Does Ladder Rack On Enclosed Trailer Use Self Tapping Screws Or Bolts With Nuts On Inside Wall?

Published 12/03/2025

Products Featured in This Question

Enclosed Trailer Ladder Rack for 6' to 8-1/2' Wide Trailers - Aluminum - Black

$774.88

Enclosed Trailer Ladder Rack for 6' to 8-1/2' Wide Trailers - Aluminum - Silver

$566.26

Question:

My trailer has interior paneling all the way up the wall. If I install the PF79VR, do I need to remove panels to get nuts on the back, or do the screws just go into the steel tube?

asked by: Angel

Expert Reply:

Angela - good question, and the answer depends on your trailer’s rail construction. Most enclosed trailers have a steel or aluminum header tube at the top of the wall. When that’s the case, the common method and the hardware most racks include is self-tapping screws drilled straight into that header - no interior access required.

If your trailer does allow access behind the header, bolts with washers or a backing plate are even better. But many trailers don’t provide access, which is why universal ladder racks like the P&F # PF79VR (black) and # PF69VR (silver) rely on structural self-tappers that you can find locally.

Either way, the 6 inch × 2 inch bracket gives you plenty of footprint to find that header. If you want to send a picture of your interior wall-to-roof transition, I can tell you which style your trailer uses.

expert reply by: Andrew N