--- title: "Upgrading Our F-150 With a Leitner Designs ACS Rack for Camping, Gear Storage and Daily Use" url: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/upgrading-our-f-150-with-a-leitner-designs-acs-rack-for-camping-gear-storage-and-daily-use/" publisher: "Pickup Truck + SUV Talk" content_signal: "search=yes, ai-input=yes, ai-train=no" author: "Tim Esterdahl" published: "2026-05-13T12:00:00+00:00" modified: "2026-07-25T06:26:13+00:00" image: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_7254.webp" --- # Upgrading Our F-150 With a Leitner Designs ACS Rack for Camping, Gear Storage and Daily Use By Tim Esterdahl Published: 2026-05-13T12:00:00+00:00 Updated: 2026-07-25T06:26:13+00:00 ![Featured image]() After years of testing tonneau covers, drawer systems and truck accessories, I finally installed a Leitner Designs ACS rack system on my Ford F-150 EcoBoost to see if the growing overland style setup actually makes sense for real-world truck owners. ## First Time Installing a Full Bed Rack System ![Leitner Rack 5]() The before photo of the 6.6″ bed on the Ford F-150. (Photo by Tim Esterdahl) The install started with stacks of boxes filling the garage including the ACS rack system, load bars, HydroPod water tank and multiple storage accessories. Really, I think UPS said it was TEN boxes! While I have installed [tonneau covers]() and [Decked drawer systems]() before, this was my first attempt at installing a complete bed rack setup on a truck. The system uses aluminum side rails and crossbars that clamp directly to the truck bed. Once assembled, the rack felt extremely solid and secure with very little movement after tightening the hardware. I imagine it would take quite the collision to get them to move. The setup process took several hours with breaks included due to the warm weather, and well, my wife and I taking out time sorting through the instructions and the multiple accessory kits. ## Leitner Focuses on Modular Truck Storage ![Leitner Rack 3]() There are plenty of parts to install for the Leitner Rack. (Photo by Tim Esterdahl) One of the more interesting aspects of the Leitner setup is the modular design. The ACS rack serves as the foundation, allowing owners to add storage boxes, rooftop tents, bike racks, cargo platforms and additional accessories over time which you can find on [their website](). For this F-150 build, the setup included a Gear Pod XL storage box mounted on the side along with removable gear bags and the HydroPod water system. The side storage pod includes locking compartments and weather-resistant seals designed to keep camping gear, tools and other equipment protected from dirt and rain. The HydroPod system includes a portable water tank with a hose attachment designed for camping, beach trips or cleaning gear after a long day outdoors. ## How Much Does a Leitner Designs ACS Rack System Cost? ![Leitner Rack 2]() With the Leitner Rack ACS system installed, it is now all about adding accessories to it. (Photo by Tim Esterdahl) Pricing for the Leitner ACS rack system varies depending on truck application and accessories. The base no-drill ACS rack system for the Ford F-150 starts around $2,000 before adding other cargo accessories. The Gear Pod XL storage box, $795, adds additional cost while accessories such as rooftop platforms, bike mounts and cargo carriers can quickly expand the setup depending on how the truck will be used. While the total investment can grow quickly, the appeal comes from the ability to customize the truck over time instead of committing to a fixed setup from the beginning. ## Does the Leitner Rack Make the F-150 More Useful? ![Leitner Rack 4]() Having the additional, and easy to access, side storage in the lockable and mostly weatherproof bin and bags should be make the truck that much more usable. (Photo by Tim Esterdahl) Once completed, the rack completely changed the appearance and functionality of the F-150. The added storage and modular accessories created significantly more room for camping gear and outdoor equipment in the empty truck bed. The setup also changes the overall look of the truck. Some may see it as an overland inspired adventure build while others, such as my wife, may think it gives the F-150 more of a commercial or work truck appearance. For now, the setup will stay on the truck as I continue testing how useful the rack system really becomes during everyday use, road trips and planned camping trips. We will tow our camper and move some items into the Leitner rack storage bags for easier access once at the campsite or for day trips to the beach. Disclosure: Links in this article are affiliate or sponsored links, which means we earn a commission if you click on them and make a purchase. This helps support the website and allows us to continue creating content. ## Related vehicle coverage - [2021 Ford F-150]() ## Structured page information ~~~json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/upgrading-our-f-150-with-a-leitner-designs-acs-rack-for-camping-gear-storage-and-daily-use/#article", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/upgrading-our-f-150-with-a-leitner-designs-acs-rack-for-camping-gear-storage-and-daily-use/" }, "author": { "name": "Tim Esterdahl", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/person/82b06f99329f69a069a5ab6caed18593" }, "headline": "Upgrading Our F-150 With a Leitner Designs ACS Rack for Camping, Gear Storage and Daily Use", "datePublished": "2026-05-13T12:00:00+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-07-25T06:26:13+00:00", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/upgrading-our-f-150-with-a-leitner-designs-acs-rack-for-camping-gear-storage-and-daily-use/" }, "wordCount": 688, "commentCount": 0, "publisher": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#organization" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/upgrading-our-f-150-with-a-leitner-designs-acs-rack-for-camping-gear-storage-and-daily-use/#primaryimage" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_7254.webp", "keywords": [ "Leitner bed rack", "Leitner designs acs rack", "Truck bed rack" ], "articleSection": [ "Featured on Home Page", "Gear" ], "inLanguage": "en-US", "potentialAction": [ { "@type": "CommentAction", "name": "Comment", "target": [ "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/upgrading-our-f-150-with-a-leitner-designs-acs-rack-for-camping-gear-storage-and-daily-use/#respond" ] } ] }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/upgrading-our-f-150-with-a-leitner-designs-acs-rack-for-camping-gear-storage-and-daily-use/", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/upgrading-our-f-150-with-a-leitner-designs-acs-rack-for-camping-gear-storage-and-daily-use/", "name": "Upgrading Our F-150 With a Leitner Designs ACS Rack for Camping, Gear Storage and Daily Use", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#website" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/upgrading-our-f-150-with-a-leitner-designs-acs-rack-for-camping-gear-storage-and-daily-use/#primaryimage" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/upgrading-our-f-150-with-a-leitner-designs-acs-rack-for-camping-gear-storage-and-daily-use/#primaryimage" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_7254.webp", "datePublished": "2026-05-13T12:00:00+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-07-25T06:26:13+00:00", "description": "I installed a Leitner Designs ACS rack system on my Ford F-150 EcoBoost to see if the setup actually makes sense for real world truck owners.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/upgrading-our-f-150-with-a-leitner-designs-acs-rack-for-camping-gear-storage-and-daily-use/#breadcrumb" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "potentialAction": [ { "@type": "ReadAction", "target": [ "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/upgrading-our-f-150-with-a-leitner-designs-acs-rack-for-camping-gear-storage-and-daily-use/" ] } ] }, { "@type": "ImageObject", "inLanguage": "en-US", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/upgrading-our-f-150-with-a-leitner-designs-acs-rack-for-camping-gear-storage-and-daily-use/#primaryimage", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_7254.webp", "contentUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_7254.webp", "width": 1200, "height": 900, "caption": "The finished Leitner Rack setup with a GearPod XL and HydroPod. 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His work has appeared on CBS Sunday Morning, NewsNation, MotorTrend and The Boston Globe, and he has tested hundreds of new vehicles across North America.", "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/testerdahl?trk=hp-identity-photo" ], "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/author/testerdahl/" }, { "@type": "VideoObject", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/upgrading-our-f-150-with-a-leitner-designs-acs-rack-for-camping-gear-storage-and-daily-use/#videoobject", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2026/05/upgrading-our-f-150-with-a-leitner-designs-acs-rack-for-camping-gear-storage-and-daily-use/#WebPage" }, "name": "Installing a Leitner Rack on My Ford F-150 — Here’s How It Turned Out", "description": "I installed a Leitner Designs rack system on my Ford F-150 and documented the entire process from unboxing to finished install. In this video, I walk through the ACS rack setup, cargo storage options, HydroPod water system, gear bags and what it’s actually like putting one of these systems together in a home garage.\n\nI’ve installed tonneau covers, Decked systems and plenty of truck accessories before, but this was my first full bed rack install. The end result completely changed the look and functionality of my truck, especially for camping, road trips and gear storage.\n\nIn this video:\n• Full Leitner rack install process\n• ACS rack overview\n• HydroPod water setup\n• Gear pod and storage bag walkthrough\n• Thoughts on build quality and packaging\n• Real-world impressions after install\n• How it fits my Ford F-150 EcoBoost\n\nBig thanks to Leitner Designs for sponsoring this video and providing the setup for review.\n\nWhat do you guys think? Does this make the F-150 more useful or does it look too much like a work truck? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.\n\nSubscribe for more truck reviews, towing tests, ownership updates and real-world truck content.\n\n#FordF150 #Leitner #TruckAccessories #Overlanding #F150 #PickupTruck #TruckCamping #FordTruck #TruckBuild #OffRoad\n\nJoin our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/pickuptrucktalk\n\nCheck out our Forum: https://forum.pickuptrucktalk.com/\n\nSubscribe for more Pickup Truck and SUV videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/pickuptrucktalk/?sub_confirmation=1\n\nJoin this channel to get access to special perks:\nhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxO2h83kcVBaLFjjCLer3AA/join\n\nInterested in owner reviews? 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