Ladder Rack-ish?

[Snafu]

***So this idea below is scrapped...I'm holding out for a welder and some learning! But for now I have a used camper shell to play with so WOOO HOOO. Will be building up some things for it such as a cradle for the kayak***


Some people will call me crazy, others might see this as an idea with potential. Either way, lets hear your questions, comments, concerns, advice, ******'s, and what ever else you might have!

Here's the plan...

I want a "rack" for:

-Carrying my kayak (definitely)
-Mounting lights (probably)
-A covered sleep spot with a canvas cover (future possibility)

Issues:

-I can't weld (no welder & no skills & no money...but I want to learn!)
-I don't want to spend an arm and a leg (who does??!!)

The Big Idea:

-Use metal studs (I know them well & like them)
-Big time KISS design philosophy
-Make top cross member adjustable & removable so I can stand, fit tall loads, or whatever else

What It Looks Like:

Other Stuff:

-I would be using self tapping "pan head" screws for most of the assembly just like we did when I used frame walls for a construction company. Bolts with wing nuts for the movable bits at the top.

-I might just paint it all black or gray to make it look less redneck engineered:Wow1:

-I'd like to run conduit for some small lights all around the perimeter at some point. With lights up top shooting at angles to try and give me a better view to the extreme sides of the truck.

-I'm seriously considering running it out over at least a portion of the cab.

-I would more than likely wanna scrap this in a few a years for something welded and stronger...or not....who knows!?

Just thought I'd bounce the idea off. I like advice a lot and criticism is awesome...I'd rather not miss something! Thanks for any help guys!

 

[zukrider]

as a former framer, i see your points.

thoughts:
-dont put it over the cab, even a little tweak could turn real bad and gouge the cabs roof.
-make sure you build the corners good and tight, and i would use 18ga for the verticals, and for the outer perimeter. 20 ga for the rest.
-doing it with this material, opens up a world of issues. mainly being cutting your fingers off! you know what i mean. and "ill just be careful" is not the fix! other people could hurt themselves and sue you.
-honestly, a good craiglist find on a headache rack or camper shell would suit you better.

good luck, and post up when you start it!

 

[zukrider]

$45-http://elpaso.en.craigslist.org/pts/2532105320.html

 

[southpier]

http://www.8020.net/

 

[Snafu]

$45-http://elpaso.en.craigslist.org/pts/2532105320.html

You made some very good points! I was thinking about finger loss as I was drawing that up...I never touched this stuff without gloves as a general rule! I've also been wanting a real rack for a while. I've been looking at those cheap tube racks or (what I prefer) making one and having it welded by someone else. Really have to find a cheap welder already.

That topper does look mighty interesting...$45 means I would still have gas money left over. But I'd have to take out the tool box to slide it on. Not a big deal I suppose.

I'm planning a trip to Colorado at the end of the month so that's what I'm trying to prep all this stuff for. That might just be the ticket!

Thanks a lot for the response! :wings:

 

[hillbillyjake]

i think that the pan heads would work loose over time. the pan heads seem to just hold the studs in place until the dry wall goes up. just my observation.

harbor freight doesn't have the best reputation but you can get a fluxcore wire feed 110v welder for about $90. i think it woul ddo a sufficient job in building a rack for carrying a kayak or somewhere to mount lights. my opinion.

 

[zukrider]

well, let me know when your up here, ill have a beer with ya if your not to far away!

 

[Snafu]

i think that the pan heads would work loose over time. the pan heads seem to just hold the studs in place until the dry wall goes up. just my observation.

harbor freight doesn't have the best reputation but you can get a fluxcore wire feed 110v welder for about $90. i think it woul ddo a sufficient job in building a rack for carrying a kayak or somewhere to mount lights. my opinion.

I hear ya man...I'm thinkin this might be the way to go! A $90 welder would be a good thing for a guy who has only used an arc welder once....I can only into a lil bit of trouble with it. I was tempted to learn with a friends Miller Electric but its one of the monster gas powered ones...start small and work up I guess?

I found a bunch more cheap camper shells on craigslist...gonna try to look at them soon and decide if that will be the way to go.

 

[Snafu]

well, let me know when your up here, ill have a beer with ya if your not to far away!

I'm headed for the San Juan forest...I'm gonna try to get a full week off so I can actually spend some time wandering this time unlike last year! I was looking at Cinnamon & Engineer Pass as definite places to hit up and hike up a few of the 14ers along the way! I'm always up for a beer...not sure where you're at in relation to where I'm goin though.

I made my way up into Pagosa Springs and explored a bunch of the forest around there and then headed to Durango at this time last year. BUT I only had the three day Labor Day weekend to do it since I had no days off (just started a new job) so I had to rush through everything.

 

[hillbillyjake]

teh principles of welding are the same whether its on a big gas welder or a small mig. if you can learn on a free machine that may help you decide what you want down the road.

 

[demonslaer]

fluxcore wire feed 110v welder. I have one from HF had it for 3 years. that what I used to make my roof rack for my jeep. 3 years ago. 90$ welder 50$ 3/4 square tubing 140$ + my time 2 days. better than 400$ for a roof rack.

 

[NorthernWoodsman]

If you don't go with a used cap or rack I'd say try welding one up for yourself. I taught myself how to weld using a MIG back in art school. For my first project I welded up a 700 pound sculpture that's sitting in a friends yard to this day. I got a lot of compliments on the strength of my welds, even though they weren't the best looking. If you have at least basic/decent mechanical skills I bet you could buy a cheap welder and fab up a simple rack that could carry a kayak or two and more. Plus, doing it yourself allows you to customize the rack to however you want it to look.

 

[Snafu]

Well looks like this idea is officially out the window....just picked up a camper shell with already installed on the roof. Has two windows that open with screens too. Its color doesn't match the truck, and the back window needs some tweaking in order to clear the tailgate's plastic spoiler type cap BUT it's lookin SWEET!!!

Now I just need to build some stuff to hold my gas and water cans in place, maybe a simple sleeping platform and I'm ready to go!!! Gonna take it into the desert on a shake down run with the kayak loaded on top this weekend :wings:

 

[Snafu]

I checked out those welders after you guys mentioned them...looks perfect for me to learn. Will be saving for one! Thanks for the heads up!!

 

[zukrider]

good to here. get a pic up so we can see!