Hey, I'm hoping someone here has some suggestions for a small project I need to wrap up. We have an Xterra with a DIY roof rack consisting of low profile unistrut crossbars attached with vibration damping ubolts. It's great for attaching cargo boxes, gas cans, traction boards, etc.
Recently I acquired an ARB 2000 awning and I am using ARB's awning brackets to mount it. I had hoped it would line up perfectly on my rack but I had to raise it up to clear the back door. I used some short strut channel lengths as a temporary spacer solution before our last trip, as shown in the photo above and the detail below.
What I'm wondering is what type of material I should consider using as a spacer block between the awning bracket and the strut crossbar. I could just leave it as shown above, but I would prefer something that just comes off with the awning brackets when I unbolt it for storage. I don't want to leave the awning on between trips as the vehicle is parked outside 100% of the time.
I am thinking some strong plastic that could be cut into about a 1.75" W x 6" L x .75" H block. This would then be drilled with holes matching those on the awning bracket, and when I mount it up I'd just use spring nuts in the strut channel to attach to as I do right now. It'd just be longer bolts going through awning bracket, spacer, and spring nut. I could even cut a shallow rabbet in the bottom of the spacer to key it into the strut channel.
What about something like this? Other materials I should be looking at?
https://www.mcmaster.com/#8540k325/=192f1nw
Recently I acquired an ARB 2000 awning and I am using ARB's awning brackets to mount it. I had hoped it would line up perfectly on my rack but I had to raise it up to clear the back door. I used some short strut channel lengths as a temporary spacer solution before our last trip, as shown in the photo above and the detail below.
What I'm wondering is what type of material I should consider using as a spacer block between the awning bracket and the strut crossbar. I could just leave it as shown above, but I would prefer something that just comes off with the awning brackets when I unbolt it for storage. I don't want to leave the awning on between trips as the vehicle is parked outside 100% of the time.
I am thinking some strong plastic that could be cut into about a 1.75" W x 6" L x .75" H block. This would then be drilled with holes matching those on the awning bracket, and when I mount it up I'd just use spring nuts in the strut channel to attach to as I do right now. It'd just be longer bolts going through awning bracket, spacer, and spring nut. I could even cut a shallow rabbet in the bottom of the spacer to key it into the strut channel.
What about something like this? Other materials I should be looking at?
https://www.mcmaster.com/#8540k325/=192f1nw
Last edited: