and gear. Throw in Leitner’s expansive lineup of Accessories, and the possibilities for personalization are endless.

Ranging from the patented GearPOD XL to the HydroPOD pressurized shower kit, the accessories for Leitner’s ACS offer unrivaled flexibility among truck bed racks.

Case in point: Leitner Designs’ patented side-mounted GearPODs, ideal for Ram 1500, provide exclusive eye-level storage and are available in three sizes to fit various needs. From a winter of snowmobiling at the upstate cottage in the woods to enjoying a summer weekend of wakeboarding on the crystal lake, the weatherproof, dust-resistant, locking and padlockable GearPODs for Ram 1500 keep precious gear safe, secure and within easy reach.

Selecting Your Rack

Leitner Designs’ ACS bed rack is a favorite among Ram 1500 owners because it's just as tough, versatile and bold as their truck. Bernhard Leitner, avid outdoorsman, dirt-biker and, of course, Leitner CEO and founder, created ACS to turn his dream bed rack into a reality. Designed for and built by off-road enthusiasts, the ACS is the sturdiest and most appealing modular rack system on the market, engineered to endure challenge after challenge, just like the Ram 1500.

Leitner Designs’ Active Cargo System (ACS) offers three models that fit Ram 1500: ACS Classic (starting at $1,550), ACS FORGED (starting at $1,950) and ACS Tonneau ($1,650 for Rack + Tonneau cover). Designed, engineered and manufactured in the USA, all three Active Cargo Systems feature a two-year limited warranty. The ACS is compatible with all Leitner accessories and is built for any job, from safely securing skis or snowboards to adeptly arranging loads of equipment and gear for an epic mountain bike adventure.

Here are three of our favorite rack-and-truck pairings featuring the Ram 1500 with the ACS Classic, ACS FORGED and ACS Tonneau:

Ram 1500 Rebel Crew Cab 5-foot-7-inch Bed
For Ram 1500 drivers who want to be a rebel with a cause, the Rebel Crew Cab 5-foot-7-inch bed with ACS Classic can’t be beat. The perfect partner to the Rebel Crew Cab 5-foot-7-inch bed Ram 1500, the ACS Classic integrates Leitner's celebrated benchmark design and unmatched capability with practical load carrying and adaptable storage options. Pricing for the ACS Classic starts from $1,550.

Which ACS: ACS Classic
Favorite accessory: GearPOD XL - GEN 2. Just like the trusty kayak in which you conquered Class-V rapids, the GearPOD XL - GEN 2 is made from roto-molded high-density polyethylene, delivering easily accessible, side-mounted storage for all your activities. With the convenient GearPOD XL, offering an immense 40 gallons of storage volume, there’s no need to deal with complicated and problematic storage bins. Hobbies/activities: Snow seeker, river explorer, alpine camper

Ram 1500 TRX Crew Cab 5-foot-7-inch Bed
For Ram 1500 TRX owners who enjoy blurring the desert landscape at triple-digit speeds with a bed full of gear and supplies in the rearview, the ACS FORGED is the rack of choice. Rigorously tested to five years of punishment and hundreds of thousands of off-road miles, ACS Forged is built to withstand the demanding, high-speed expeditions that Ram TRX drivers eagerly sign up for. Incorporating the strength and modularity of the original ACS Classic in a sleeker, more modern package, the ACS Forged bed rack starts from $1,950 and is available for all Ram 1500 models.

Which ACS: ACS Forged
Favorite accessory: HydroPOD. Whether mountain biking on a muddy single track all day or trudging the trail to get to that favorite 5.10 granite slab, chances are you’re going to get a bit muddy and a lot sweaty. That’s where the HydroPOD comes in. The compact, ACS rack-mounted shower system with 4.8 gallons of potable water capacity brings a pressurized wash to wherever the Ram leads you. Better still, the 20-foot-long hose reaches the TRX’s front grille, even when mounted in the very back of the Active Cargo System. Hobbies/activities: Baja banshees, El Cap experts, MTB mashers

Ram 1500 Big Horn Crew Cab 6-foot-4-inch Bed
The Big Horn Quad Cab 6-foot-4-inch bed Ram 1500 pairs maximum cargo carrying with maximum space for the entire team. So when it comes to bed racks, opt for the maximum – the ACS Tonneau. Like its ACS Forged sibling, the ACS Tonneau brings the same next-generation design, load-carrying capabilities and seamless, easy-to-use cargo security, but adds a compatible T-Slot Rail Tonneau Cover that provides the extra ease and security of a canopied bed.

Which ACS: ACS Tonneau
Favorite accessory: My Medic Collab First Aid Kit. When it comes to an emergency in the great outdoors, there’s no time for a second thought on first aid. The Leitner Designs & My Medic Collab First Aid Kit, sized to ergonomically fit in both the GearPOD and GearPOD XL, is prepared for any predicament with all of the emergency essentials, including gauze, cold packs, splint, blankets, bandages, EMT shears, gloves, surgical tape and clean and prep mods. Which hobbies/activities: Pacific Crest Trail adventurers, overlanding mavins, enduro enthusiasts

Conclusion

The strongest, most versatile modular rack-based cargo solution available today, Leitner’s patented Active Cargo System (ACS) is designed and engineered to suit any active lifestyle. With its adjustable sliding rear load bar and ergonomic eye-level storage and accessories, the ACS offers unparalleled functionality, performance and dependability, much like the diverse lineup of Ram 1500 trucks.

Leitner Designs builds the best bed racks for Ram 1500, whether selecting the established ACS Classic, the modern ACS Forged or the highly flexible ACS Tonneau. To learn more and see how owners are using and living with their ACS racks, please follow Leitner Designs on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.