Roof Rack Design and Accessory Mounting Questions

[Colonal Angus]

I'm ordering a custom Gobi rack exactly like the one below. I have a questions though and I can't get ahold of the guy who already has this rack. If you had the choice, would you opt for complete mesh (expanded metal) flooring/covering like in the first picture or would you rather have just the bare cross bars? I feel like the mesh would hinder mounting points for accessories, would it not? I plan to run Fourtreks awning mounts and shovel mounts on the outer frame but I'm afraid the mesh would interfere with the fourtreks mount. Also, I wouldn't be able to bolt anything to the mesh floor because it's probably not sturdy enough. If I do want flooring in a particular area of the rack, I can always add Farmtek to that particular spot with no tie-down interference or mounting obstructions. I'd be throwing dry bags, pelican style cases, etc up there (maybe an rtt down the road).

Does my concern make sense? Any and all help is appreciated.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=155112&d=1365817020
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=155114&d=1365817056
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=155181&d=1365869853

Thanks!

 

[Gear]

By custom do you mean they will add things at your request or are they simply building the same rack as the one in the pictures. If it was mine I would leave off the expanded metal and add my own flooring. With this said I would make sure there is an easy way to attach the floor. My next rack will include light tabs on the inside of the main frame so I can easily thru bolt the flooring. I've tried threaded inserts and they are a pain to line up. Not to mention I have been using King Starlite XL as a flooring base and it has a major expansion rate when hot, which I was unaware of at the time of purchase. I am thinking about losing the King Starlite XL and simple using a sheet of 1/4" Baltic Birch possible sprayed with Line-X.

 

[Colonal Angus]

Well, it's custom in a sense that it's not Gobi's standard rack. It is a copy of the one in the pictures but I do have the ability to change a few things, here and there. I was thinking of adding the light tabs too but more for accessory mounting than anything. Problem with that though is it would limit me on placement of accessories. Or in your case with flooring, if I chose not to use flooring in the particular spot where there are tabs...I'd have metal tabs exposed waiting to snag on something. It is a good idea though and not off the table. That starlite stuff is nice. Stinks that it didn't quite work out. Have you looked at the Farmtek flooring. From what I've seen, it holds up pretty well and a lot guys are using it. What's nice about it is, you can cut it pretty easily, it's light weight, cheap and you can simply zip tie it to wherever you need it.

 

[ZMagic97]

As an owner of a Gobi rack, I would say that more mesh in better. These things have been made so that the mesh flooring doesn't seem to hinder any accessories being mounted to it. With my full mesh floor rack, I have an ax and Rigid D2 lights on my rack. I could still tie down things to the floor and rails and attach an awning or a hi-lift to it.

 

[evldave]

I would go with mesh as well - makes it nice to be able to be on the roof walking around without worrying about accidentally stepping on your roof.

One drawback with mesh is it will likely make more noise. Worth the tradeoff if you ask me.

 

[Colonal Angus]

ZMagic97, can you post some pics of how you mounted the awning and ax. I just need a visual. I think I'm overthinking things.

Thanks for the responses guys. Keep them coming please.

 

[Crom]

I have a full mesh floor rack on my Tacoma. It's incredibly useful with an almost limitless option for tie down points. I posted some pics in the roof rack thread, or I can try and post some here tomorrow...

 

[Colonal Angus]

I have a full mesh floor rack on my Tacoma. It's incredibly useful with an almost limitless option for tie down points. I posted some pics in the roof rack thread, or I can try and post some here tomorrow...

Crom, I saw your set up in the roof rack thread. Awesome!! I'd love to see more pics of it if you don't mind. Lots of good ideas. I plan to eventually have a road shower and I like what you did with the ABS pipe? I'm actually very interested to see how you attached the ABS pipe to the load bars. I have a a kodiak tent too and those poles are HEAVY! You didn't happen to do a build thread on it did you? Also, do you think it would be possible to mount the abs and road shower to the mesh covered rack (as it would be in my case)?

 

[ZMagic97]

ZMagic97, can you post some pics of how you mounted the awning and ax. I just need a visual. I think I'm overthinking things.

Thanks for the responses guys. Keep them coming please.

Sorry for the late reply:

My ax is mounted via a Gobi mount I got with the rack. I do not have any awning photos as I only borrowed an awning once and do not own one.

The flat floor of the rack let me takes a 500 mile round trip with two large cargo boxes of gear with me no problem. Did great in the forest areas as well.

 

[doug720]

When I made my rack, I used a 5' wide sheet of .65" aluminum diamond plate for the deck. By cutting 3" dia. holes over the bottom support tubes, tie downs are ample and easy to use. The odd hole layout is due to the loads I carry and the aluminum boxes I mount to the rack. I welded nuts for easy mounting of boxes and frequently used items. Very easy and quick to do and use.

For my hi-lift and shovel, I welded threaded rod to the rack to attach both tools. Aluminum spacers are used to support the tools with nuts on top to secure. The shovel has quick fists to secure it. Works well, no rattles, easy to use.

I also made the front wind deflector from the aluminum sheet which nearly covers the hi-lift so it helps with weather. With it I have no wind noise and it can't hurt the fuel mileage.

Doug

 

[Colonal Angus]

Thanks for all the pics and tips, guys! I think I have it figured out now. I'll be sure to post pics when I get the rack. Again, thanks fellas!

Also, Crom, I think I'm gonna have to use the ABS storage for my Kodiak poles...they're the perfect length to NOT fit anywhere in the 4runner.

 

[FRBlake]

I'm ordering a custom Gobi rack exactly like the one below. I have a questions though and I can't get ahold of the guy who already has this rack. If you had the choice, would you opt for complete mesh (expanded metal) flooring/covering like in the first picture or would you rather have just the bare cross bars? I feel like the mesh would hinder mounting points for accessories, would it not? I plan to run Fourtreks awning mounts and shovel mounts on the outer frame but I'm afraid the mesh would interfere with the fourtreks mount. Also, I wouldn't be able to bolt anything to the mesh floor because it's probably not sturdy enough. If I do want flooring in a particular area of the rack, I can always add Farmtek to that particular spot with no tie-down interference or mounting obstructions. I'd be throwing dry bags, pelican style cases, etc up there (maybe an rtt down the road).

Does my concern make sense? Any and all help is appreciated.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=155112&d=1365817020
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=155114&d=1365817056
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=155181&d=1365869853

Thanks!

Do the front feet on the Gobi just... sit there? what would keep it from banging on the roof on a washboard road or lifting at high speeds??

That's our main concern about the full length rack... no factory holes means something needs to be modified (rivnut time) or left "incomplete" and that's not the way we do things.

 

[Crom]

Thanks for all the pics and tips, guys! I think I have it figured out now. I'll be sure to post pics when I get the rack. Again, thanks fellas!

Also, Crom, I think I'm gonna have to use the ABS storage for my Kodiak poles...they're the perfect length to NOT fit anywhere in the 4runner.

Look forward to the pics! You're welcome to the idea. I got the ABS pipe idea from Dave NP4I a year ago in his post in this thread. One caveat with the 4" tube is I had to clearance a rectangular hole for one of the T-bars to stub out when inside the tube. It's pictured above. It was the only way I could make all the poles fit, otherwise I'd have to use a 6" pipe, and I couldn't find a 6" pipe easily. Also if you cut the pipe, use it file on it to remove sharp edges.

 

[Colonal Angus]

Do the front feet on the Gobi just... sit there? what would keep it from banging on the roof on a washboard road or lifting at high speeds??

That's our main concern about the full length rack... no factory holes means something needs to be modified (rivnut time) or left "incomplete" and that's not the way we do things.

Blake, the front feet are just supports that do not bolt down. I haven't heard of any complaints from Gobi or Baja users (Baja uses same concept). I plan to run limb risers which would probably help hold the front of the rack in place, too. I haven't heard from Gobi in a while...I was told they'd contact me to discuss the build in more detail and they'd shoot me the CAD drawing of the rack...but nothing so far.

 

[dstock]

Blake, the front feet are just supports that do not bolt down. I haven't heard of any complaints from Gobi or Baja users (Baja uses same concept). I plan to run limb risers which would probably help hold the front of the rack in place, too. I haven't heard from Gobi in a while...I was told they'd contact me to discuss the build in more detail and they'd shoot me the CAD drawing of the rack...but nothing so far.

I have a Gobi rack on my Jeep JK and it's outstanding, very secure. Gobi is a small outfit and getting increasingly popular from what I've seen, you will need to stay on top of them, but they do make a very nice product.