The short answer: The Front Runner Pro Bed System costs less up front. The Leitner ACS FORGED costs more because it's built to be the last rack you buy. It's validated at 4.0g with 400 lbs on board, publishes its load ratings, uses purpose-built hardware, and is made in the USA. It also has a patented rear crossbar that slides forward so tall cargo can go in the bed.

The ACS FORGED is an aluminum bed rack, and the Front Runner Pro Bed System is built from a mix of steel and aluminum. Both are modular racks built for people who actually load them. They solve the problem in different ways, and those differences matter more than any single spec. Here's how they compare, using the Ford F-150 as an example where the numbers depend on the truck.

How Do the Specs Compare?

Leitner figures are from the ACS FORGED product pages on leitnerdesigns.com and the ACS FORGED install guide. Front Runner figures are from Front Runner's F-150 install guide (PBFF001) and a current retail listing for the F-150 Pro Bed System (PBFF001S). Vehicle manufacturer load limits always govern.

Prefer not to drill? Leitner also offers the ACS FORGED No-Drill for $1,999, with the same load ratings and a fixed rear crossbar.

What's the Biggest Difference?

The rear crossbar. On the ACS FORGED, the rear load bar itself slides forward with the twist of a knob. Slide it up, and the back of the bed opens up for a dirt bike, a water heater, or anything else too tall to go under a fixed bar. Slide it back, and it's a load bar again. That design is covered by Leitner's U.S. Patent 9,586,629.

The Front Runner Pro Bed System is built around a fixed rectangular frame, with a crossmember across the back. Anything tall going into the bed has to fit under the center and rear members.

If you never haul anything taller than the bed rails, this won't matter to you. If you haul anything tall even somewhat regularly, like a motorcycle, your decision is already made for you.

Which Is Easier to Install?

The ACS FORGED installs with rivet nuts in the bed's D-pillars. On an F-150, that's four holes, two in each D-pillar, and the drill bit and the rivet nut tool come in the box. Front Runner's F-150 mounting system also requires drilling at the rear brackets and marking mounting holes at the front.

The bigger difference is the hardware count. On an F-150, the ACS FORGED goes on with 76 fasteners. Front Runner's install guide lists roughly 220 for the rack and its F-150 mounting system, before counting plastic nut caps. Fewer fasteners means fewer steps and fewer places for something to work loose.

Leitner rates the full install at two to three hours for someone with basic hand-tool skills. A second person helps when setting the sides in place.

Which Holds More?

Leitner publishes three numbers for the ACS FORGED: 1,400 lbs parked, 800 lbs on-road, and 400 lbs off-road, validated at 4.0g of force with a 400 pound load. Front Runner doesn't publish a rating for the Pro Bed System and instead points buyers to the vehicle manufacturer.

Either way, your truck's own limits still apply. But if you're planning a rooftop tent plus gear, a published off-road number is a useful thing to have in hand.

Weight works in the same direction. The ACS FORGED weighs 85 lbs. On an F-150, Front Runner's Pro Bed System comes in around 112 lbs installed. That's roughly 27 lbs of payload you get back.

How Does the Side Storage Compare?

Leitner's GearPODs are lockable boxes designed to mount on the side of the rack at eye level. There are four sizes. Each has a door that lifts up and holds itself open, which makes it easy to get to your gear. Each one also locks and has an automotive-grade weather seal.

Front Runner's answer is a bracket kit that holds two Wolf Pack Pro boxes on the side of the rack. A Wolf Pack is a general-purpose cargo box built to sit flat on the ground. It mounts on its side in the bracket. Front Runner sells an optional lock that secures the box to the bracket, and the bracket is rated for 60 kg (132 lbs). The Wolf Pack Pro relies on a tight-fitting lid to keep out water and dust, and it has nothing to hold the lid open.

GearPOD specs are from leitnerdesigns.com. Wolf Pack Pro specs are from a current retail listing.

Even the smallest GearPOD is 10 inches deep at its narrowest point, the top, which is deeper than a Wolf Pack anywhere. Front Runner's bracket holds two Wolf Packs for 16 gallons per side. A single GearPOD XL holds 40.

Why Does the ACS FORGED Cost More?

Because it's built to outlast the truck it's bolted to. The extra money goes into things you won't see on a spec sheet until something else on the trail breaks.

It's tested, not estimated. Every ACS FORGED rating comes from impact testing at 4.0g with a 400 pound load. That's the standard that lets police departments run it on pursuit vehicles, and it's why Leitner can publish an off-road number at all.

It's built from stronger parts. The ACS FORGED uses single-piece aluminum alloy uprights, so there are fewer joints to flex or loosen.

The hardware is made for the rack. The Grade 10.9 alloy steel fasteners are made specifically for the ACS FORGED. Each one carries a black zinc-nickel coating to fight corrosion and comes precoated with thread locker to resist vibration, so there's nothing to buy and nothing to wait on while it cures.

It's made in the USA. The ACS FORGED is designed, engineered, and manufactured in Corona, California.

A cheaper rack that has to be replaced, or that can't carry what you planned, ends up costing more. The ACS FORGED is meant to be bought once. And when you're done with your current truck, you can transfer the ACS FORGED to your new truck.

Where Does Front Runner Win?

It's worth being straight about this. The Front Runner Pro Bed System costs less up front. On the F-150, it's $800 less. Front Runner's accessory catalog is one of the largest in the business. If price is the deciding factor, that's a real strength. Wolf Pack boxes are also inexpensive and easy to pull off and carry into camp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which costs more, the Leitner ACS FORGED or the Front Runner Pro Bed System?

The ACS FORGED is $2,099, and the ACS FORGED No-Drill is $1,999. Front Runner prices the Pro Bed System by truck. For the F-150 Crew Cab, it lists at $1,299 at retail.

Do both racks require drilling?

The ACS FORGED installs with rivet nuts in the bed's D-pillars, which takes four holes on an F-150. Front Runner's F-150 kit also requires drilling for its mounting brackets. Leitner offers a No-Drill ACS FORGED if you'd rather skip the sliding load bar.

Does Front Runner have a sliding load bar on its bed rack?

No. The Pro Bed System's frame is fixed, including the top and rear crossmembers. On the ACS FORGED, the rear crossbar itself slides forward, which is covered by Leitner's U.S. Patent 9,586,629.

Which bed rack is lighter?

The ACS FORGED weighs 85 lbs. On an F-150, the Front Runner Pro Bed System is about 112 lbs installed.

Can I use Front Runner accessories on a Leitner rack?

The ACS FORGED uses T-slot rails, and many Thule, Rhino-Rack, and Yakima accessories fit. Check each accessory's mounting before you buy.

Which trucks does the ACS FORGED fit?

Leitner makes the ACS FORGED for Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Jeep, Nissan, RAM, and Toyota trucks. Check leitnerdesigns.com for your exact year and bed length.

The Bottom Line

If price comes first, or you want the deepest accessory catalog, Front Runner makes a good rack. If you want a rack that's validated at 4.0g, publishes its ratings, uses about a third of the hardware, and has a rear crossbar that moves out of the way when you load a bike, the ACS FORGED is worth the difference. You'll pay more once, and you won't pay again. It's designed, engineered, and manufactured in Corona, California.

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