100 roof rack builds??

[Mr. Snappy]

Hey all,
Looking at building my own roof rack for my hundy, since I can't see dropping a grand on one. I have a vague plan, but would like to get some ideas and input from those those here that have made their own rack. Pros, cons, likes, dislikes. Things you learned as you went along. And pictures if you got 'em!!
I'd like to make mine out of a 4x8' sheet of 3/16" aluminum that is punched with ½" holes, since I have it left over from another project. I plan to add a third cross member at a minimum, maybe more, as well as edge bracing, and a front wind deflector/light bar mount. Long term plan is to have an eerie-awn awning, and a tent on it, and maybe some other stuff like shovel and axe.
Anyway, help a non-fabricator out with some ideas and pictures!
Thanks!

 

[Mr. Snappy]

Monday bump. Surely somebody has done this.

 

[Box Rocket]

IMO you'll want to have several more crossmembers (even if they are not roof attachments) to add rigidity to that design especially if you plan to have a tent up there. The 3/16" aluminum will still flex a lot since it's so long. My gut says that you're going to have a "platform of a hundred whistles" with a sheet full of holes up on the roof. I can see this design being extremely noisy.

 

[Mr. Snappy]

Yeah, I've thought about the whistle possibility, however, won't know for sure till I try, right?
And also been thinking I'd need mor than 3 cross braces, depending on how large they are, both size and gauge. Would there be any advantage of using a certain shape cross piece vs another, such as square, round, c-channel, etc?

 

[Tundraexplorer]

I've been in a sequoia that had a custom made roof rack, and it was very loud. I looked into making one for my 100 series and even having access to a welder and knowing how to weld, I just couldn't seem to make sense of it for the price, so I'm saving some pennies to buy a roof rack. If you have a 100 series you have a lot of options, baja rack and gamiviti are probably the cheapest, but they are nice because they make accesories to mount an awning or axe/shovel( or have it built to order with those I'm place from gamiviti). I agree that I would be concerned about the strength especially if you plan on mounting a RTT

 

[r3run33]

i'm in same boat as you; want a rack but have not found one that will really fit my needs

I want one that is a basic rack up there and be able to bolt on additional cross member stuff when adding the tent etc to the roof! The biggest problem I have is that here in the north east we get snow and you have to get the snow out from under the rack cause eventually these ice chunks go flying and can hit another car etc. I seen one of the crashes on the New Jersey Turnpike. I will post some pics for you of what I have been collecting

 

[r3run33]

love this rack cause it offers grab handles for getting stuff up etc but 100 series has no rain gutter attachment points

 

[r3run33]

here is ARB but lots of money

 

[r3run33]

now see with the ARB how it has a floor almost; this would be terrible in the snow removal effort

 

[r3run33]

here is another guy with handles etc but trying to figure out a way to adjust the cross members

 

[CreeperSleeper]

I ended up with a LabRak roof rack. It is amazing and I am beyond happy with it. However, when I was planning on making my own, this was the design I was going to roughly follow: http://www.wildyoats.com/the_j-rack.htm

 

[r3run33]

pic

 

[r3run33]

sorry about the blank spot tried to circle it so you would see the floor part

 

[r3run33]

wish I could weld lol anyway have super strong basic square with 3 attachments on each side and then be able to bolt the top part on for trips.

 

[Box Rocket]

Just so you guys are aware, Prinsu Design is working on a new rack that should work for both the 100/200 series Cruisers. I have one of their 80 series racks and LOVE IT. All aluminum and super light but incredibly strong. I am personally not a fan of the basket style racks and prefer lower profile platform racks so this is the right style for me. I also think these are the best looking rack out there but that's personal preference. The crossbars can be moved/removed as your needs dictate and the crossbars are slotted on all sides for tie downs. I have ZERO wind noise with this rack too. Last I heard, the 200 series rack should be ready in a few weeks (and will likely work on the 100 series also).

.

.

.

.

.
The website for Prinsu Design is here:
http://www.prinsudesignstudio.com/
.