PUTCO Venture Tec Rack Manual

INSTRUCTION GUIDE
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you need any application or technical assistance, feel free to call us at:
Monday-Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm (Central Standard Time)
Contact your PUTCO®dealer for other quality accessories.
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1-800-247-3974
PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE INSTALLATION
AND CHECK TO SEE THAT ALL PARTS ARE INCLUDED
CONTENT LIST
Rear Hoop (etched hoop)
Front Hoop
CoreTEC Block Inserts
Support Tubes
Vehicle Specific Hardware Mounting Kit
Upper Mounting Brackets
Side Mounting Brackets
Rack Hardware Kit
Accessory Mounting Kit
Universal Tent Bracket Kit
Blue Loc Tite
HEX KEYS OR SOCKETS
(sizes: 7/32”, 3/16”, 5/32”)
WRENCH OR SOCKET
(sizes: 9/16”, 7/16”)
PERMANENT MARKER
OR PUNCH
(to mark drill hole locations)
DRILL & BITS
(1/8” and 25/64” drill bits)
REQUIRED TOOLS QTY
1
1
8
4
1
4
4
1
1
1
1
OR
OR
Upper Mounting Bracket
Support Tubes
CoreTEC Block Insert
Side Mounting Bracket
Front Hoop
Rear Hoop
(Bag #185601)
(Bag #185602)
(Bag #185603)

Venture TEC Rack Instruction Guide
1
Place the front hoop (NOTE: the rear hoop has
“Putco” etched on it) on the bed caps as shown in
Figure 1. Ensure that the gaps are consistent on
both sides of the vehicle. Use permanent marker
or punch to mark hole locations on bed cap.
2
3
4
8
9
5
6
7Use the top tubes assembled in step 5 to
position the rear hoop appropriately (Figure 3a
and 3b). Take care to ensure that the mounting
feet locations are identical on driver and
passenger sides.
Remove the rack and use the 1/8” drill bit to
drill pilot holes in the marked locations.
Use the 25/64” drill bit to enlarge the pilot holes.
Place the front hoop on the bed caps and install
the hardware as shown in Figure 2.
Once the top tube is in place, and gaps between mounting feet and bed rails are equal on driver’s
and passenger’s side, mark mounting hole locations.
Repeat the hole drilling process outlined in steps 2 and 3, then mount the rear hoop with
provided hardware. Fully tighten fasteners that secure hoops to bed before installing top and side
tubes.
Assemble the top tubes as described in steps 11
through 13.
Place the rear hoop on the vehicle as shown in
the rear hoop location image to the right. Its
location is determined by the top tubes.
NOTE: It is required that holes are drilled into the bed cap in order to securely mount the
hoops. Carefully follow the instructions and measure twice before drilling holes.
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Figure 3a: Using top tube to locate rear hoop.
Figure 2: Front Mounting Hardware
Figure 1: Front Hoop Location
Rear Hoop Location
Figure 3b: Ensure slots on bracket are
centered over channels of front and
rear hoops.
Front Hoop Top Hoop Rear Hoop

Venture TEC Rack Instruction Guide
11 Locate the four support tubes. Slide CoreTec
threaded insert into tube. The offset threaded
holes should be towards the inside of the rail
(Figure 6). Fasten it into place using 3/8” x 5/8”
bolts. When properly installed, the CoreTec
insert should be flush with the end of the tube.
12 Locate the rail mounting brackets for the rack.
Position the rail mounting brackets as shown
in Figures 7 and 8. Figure 7 shows the correct
setup for the brackets that mount on the side
of the hoops, and Figure 8 shows the correct
setup for brackets that mount on the top of the
hoops.
Figure 7: Proper side mounting bracket installation Figure 8: Proper top mounting bracket installation
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Figure 6: Diagram showing proper threaded
insert installation
13 Locate the tubes that will sit at the top of the rack. Position the bracket so that the outside edge
of the bracket sits at the start of the bent edge of the hoop as shown in Figure 9. The easiest way
to get the tubes into place is to get one side in and then insert the other side diagonally so that
the tabs on the bracket fit into the channel of the hoop as shown in Figure 10. Slide the square
nuts under the mounting holes in the bracket, and thread in the ¼“-20 x ½” bolts. Repeat the
process for the other tube.
10 Insert 8 square nuts into each channel of both racks. Slide square nuts down to the mounting
plate, so that both sides of the hoop look like Figure 4. Position remaining square nuts in top
channel near bend, as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 4: 4 square nuts slid towards the mounting
plate
Figure 5: square nuts are slid towards the corner

Venture TEC Rack Instruction Guide
Upper Square Nut
Bottom Edge of Bracket
Lower Mounting Hole
Upper Mounting Hole
Bottom Edge
of Bracket
Lower
Square Nut
14 Locate the two side tubes. Starting with the top mounting holes, use the alignment tool to push
square nuts into position by pressing the lip of the tool against the bottom edge of mounting
bracket and the tip of the tool against the square nut (Fig 11a). The long leg is used to align the
top mounting locations, and the shorter leg is used to align the lower mounting locations. Fasten
1/4”-20 bolts into square nuts, as shown in Figure 11b.
Figure 11a: Diagram showing the alignment tool Figure 11b: Diagram showing the correct side
tube mounting
15 Adjust rack fore or aft to line up mounting feet with the vehicle’s bed caps, then proceed with
final torque of mounting bolt. Double check to make sure all other hardware is tight.
• Make sure to periodically check that bolts are tight.
• Ensure that all accessories are securely mounted.
• Do not exceed maximum load recommended by vehicle manufacturer.
• Do not exceed maximum load rating of tent manufacturer, if applicable.
• Be aware of reduced clearance when accessories are mounted on top of the rack.
Your new Venture TEC Rack is now successfully installed
on your vehicle! Let the adventures begin!
WARNING:
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Bend of Hoop
Outside Edge
of Bracket
Figure 9: Diagram showing top tube installation Figure 10: Diagram showing one side inserted
and the other side inserted diagonally.