Within the cargo and transport industries, L-Track (also referred to as airline track, cargo track or Airline-Schiene in German) is a modular tie-down rail system used to secure loads on the inside of vehicles like vans, 4x4s, trucks and trailers.
Explore our full range of cargo track and accessories here.
The ‘Airline track’ name commonly used when referring to L-track is largely thanks to a legacy of L-track being used within the airline industry. Many of us will have seen L-track on passenger aircraft where it is commonly used as an adjustable seat mounting system.
L-Track has been popular for many years among 4x4 owners and expedition vehicle builders because of its versatility for use in for securing loads in the back of vehicles and as a system for creating a flexible mounting platform for externally mounted accessories.
More recently there has been an explosion in the popularity of L-Track product thanks largely to it being adopted within the ‘Van Life’ community and a million YouTube channels all highlighting the use of L-Track within their builds.
Ineos even adopted L-Track on its Grenadier 4x4, turning it into a questionable external feature to highlight the vehicles functionality. 
What is L-Track?
L-Track is an aluminium rail with a series of evenly spaced machined holes that act as anchor points for a range of fixings and accessories. You can mount L-Track rails to any flat surface such as flooring, wall, or ceiling, then attach L-Track compatible fittings wherever you need them.
It’s worth noting that the hole spacing in L-Track differs between European manufacturers and US manufactured product. Europe uses a 25mm hole spacing layout on L-Track as an industry standard dimension. Alternative versions of L-Track will feature US industry standard 1in hole spacing which translates to 25.4mm. It’s a barely noticeable difference between the two products, but it’s something that’s definitely worth bearing in mind when determining crucial fixing points on long track lengths. MUD only sells European manufactured L-Track with the European 25mm spec hole centre spacing.
L-Track comes in different thicknesses so some thinner profile L-Track products may not accept all L-Track fittings due to their shallower depth of the internal channel. The footprint of L-Track can differ between track types which again, is worth noting when space is tight.
A common mounting location for L-Track on the classic Land Rover Defender Station Wagon is above and below the side windows. It’s vital you check the width of L-Track when using this location because only the narrowest versions of L-Track will fit here. The MUD Slimline L-Track and Super Slimline L-Track works perfectly for this application. Note that because access to the inside of Defender side panels is difficult, we recommend using Rivnuts for the track fixings.
L-Track comes with pre-drilled fixing holes or without fixing holes. The recommend fixings are M6 countersunk fasteners so when the fastener is installed, the bottom of the track channel maintains a completely flush finish allowing L-Track accessories to have unimpeded use of the full track length. Depending on your application you may not need to use every fixing in pre-drilled track lengths. Undrilled track means you can put the fixings where you need them.
Mud sells a drill centering tool to help you centre the fixing holes within the track.
You’ll often see L-Track bonded to the outside of a vehicle with an automotive adhesive product like Sikaflex 221, 252 or 522. Check the specification of the respective product is suitable for your application and always adhere to the manufacturer’s preparation guidelines for adhesives.
Flat metal panels are also available with holes punched in them match the 25mm centres circular shapes to allow the use of some L-Track accessories.
How does L-Track work?
- The holes in the track accept a range of quick-release fittings (e.g. studs, rings, hooks) that can often be fixed in the track with a one-handed ‘quick-release’ operation. Fixings are typically inserted into a ‘hole’ in the track and then can be slid along the track to locate in the flat profile area between the holes.
- Other types of L-Track fixing are slid inside the inner channel of the track. The slide-in type of fixing can only be inserted from either end of the track and cannot be ‘dropped’ into the top of the track.
- You can attach cam-buckle straps, bungees, or ratchets to L-Track fittings.
- The fittings can be repositioned quickly and easily along the track length.
- Threaded studs or drop-in nutserts, (typically M6 or M8) can also be used within the track as a rigid fixing point for mounting ‘bolt-on’ accessories.
- End caps can be used to ‘cap-off’ the ends of a track length to create a professional finish and prevent snagging of items and flesh!
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L-Track end caps are available in a range of different styles to suit the respective L-Track types.
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Flexible rubber filler strip is available to prevent the track channel filling with debris.
Why people use L-Track
- Flexibility: Anchor points and fixings can be mounted anywhere along the length of an L-Track rail. A single length of L-tack track can utilised for multiple uses. Short lengths of off-cuts can also be utilised.
- Strong & lightweight: Usually made from aircraft-grade aluminium so L-Track won’t rust even when mounted externally.
- Clean install: Low-profile and unobtrusive compared to bulky bolt-in D-rings. Lashing points can be removed when not in use.
- Scalable: Add more rails as your set-up grows or add more fixings for more ‘gear’.
Common applications
- Internal lashing point for securing cargo
- Internal fixing point for moveable seating.
- External lashing point for securing cargo
- Internal fixing point for camper conversion mounting furniture
- External fixing point for vehicular mounted accessories
Types of L-Track
- Standard (surface mount rail) L-Track: Sits on top of any flat surface. Available in different thicknesses.
- Super Slim L-Track. The narrowest version of L-Track. Offers a clean, neater appearance than regular L-Track making it ideal for low stress applications. The Super Slim provides a less industrial looking finish when used for internal applications, for example when combined with the Sealand Pro L Track accessories.
- Curved profile L-Track Has a more attractive rounded appearance with no corners. Popular in Motorhome garages and for camper van conversions.
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Flush mount L-Track: Designed to be flush mounted into flooring. Typically used for passenger seating applications so a flat floor profile can be retained.
- Floor Decking Systems. Custom drop-in floor panel systems are available that use interlocking panels with an integrated L-Track hole pattern. These are typically found in specialist minibus conversions.
Typical accessories used with L-Track
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- Single or double stud fittings
- Tie-down rings
- Ratchet straps
- Rope hooks
- Cargo nets
- Drop in studs
- Nut-Serts
- Slide-In fixings
- End caps
- Sealand Pro accessories
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Insert Strip
Don’t confuse L-Track with E-track.
L-Track is a slimmer, lightweight product that’s more versatile than E Track. L-Track is typically used in 4x4s, vans and custom builds.
E-Track is a much wider, heavier-duty lashing rail commonly used for industrial applications, e.g. commercial vehicle bodywork, large semi-trailers and warehousing.
