It seems that Channellock has a line of truck racks, including headache racks and accessories.
When a reader first mentioned this (thanks, ITCD!), I was in disbelief until I saw it for myself.
It seems that automotive racking and mounting accessories is indeed a new category for Channellock.
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Channellock advertises on social media that their racks feature a modular design and custom powder coating.
They say their headache racks offer “unmatched style, convenience, and protection for your truck.”
The racks are made from “100% rust-proof aluminum” and feature a 2-year warranty. Channellocks says the racks are “compatible with most trucks,” and are easily installed without any drilling.
The Channellock truck racks are shown used for work purposes, such as hauling lumber and ladders, and for recreational purposes.
Here, a Channellock rack is holding an UTV.
There’s also a bike rack.
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Channellock says there are other “work and play add-ons,” such as overland gear plates, landscape tool mounts, kayak mounts, and more.
Looking deeper, the Multy brand of modular racking products “will be retired” with the Channellock name being used going forward.
It’s not clear whether Channellock acquired the Multy brand. Their relationship is described as a “partnership,” but it seems that the Multy brand no longer exists now that their products are under Channellock branding.
Channellock’s website says their automotive racks and accessories are made in North America. Looking at their social media posts, they mention in one place that the racks are made in Canada.
Channellock has long put their name on various licensed products, such as shop vacuums and mechanics tool sets at wholesale clubs such as Costco and Sam’s Club. This looks to be a different product expansion for the brand.
Separately, according to their website, Channellock just went through some leadership changes.
Effective immediately, Jon DeArment, President and COO, will transition to the role of EVP Manufacturing and Engineering. Jimmy Bromley, CFO, will assume the role of President. Ryan DeArment will assume the role of EVP Sales and Marketing.
From the same statement:
The leadership transition reflects Channellock’s proactive approach to sustaining its legacy while positioning the company for future growth. The DeArment family remains deeply committed to the company, its employees, and the Meadville community.
From this, it seems that they’re just swapping hats.
It has been a while since Channellock has launched new products. While I wouldn’t say that modular truck racks seems like the perfect fit for the brand, they could do far worse.
In the past year, Klein Tools launched a ton of new imported hand tools, Malco was sold to a private investment company, and Vaughan was pushed to the brink of closure following a failed buyout by Marshalltown, with the State of Illinois ultimately provided the necessary funding. Starrett was sold to a private equity company in mid-2024.
I am okay with Channellock expanding with a truck rack system, although with statements about “sustaining its legacy” and “positioning the company for future growth,” I wonder what else is on the horizon for the brand.
fred
I’m guessing that the brand is getting hammered by the competition from both the top and bottom. Perhaps tariffs on imports may help them compete with their top-end competition like Knipex – and the Milwaukee’s that seem to dominate at Home Depot. But other than this new venture, where have they been with innovating in their bread-and-butter pliers lines?
Stuart
If we’re on the subject of tariffs, here is the important and difficult question to ask. If import prices increase from low to top tiers alike, do brands like Channellock have the capacity to increase production to meet potential increases in demand?
Channellock rekindled their Grip-on locking pliers arrangement https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/channellock-locking-pliers-relaunch-2023/%3C/a%3E, partnered on tool bags https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/channellock-tool-bags-launch/%3C/a%3E and launched adjustable pliers that to be frank I don’t really care for https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/channellock-speedgrip-pliers/%3C/a%3E .
I haven’t seen any new innovations from Channellock in a very long time.
Jared
I don’t mind the Speedgrip pliers, but they’re not Knipex Cobras. If that’s what you’re comparing them to, the Speedgrip pliers are chunky. The angle of the adjustment part makes them unnecessarily wide.
It’s like they were intended to work on larger objects where you would have the jaws opened wider – which also might make sense why the jaws themselves are wider.
I just have the flat-jaw versions, which I think serve a purpose – just not the same one as Cobras.
fred
If I were back running the plumbing business, I would ask another question namely: Will my plumbers accept Channellock back as a replacement for the Knipex Cobras and Plier-Wrenches that they had come to like much better? We gave up (mostly – except for Irrega-made-in-Spain wide-mouth adjustable wrenches) on the Channellock brand – not based on price or COO but on features and performance. Lower price and USA-made – probably will not win them back. IMO – Channellock needs to step up its game in ways other than adding truck racks made in Canada.
Eric
And even if they have the capacity will they be able to get the raw materials they need? Odds are at least some of them will have to be imported. And lets be realistic here. US made stuff isn’t going to suddenly be the affordable option. Most of those companies will happily raise their prices so they’re just a hair cheaper than the imported ones.
S
“If import prices increase from low to top tiers alike, do brands like Channellock have the capacity to increase production to meet potential increases in demand?”
I haven’t seen any indications there is ample production capacity anywhere. Most places seem to be running close to 70-90% capacity at minimum, leaving a maximum of 30% capacity to improve on, which really isn’t all that much if there’s any sort of spontaneous significant demand.
There’s also a lot of employment stuff going on now as well–to the last 3 generations have been literally forced into college, on the promise of stepping into c-suite management/paper pushing, which means there’s far fewer lower-middle class people willing to work with their hands on an assembly line. There’s already staffing issues with hands-on jobs, and this demand will only make that situation worse.
It will be somewhat interesting(in a cynical way) to see the supply lines affected to nearly all businesses. Most reports I’m reading are saying much of what we get from china, generally costs 3-4 times more to make in america. A 56% tariff, while a lot, still makes the Chinese option only about 1.5 times more expensive than it was before. The simple math says that the American version would then be able to be made for an additional 1.5-3 times more expensive, but that assumes that the materials can even be sourced outside of anywhere subject to the tariffs. Many materials simply can’t.
One of the articles I was just reading on NPR about some hand bag business and women’s jewelry indicated that while the business owners desperately wanted to use American materials, and even favored that option, the only place to source the materials was china, so going through an American production facility would cost more in labor/assembly, but also still be subject to a large part of the tariffs yet– the American production facilities they contacted specifically even said it was in their better interest to have china produce their products.
I’m definitely watching the tool sector to see how things get shaken up(just as Klein started diversifying as well!), we’re really all just spectators to this global chess game after all.
MM
Agreed. In my opinion their classic water pump pliers are a tough sell these days. They are expensive compared to imports, making them unattractive to a casual buyer. And at the same time, newer designs from Knipex (and the like) are clearly superior for serious use, at least in my opinion. Channellock’s quality is great, that’s not the problem. The issue is that designs like Cobras and the Pliers Wrench are just plain better, regardless of who makes them. I think Channellock does make their own versions of those, but now they are lost in a sea of other clones. They’re playing catch-up when they once were a market leader. Instead of copying Knipex I’d like to see them try and innovate with new designs.
I had a few pairs of Channellocks starting out but I have sold or given away most. I am down to only one pair now: a 10″ pair with round serrated jaws. They are a specialty tool I don’t use very often but I haven’t found anything else that really replaces them.
That UTV ramp is interesting, though I’m not sure how comfortable I’d be driving around an F150 with that much weight that high up on the vehicle.
Nick S.
I’ve been looking for a rack for my Gladiator – mostly to let me carry my 14′ tandem fishing kayak…I was all set to get one of the cheaper Amazon universal racks as it won’t be on the truck full-time. My worry there was quality. The only other alternative was the Yakima rack, which is over $1,000 without the cross-bars.
This is a very attractively priced option considering you can get it with the headache rack for around $1,000. It looks like you can use the headache rack without the rest of the rack if needed. That increases versatility too.
I might have to look closer at this.
Nick S.
I e-mailed them with some questions on fitment and other things yesterday. Suuuper fast response and a great exchange with a marketing rep. As someone stated, the rack and accessories were originally sold under the Multy brand name, and it looks like Channellock bought it. I think the guy I talked to via e-mail was the same guy who does their instructional videos online, which makes me think it’s still largely run as Multy or a stand-alone company separate from the hand tools, but just leveraging the name.
I’ll probably be a buyer in the next few months. It checks off all the boxes for what I’m looking for, at a price point below premium but above generic racks, and looks to add some features that are otherwise hard to find.
Joe E.
What would be nice is to see Channellock up their hand tool game. Their screwdrivers and rebranded mechanics tool sets are lackluster. They have an opportunity to expand their offerings and slap their name on better quality stuff.
I’m not sure what more they could do with their plier line that hasn’t already been done. Maybe offer different colored grips for the “Hi-Viz” folks? They used to make pliers for MAC and Matco, so they’re capable at least of making orange and red handle grips.
Mark. M
That UTV rack is really something… I have lots of questions about center of gravity and how you are supposed to get down after you drive it up. I’m also not sold on that photo- the truck isn’t squatting a bit and that General has to weigh at least 1,000#. Sorry, didn’t mean to sidetrack the conversation but I’ve seen a lot of crazy truck accessories and this one ranks pretty high. Me personally, I’d spend the same money on a nice trailer and call it good.
MM
Yeah, I had the exact same thoughts. I wonder if there isn’t a lower section of ramp that one could drive up? But yeah, that’s a lot of weight to have that high. I was guessing 1200-1500lbs but I just googled it and apparently it’s 1650. And that’s assuming it’s totally empty, it could easily be a lot higher if there’s any mods done to it or gear in it.
Mark M.
If it’s in excess of 1500# then that photo is complete BS. I guess on a 3/4 ton or 1-ton it would at least handle the wight but I can’t get over having it up that high. I’ve got a Pioneer and when I load it on a utility trailer I’m cautious, and that’s going up maybe 18″! I don’t think you could pay me enough to load it the way they show it. Overshoot and you’re on the hood! lol
Daniel M
Mark, the max payload on a properly equipped 2025 F150 XLT SuperCrew is 2,180lbs according to the ford website. The 2 seat UTV rack weighs 440Lbs according to the Channel lock. Other users are suggesting the UTV weights 1650Lbs. So as long as you’re 90lbs and have no other passengers or cargo it’s not a problem. 😂
Those racks have always seemed INCREDIBLY stupid to me. Especially since that photo the truck appears to have a 2” lift increasing the centre of gravity even more. Looks like larger tires too, not sure if you’re supposed to de-rate payload capacity with increased tire size like towing capacity.
It wouldn’t be my first choice unless perhaps I was in a 1ton dually.
Trailer seems like a much better option.
MB
I’ve seen and used racks like that before. The ramps are almost always held under the deck and slide out. Going to their website you can see this in the pictures. It’s not a “great” way to carry a UTV in general, for 99% of users a trailer is a far better way to go.
To load/unload, you use the winch on the UTV, you don’t drive up or down on them.
eddiesky
I’m always looking at better solutions for a ladder/lumber rack. This is aluminum. However, there is nothing on how to hold stock/ladders other than, what I see in images, as ratchet straps?
When I had a TrackRack (Thule), you got a set of adjustable, sliding on the top, mounts that could secure lumber and/or ladders. Also accessories like intergrated tiedowns, locking knobs, cantilever and bed rail mounts. It was a solid setup.
Brad
Channellock filling the president role in the CFO after the EVP of Manufacturing and Engineering ‘transitioned’ to a new role, this screams to me serious financial findings.
I work at an engineering firm where we have inhouse R&D, manufacturing and sales.
We made a similar switch a little over a year ago, it was found that we were losing lots of money to manufacturing/R&D.
Turning a ship our size takes some time, but the effects are clear, our products are more profitable, but new product offerings are worse, as timelines and feature delivery are dictated by sales, not R&D.
I fear the same for Channellock
Jared
As I understand it, the products are being made by an established manufacturer. E.g. while there are some similarities, this isn’t merely rebranding white label products as the truck racks were already being sold under Multy branding.
The MULTY “Headache Rack PRO XL” for example, looks identical to the Channellock product. I assume that means it wasn’t rushed to market to reduce R&D costs – those costs were already paid.
Brad
Thats definitely fair to say of this product, I suppose I am worried that moving forward, rather than invest in R&D, they may choose to relabel other lesser products. Klein has been very guilty of this of late.
Saulac
The bars along the side of the bed are pretty unique and is a welcome feature. It add structure to this type of rack (basically just two individual cross bars) and act as bed side tie-downs, which are useful but missing from US market trucks.
E
Mean while all they have to do is take their classic tongue and groove and add a push button & anti-pinch mechanism. They’ll win back the market. The speed grip is too fat.
Rx9
Honestly, I think Channellock could produce pliers of even higher quality than Knipex, at a lower price. There’s a terrible idea that American manufacturing companies can’t compete due to labor costs, which is soon going to pass with the advent of AI-enhanced factories taking back jobs that have long since been outsourced to factories in developing countries. Alas, in the same way that it took silicon valley upstarts to prove the American auto industry was capable of real innovation, its probably going to take newer firms to do the same with toolmaking.
Also, this brand extension is a quick cash grab.
Eric
AI-enhanced factories? What does that even mean?
Rx9
Excellent question.
Start with this article:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/ronschmelzer/2024/11/14/from-production-to-precision-how-ai-is-reshaping-manufacturing/
The gist of it is that any repetitive process that required more than simple automation (i.e. the kind of work offshored) can now be done by ai-enhanced automation that can finesse the details. There’s much more than that though.
TonyT
That’s a fluff piece. AI is not intelligent, although some deep learning / machine learning techniques are very helpful, especially in machine vision.
Cobots have their place, but haven’t taken over the world as predicted. ReThink Robotics, founded in 2008, started the Cobot hype in the US, and went bankrupt in 2018. They were more AI oriented; Universal Robotics become the leader, with a simplified traditional robot approach. UR was founded in 2005, and shipped their first cobot in 2008. From what I’ve seen, UR is quite pricey compared to the traditional robots.
A lot of the other items mentioned have been done for decades, without the “AI” name, like monitoring motor vibrations to predict maintenance, and analyzing data (the big data hype from last decade).
Having been involved in a few projects, I’m skeptical about lights out factories. It might work for front-end semiconductor, because the product is highly standardized mechanically (e.g. 300mm wafers).
Stuart
Yep, it’s authored by the “director of AI partnerships and outreach” at a company that helps “project professionals worldwide to harness to power of artificial intelligence.”
It’s like a yoga instructor talking about the benefits of yoga.
Of course they’re going to say all kinds of things about the magical unspecific benefits of AI.
Rx9
Probably right about it being a fluff piece, but I still think AI is going to be one of the key factors driving down globalization. While there is a lot of hype in the AI space, there will be definite advances in manufacturing regardless.
Stuart
In what specific ways that it’s not already being used? I don’t see how AI factors into “driving down globalization.”
Daniel M
Semi conductor fabs always have people working 24/7 they are there at a moments notice if machines experience any sort of error since the cost of just to operate a facility is $250000 an hour, if you don’t count the initial investment for the facility, or profit margins etc. I’d imagine the cost of labour at these facilities is likely a very small percentage of the overall cost.
Semi conductor Fabs cost on the order of $25 billion USD for a single facility. These facilities have incredibly short life spans compared to other infrastructure projects of the same cost and scale, ex refinery’s, dams, nuclear power stations. They will be considered leading edge for maybe 2 or 3 years and by the time they are 15 years old they are essentially completely obsolete.
You’re comparing building pliers to literally the most complicated manufacturing process mankind has ever developed. 1 square inch of modern leading edge silicon contains on the order of 500 billion (that’s not a typo) discrete components. All this so we can type in the Tool Guyd comment section while we are on the toilet.
TonyT
Stuart, better software has the potential to make robotic systems more affordable, and robots cost the same all over the world, so it could help local manufacturing.
I don’t think LLMs like ChatGPT will have a big impact in manufacturing, but there are areas where Machine Learning can definitely solve problems that are difficult with traditional techniques, especially with machine vision. At my previous job, we were using Halcon’s Deep Learning module for part of an inspection routine, along with traditional machine vision and 3D measurements.
Robots can also be very useful in logistics; Amazon is a heavy robot user, and bought Kiva robotics to have their own source. There are a number of SF Bay Area startups working on similar products.
Stuart
A lot of these things (ML, etc) have enhanced production or QC inspections thus far. But it doesn’t seem to have “driven down globalization.”
How would AI prompt this change tomorrow when it hasn’t had this effect yesterday or even today?
Amazon’s adoption of robotics in their warehouses served to reduce human labor. Where are Amazon Kindle and Echo devices manufactured? Blink? Ring?
I’m not saying you’re wrong, I just haven’t seen any support or evidence that AI developments will result in meaningful reshoring.
TonyT
This whole topic gets really complicated and varies a lot depending on the industry. I don’t think tariffs or AI alone will do much to help, but it’s possible that fairer trade, more advanced robotics, and regulatory reform will help re-shoring in some industries. For example, lower energy costs will help re-shore process industries such as chemicals.
I do think a lot of discrete manufacturing (such as electronics and power tools) will continue to migrate out of China, but mostly to a mix of countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, India, and Mexico, not the US.
Two good sites are ChinaLawBlog (discussing tariffs, China manufacturing, and manufacturing moving out of China) and WolfStreet (on factory construction in the US, tariffs, etc). Both are basically non-political.
Nathan
Thought this was a. April fools thing first. Still not sure. The UTV rack doesn’t look legal. Not to mention the places where height would be an issue there.
Also headache rack?