R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
I want to build some bridging ladders for my truck, that's the easy part. Since I'm staying reasonably small tired, some bridging ladders would come in handy. But, I don't have, and don't want a full-size roof rack. The logic being that, I just don't think it makes sense to mount a 100-150lb rack on the roof when it's main purpose is to hold 30-40lbs worth of bridging ladders. I'm anti-overloaded-roof rack, I'll never carry gas cans up there or anything like that. Lastly, the big roof racks are practically permanent because they're so heavy and unweildy to remove. So, where is it possible to store the ladders?
1) One idea I've had is to... not build a rack per se, but to sort of make the ladders BE the rack. Basically, some fixings up on the back of the roof to which the ladders will be fastened such that the ladders would BE the rack flooring on the back.
My truck has the front 2.5" tube rails up front, I'd like to make a lightweight basket to use for some light things like life jackets, sleeping bags, etc. I like the look of those factory tubes, and would like to work with them, rather than covering them up or replacing them with some big rack. I was thinking of a way to mount the ladders on the rear portion and make it so it looks integrated, like you wouldn't even realize they were ladders until removed.
2) Alternatively, make sort of a simple rear half-rack. 2 vertical stanchions clamped to the roof rails on either side, with some structure to link them over the top. Then have the stanchions linked across the top with some tubing. The ladders would bolt to the stanchions in the classic Land Rover location. A half-rack on the back would be easy to remove, but I don't like the look of a half-rack. But with the ladders bolted to the sides, you wouldn't even see the stanchions. You'd just see the ladders on the side in the classic location, and then the nice factory rack up front. A big technical advantage to this would be that the ladders would serve as "roof sliders" which is an often sited advantage of the "big rack", an advantage I can see would be hugely beneficial to where I drive.
So that's one idea.
The other one I had, was to mount the ladders to my rear bumper and/or swing-away carrier I've been building.
3) Maybe somewhat in this fashion:
Mounted to the swing away arm, under the tire, at an angle.
4) I plan to have 2 gas cans on the left side of the tire, so there's no room left on that side. I wonder if I could stand them up vertical elsewhere, like either side of the tire, or both on the right side. I dunno.
5) One place I have lots of room would be under the truck, beside the frame. Big open space there. But obviously stupid.
6) Last idea, is under my kid's feet in the rear seat passenger well. Firmly fastened. They're little kids and don't use the space.
Any other ideas?
Of all the ideas, I think I like 2 and 3 the best.
2) Has the big advantage of creating roof sliders, and the classic Land Rover look. But, it is weight up high, and I'm very much anti-weight-on-the-roof. 3) keeps the weight low, but it's starting to pile a lot of things on the back end... 6) keeps the weight low, but I can think of better uses for that space. 4) seems like it would look stupid.
Anybody have more input?
1) One idea I've had is to... not build a rack per se, but to sort of make the ladders BE the rack. Basically, some fixings up on the back of the roof to which the ladders will be fastened such that the ladders would BE the rack flooring on the back.
My truck has the front 2.5" tube rails up front, I'd like to make a lightweight basket to use for some light things like life jackets, sleeping bags, etc. I like the look of those factory tubes, and would like to work with them, rather than covering them up or replacing them with some big rack. I was thinking of a way to mount the ladders on the rear portion and make it so it looks integrated, like you wouldn't even realize they were ladders until removed.
2) Alternatively, make sort of a simple rear half-rack. 2 vertical stanchions clamped to the roof rails on either side, with some structure to link them over the top. Then have the stanchions linked across the top with some tubing. The ladders would bolt to the stanchions in the classic Land Rover location. A half-rack on the back would be easy to remove, but I don't like the look of a half-rack. But with the ladders bolted to the sides, you wouldn't even see the stanchions. You'd just see the ladders on the side in the classic location, and then the nice factory rack up front. A big technical advantage to this would be that the ladders would serve as "roof sliders" which is an often sited advantage of the "big rack", an advantage I can see would be hugely beneficial to where I drive.
So that's one idea.
The other one I had, was to mount the ladders to my rear bumper and/or swing-away carrier I've been building.
3) Maybe somewhat in this fashion:
Mounted to the swing away arm, under the tire, at an angle.
4) I plan to have 2 gas cans on the left side of the tire, so there's no room left on that side. I wonder if I could stand them up vertical elsewhere, like either side of the tire, or both on the right side. I dunno.
5) One place I have lots of room would be under the truck, beside the frame. Big open space there. But obviously stupid.
6) Last idea, is under my kid's feet in the rear seat passenger well. Firmly fastened. They're little kids and don't use the space.
Any other ideas?
Of all the ideas, I think I like 2 and 3 the best.
2) Has the big advantage of creating roof sliders, and the classic Land Rover look. But, it is weight up high, and I'm very much anti-weight-on-the-roof. 3) keeps the weight low, but it's starting to pile a lot of things on the back end... 6) keeps the weight low, but I can think of better uses for that space. 4) seems like it would look stupid.
Anybody have more input?
