The short answer: The Leitner ACS FORGED is the best bed rack for the Ford Ranger. It fits every Ranger from 2019 through the current truck, including the Ranger Raptor, with a rack built for each bed. Three versions are available: Drill ($2,099), No-Drill ($1,999), and Tonneau ($1,950). Only the Drill version includes Leitner's patented sliding rear load bar. The Ranger kit uses clamps made specifically for the Ranger's bed rail.

The Ranger came back to the U.S. in 2019 as a midsize truck that people actually take off-road. The current generation added a Raptor trim built for extreme off-road speeds. That means any rack you choose for your Ranger needs to hold up to the extreme off-road g-forces that the truck is designed to generate. Enter Leitner Designs ACS FORGED. Here's what fits, what it holds, and how it mounts.

Which ACS FORGED Fits My Ranger?

Three racks cover the modern Ranger. Pick by model year, then by bed length. Trim and cab style don't change the fit, and the 2024 and newer Ranger Raptor uses the same rack as the standard truck.

Confirm fitment for your specific truck at leitnerdesigns.com before ordering.

Leitner's Ranger racks start with the 2019 model year. The earlier Ranger that ended in 2011 isn't covered.

How Does It Mount on a Ranger?

The ACS FORGED clamps to the top of the bed rails, the same way it mounts on other trucks. The difference is the clamp itself. The Ranger's bed rail has its own profile, so the Ranger kit ships with clamps shaped to fit it. You don't need to source anything separately, and you don't need to modify the bed.

Everything else about the install follows Leitner's standard pattern.

What Does the ACS FORGED Hold?

The same numbers apply whether you run the Drill or the No-Drill version. That's worth stating plainly, because plenty of racks give up capacity in exchange for an easier install.

Vehicle manufacturer load limits always govern. Where the truck's rating is lower than the rack's, the truck's rating applies.

The 4.0g figure is the one worth understanding. Most manufacturers publish a load rating without saying how they arrived at it. Leitner validates to 4.0g of force with a 400 pound load, which simulates what a loaded rack actually experiences on a washboard road at speed rather than what it can hold sitting still.

Why the Sliding Load Bar Matters on a Ranger

The Drill version's patented rear load bar slides forward so tall cargo goes in from the rear without unbolting the crossbar. On a 5 foot bed, that's the difference between a rack that carries a dirt bike and a rack that has to come off to carry one. Plenty of Ranger owners bought the truck because it's the right size for a bike and a weekend, and the slide is what lets the rack and the bike share the bed.

What Is the Difference Between the Drill and No-Drill Versions?

Less than the names suggest. Both versions clamp to the bed rails the same way. Neither one puts holes in your bed floor or your bed rails.

The Drill version adds four holes total, two in each D-pillar, to accept nutserts. Those four holes are what allow the rear load bar to slide.

If you want the sliding load bar, you drill four holes. If you don't, the No-Drill version gives you the same clamps, the same capacity, and no holes anywhere. Load ratings are identical between the two.

How Hard Is the Install?

Leitner publishes one to two hours at an intermediate skill level for the no-drill install, meaning basic knowledge of hand tools. At 85 pounds the rack is a two-person lift to set in place, but everything after that is one person with a Torx set.

A complete no-drill install uses 62 fasteners, roughly 40% fewer than comparable modular bed racks. The reason is hardware that does more per piece.

There are no loose flat washers in the kit. Leitner uses SEMS fasteners, which carry a captured washer on the bolt itself. That takes the loose washer out of every joint. Competing kits ship dozens of separate washers.

Thread locker is already applied. Every fastener carries a dry thread locker patch rated for roughly 10 install cycles, so there's nothing to buy and nothing to wait on while it cures. Torque values are set for dry hardware to match.

The hardware is metric Torx. Metric sizing matches the fasteners already on your truck, and Torx resists cam-out better than hex under torque.

What Can You Mount on It?

The rack is built around a universal T-slot architecture, so accessories bolt on wherever you need them rather than only where a manufacturer drilled a hole.

A rooftop tent is the obvious first addition, and the rack is rated for it. The second is a GearPOD, a lockable storage box that mounts to the top and bottom of the rack at eye level, so gear is reachable from the ground instead of from the bed. The HydroPOD adds pressurized water for rinsing off after a ride.

Recovery gear, traction boards, fuel and water storage, lights, and antennas all mount to the same architecture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the ACS FORGED fit the Ranger Raptor?

Yes. The 2024 and newer Ranger Raptor uses the same 5 foot bed as the standard Ranger and takes the same rack.

Does the ACS FORGED fit a 2019 to 2023 Ranger with the 6 foot bed?

Yes. There's a dedicated rack for the 6 foot bed on 2019 to 2023 trucks.

Does the ACS FORGED fit an older Ranger?

Leitner's Ranger racks cover 2019 and newer. The earlier Ranger that ended production in 2011 isn't covered.

Do I need to drill my Ranger to install a bed rack?

Not with the No-Drill version, which clamps to the bed rails and adds no holes anywhere. The Drill version adds four holes total, two in each D-pillar, for nutserts that let the rear load bar slide. Neither version touches the bed floor.

How much weight can a Ranger bed rack hold?

The ACS FORGED is rated at 1,400 lbs static, 800 lbs on-road, and 400 lbs off-road, validated to 4.0g of force with a 400 pound load. Your truck's own load limits still apply and govern where they are lower.

Can I put a rooftop tent on a Ranger bed rack?

Yes. The ACS FORGED is rated for it, and a bed-mounted tent keeps that weight off the cab roof.

How long does it take to install?

One to two hours at an intermediate skill level, using 62 fasteners for a complete no-drill install.

The Bottom Line

Three racks cover every Ranger from 2019 on, Raptor included. Pick by year and bed length, and the Ranger-specific clamps come in the box.

The ACS FORGED holds 1,400 lbs parked and 400 lbs off-road, validated to 4.0g rather than calculated on paper, installs in one to two hours with 62 fasteners, and it's designed, engineered, and manufactured in Corona, California. All of it ships same day.

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