Hi Rise Shell w/basket/rack?

[outdoorsman]

I have a hi rise camper shell. I'd like to put a basket on top so I could put some gear up there. My problem is that since it's a hi rise I don't know if I can get a basket up there. I couldn't find any threads of people who figured something out so they could add a basket on top. Any ideas or help is appreciated. Here are two pictures to help show the top countour of my shell. It slopes downward. I'd like to have the basket level. I'm sure I could find somebody to fab something up for me, but if I could find soemthing already made that would be much easier.

I'd like something similiar to this...

http://image.dieselpowermag.com/f/9..._ford_f350+n_fab_steps_con_ferr_roof_rack.jpg

 

[Scott B.]

Yakima makes an extension for their towers. It fits between the clamp part and the ring that grabs the crossbar. You could use extensions on the front bar, raising it up to the level of the rear bar, allowing the basket to mount horizontal (flat.)

The only drawback I see (and it's not a major one) is the gap under the front of your basket.

Have you looked at Defender Racks? They are the new Con-Ferr racks. I am planning on using one of their racks, mounted to Yakima bars on top of my shell.

BTW, nice Ranger!

 

[Desert Dan]

You might be able to put a small rack over the cab of you truck instead?

 

[Martinjmpr]

You might be able to put a small rack over the cab of you truck instead?

+1 on that. I would consider that first before adding more height onto an already high shell.

With the right kind of shell it would look kind of like the rack on a Nissan Xterra.

 

[theMec]

How about a ladder rack? They fit over camper shells. Many companies out there but here's one:
http://www.rackitinc.com/camperrack.html

 

[outdoorsman]

I've been hesitant on mounting a rack over the cab, because I don't want to drill any holes in the truck itself. I know there are some that attach to rain gutters, but I'm not sure if that would work for my truck or not. I think I'll find a local place and check out what they have to get a better idea of how the cab racks mount up.

The ladder rack that kind of goes around the shell is nice too, but I think the cab rack would be the smartest to help keep the center of gravity lower.

 

[Martinjmpr]

I've been hesitant on mounting a rack over the cab, because I don't want to drill any holes in the truck itself. I know there are some that attach to rain gutters, but I'm not sure if that would work for my truck or not. I think I'll find a local place and check out what they have to get a better idea of how the cab racks mount up.

The ladder rack that kind of goes around the shell is nice too, but I think the cab rack would be the smartest to help keep the center of gravity lower.

You can get a Yakima or Thule rack that mounts to the inner gutters, no drilling involved. You will probably have to get an "extension" kit though to place the rear "legs" on the roof further back than the back of the door.

 

[brianjwilson]

Don't put a rack on the canopy, it won't look good with a high sloping canopy, imo. Plus you are just throwing the center of gravity even higher.
Get a Yakima Megawarrior and put it on the cab with gutter mounts or something.

 

[FettsWay]

I had a similar delima. I bought a basket for my extended cab truck, and didn't see a reasonable way to mount it onto my high rise camper shell. So I rigged it up over my truck cab. Problem was that neither Thule nor Yakima makes a clip to attach towers into my extended cab windows. So I only had one bar going across my cab. I ordered a cheap offbrand unit from the internet and scraped some of the parts and only opted to using the "foam" towers and the bar. Then bolted closed eye hooks into the end of the bar then racketing them to the frame of my truck, I ran the racket strap between the cab and the bed.

I don't like the setup and just today took it down, but it would be sturdy enough to hold some lightweight packs, but not firewood or gas cans.

- fettsway