The short answer: The Leitner ACS FORGED is the best bed rack for the Nissan Frontier. It fits every Frontier from 2005 through the current truck, in both the 5 foot and 6 foot bed, with a rack built for each. 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. If your truck has Utili-Track, the bed-rail sections come off before the rack goes on.

The Frontier is the midsize truck that kept its frame, its V6, and its bed lengths while the rest of the segment changed. That makes fitment simpler than it is on most trucks, but it also means two generations and two bed lengths to sort out. Here is what fits, what it holds, and the one thing a 2022 and newer owner should know about the long bed.

Which ACS FORGED Fits My Frontier?

Four racks cover the whole Frontier range. Pick by generation, then by bed length. Cab style does not matter, and Pro-4X, Pro-X, and SV trims all use the same beds.

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

The 2005 to 2021 trucks share one bed design across the whole run, so a 2008 and a 2021 take the same rack. The redesigned 2022 and newer Frontier gets its own racks for both bed lengths.

What About the 2022 and Newer Long Bed?

Nissan still sells the 6 foot bed on the current Frontier, on the King Cab and the Crew Cab Long Bed. Leitner builds a rack for it. The No-Drill version is available now. The Drill version with the sliding load bar is in development for the current-generation long bed.

Does It Work With Utili-Track?

The rack fits, but the Utili-Track bed-rail sections have to come off first. Those rails sit right where the ACS FORGED mounts, so they get removed before the rack goes on.

If your truck doesn’t have Utili-Track, nothing changes.

What Does the ACS FORGED Hold?

The same numbers apply whether you run the Drill or the No-Drill version. That is 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 Frontier

The Drill version's patented rear load bar slides forward so tall cargo goes in from the rear without unbolting the crossbar. On the 5 foot bed, that is the difference between a rack that carries a dirt bike and a rack that has to come off to carry one. On the 6 foot bed it still matters: a full-size bike with the tailgate up is a tight fit in any midsize, and the slide is what makes it routine.

One thing to know if you are also planning a tailgate extender. A Gatekeeper-style extender does not slide with the load bar and sits below it even when raised, so it cancels the benefit of the slide. Pick one or the other based on what you haul most.

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

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

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 do not, the No-Drill version gives you the same clamps, the same capacity, and no holes anywhere. Load ratings are identical between the two.

Is There a Tonneau Version?

Yes. The ACS FORGED Tonneau mounts to the rails of specific retractable tonneau covers, so you keep a working cover and gain a rack above it. It is rated at 800 lbs static and 400 lbs on-road, with no off-road rating, and its rear load bar does not slide. It is priced at $1,950 for the rack; a rails-only kit is $660 for owners who already have the rack and are moving it to a covered bed. It requires a compatible cover, which is not included.

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, paired with flange nuts on the other side. That removes two loose pieces from 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 is 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 a 2022 or newer Frontier?

Yes. The redesigned Frontier has its own racks for both the 5 foot and 6 foot bed. The 5 foot rack is on the site; the 6 foot bed is available in No-Drill now, with the Drill version in development.

Does the ACS FORGED fit a Frontier with Utili-Track?

Yes, once the Utili-Track bed-rail sections are removed. They sit where the rack mounts, so they come off first.

Does the ACS FORGED fit a Frontier Pro-4X?

Yes. Pro-4X uses the same bed as every other trim, so pick by year and bed length.

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

Not with the No-Drill version, which clamps to the bed 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 puts holes in your bed floor or bed sides.

How much weight can a Frontier 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 Frontier bed rack?

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

Does the ACS FORGED work with a tonneau cover on a Frontier?

With the Tonneau version, yes. It mounts to the rails of specific retractable covers from Retrax and Pace Edwards. The standard Drill and No-Drill racks are not designed to run with a cover.

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

Two generations, two bed lengths, four racks. Pick by year, then by bed, and the fitment question is answered. Utili-Track bed rails come off first, and the 2022 and newer long bed is covered in No-Drill now, with the Drill version on the way.

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 is designed, engineered, and manufactured in Corona, California. All of it ships same day.

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