I would value some opinions from others on an idea I have for a roof carrier for my 91 XJ. I currently have the headliner off to fix the sagging material and I also have a roof carrier "basket" the was left at the house I am renting now - so a "freebie"!
By "basket", I mean a framework of 1" square tube welded with a bottom grid and @6" high sides, with no means of attaching to a roof. The thought I currently have is using 4) 6" pieces of aircraft seat track bolted to the roof and using 4)"double stud fitting with bolt thread" that attach to the channel and leave me a 3/8" SAE female thread to bolt into-as in through my 1" square tube and into the fitting.
The obvious weakness to me is the attachment to the roof panel. I have already thought of using 1/8" steel strap as a backing plate below the roof, but then I start "overengineering" and ...!
What other thoughts can you think of? I don't plan on using it for heavy items-primarily bulky lighweight stuff and maybe some fuel cans and looking to use items I have or easily assembled (not as easy to rig gutter mounts for me, but..)
Thanks for any thoughts. Russ
By "basket", I mean a framework of 1" square tube welded with a bottom grid and @6" high sides, with no means of attaching to a roof. The thought I currently have is using 4) 6" pieces of aircraft seat track bolted to the roof and using 4)"double stud fitting with bolt thread" that attach to the channel and leave me a 3/8" SAE female thread to bolt into-as in through my 1" square tube and into the fitting.
The obvious weakness to me is the attachment to the roof panel. I have already thought of using 1/8" steel strap as a backing plate below the roof, but then I start "overengineering" and ...!
What other thoughts can you think of? I don't plan on using it for heavy items-primarily bulky lighweight stuff and maybe some fuel cans and looking to use items I have or easily assembled (not as easy to rig gutter mounts for me, but..)
Thanks for any thoughts. Russ
