Homemade Roofracks.
- Thread starter Box Rocket
- Start date
Colby Jack
Traveler
Cab to topper connection
I'm soooo glad this thread got bumped! I'm about to have a rack built for my fool-sized Dodge, and I am wondering if I would experience any buckling or ripping if my rack spanned all the way to the cab. My idea is to have a RTT shifted to the cab, and create a back porch of sorts over the topper. If I go this route, I think I am limited to just a few RTTs that have a door that opens to the rear, like a few Maggiolinas I have seen on here.
Anybody had any issues with this type of connection?
Colby Jack
I'm soooo glad this thread got bumped! I'm about to have a rack built for my fool-sized Dodge, and I am wondering if I would experience any buckling or ripping if my rack spanned all the way to the cab. My idea is to have a RTT shifted to the cab, and create a back porch of sorts over the topper. If I go this route, I think I am limited to just a few RTTs that have a door that opens to the rear, like a few Maggiolinas I have seen on here.
Anybody had any issues with this type of connection?
Colby Jack
Hill Bill E.
Oath Keeper
I think you would. Being as the box and cab flex so independent of each other.
I think the best bet, would be to have a seperate roof rack on the cab, to mount the RTT, and a seperate roof rack on the topper, to support the 'patio'
O know when I get my F150 twisted up, the box/cab area moves quite a bit.
I think the best bet, would be to have a seperate roof rack on the cab, to mount the RTT, and a seperate roof rack on the topper, to support the 'patio'
O know when I get my F150 twisted up, the box/cab area moves quite a bit.
Hill Bill E.
Oath Keeper
Finally got around to finishing my roof rack for the XJ.
Hardest part was figuring how to clamp it. The XJ has a funky trim piece on the drip rail. I was going to make it clamp like the ladder racks I've made for older vans, where it clamping force is 'horizontal', but this wouldn't work on my XJ.
So I designed a 'vertical' clamp, so the holding action is coming from the top and bottom. Used some ideas for the gutter mount from this thread.:coffeedrink:
I made the rack from Uni-Strut, a type of channel that electricians and plumbers/pipefitters use.
Uni-Strut:
High Speed tire clamp: The bottom of the large round plate has 'steps', so it fits snug in both the stock XJ wheel, and the aftermarket steel wheel.
Clamping syatem:
End view:
Rack from front:
I still need to mount the Hi-Lift, shovel and axe, and possibly the set of KC Daylighters I have in the shed.
This will be easy, becuase the Uni-Strut has holes in it every couple of inches. Also nice for straps or snubbers.
Hardest part was figuring how to clamp it. The XJ has a funky trim piece on the drip rail. I was going to make it clamp like the ladder racks I've made for older vans, where it clamping force is 'horizontal', but this wouldn't work on my XJ.
So I designed a 'vertical' clamp, so the holding action is coming from the top and bottom. Used some ideas for the gutter mount from this thread.:coffeedrink:
I made the rack from Uni-Strut, a type of channel that electricians and plumbers/pipefitters use.
Uni-Strut:
High Speed tire clamp: The bottom of the large round plate has 'steps', so it fits snug in both the stock XJ wheel, and the aftermarket steel wheel.
Clamping syatem:
End view:
Rack from front:
I still need to mount the Hi-Lift, shovel and axe, and possibly the set of KC Daylighters I have in the shed.
This will be easy, becuase the Uni-Strut has holes in it every couple of inches. Also nice for straps or snubbers.
Hill Bill E.
Oath Keeper
Added the Hi-lift today. Up next are the shovel and axe.
Built a 'shoe' that the foot fits in:
And made a secure, but easy to remove, mounting nut:
I'm going to drill a hole in the threaded rod, and run a pin through it. That will keep the nut from backing off, leaving the jack like a missile in an accident:Wow1:
Built a 'shoe' that the foot fits in:
And made a secure, but easy to remove, mounting nut:
I'm going to drill a hole in the threaded rod, and run a pin through it. That will keep the nut from backing off, leaving the jack like a missile in an accident:Wow1:
[/QUOTE]
I'm going to drill a hole in the threaded rod, and run a pin through it. That will keep the nut from backing off, leaving the jack like a missile in an accident:Wow1:[/QUOTE]
if you are worried about a missle during an accident make sure your rack anchors to your gutters are bullet proof as now you have a complete heavy rack with tire, jack and accessories acting like a projectile, lol.
I'm going to drill a hole in the threaded rod, and run a pin through it. That will keep the nut from backing off, leaving the jack like a missile in an accident:Wow1:[/QUOTE]
if you are worried about a missle during an accident make sure your rack anchors to your gutters are bullet proof as now you have a complete heavy rack with tire, jack and accessories acting like a projectile, lol.
Hill Bill E.
Oath Keeper
Yep, got that covered!!:victory:
I had a Thule rack, mounted to the stock XJ roof rack. Heard of (and have seen one) the factory rails pulling out.
So I fabbed up a good gutter mount.:coffeedrink:
I lost a spare from under my '96 F150 once, becuase the lifting cable rusted out. (dang road salt!)
It didn't hit anyone, thankfully, but that baby bounced down the road for a ways before hitting the woods:Wow1:
Also made the back end of the truck jump really good to!
So I'm a bit anal when it comes to mounting things, especially heavy things like the spare.
Howski
Well-known member
Here's a link to the Wildyoats rack.
http://www.wildyoats.com/the_j-rack.htm
And a slightly better photo of it from one of our trips.
This rack is awesome. Looking to the same set up on my discovery because I don't have access to a welder. It looks very, very similar to a hannibal rack
mudbutt
Explorer
Don't know if mine qualifies... I purchased the rack on-line.
When I got it, I realized it was way too small. So I stretched it both directions. I made it 8" longer and 8" wider.
Then I added light tabs, lightbar hoop, antenna and shovel mounts. Not sure I like the way it looks so much, but it functions very well.
When I got it, I realized it was way too small. So I stretched it both directions. I made it 8" longer and 8" wider.
Then I added light tabs, lightbar hoop, antenna and shovel mounts. Not sure I like the way it looks so much, but it functions very well.
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jesusgatos
Explorer
Just built a simple roofrack for my Tacoma yesterday. Just 1" x .120-wall tubing tied into the rollcage. The actual rack part is going to be mounted on pivot-points on top of the B-pillar, so that I can run it forward over the cab (so I can carry dirtbikes), or backward over the bed (less wind resistance & roof for my dogs). Will also be able to drop it all the way down and lock it to the top of the shock-mounts, which will turn the whole front part of the bed into a large, secure, trunk.
I think it looks great.:coffeedrink:Don't know if mine qualifies... I purchased the rack on-line.
When I got it, I realized it was way too small. So I stretched it both directions. I made it 8" longer and 8" wider.
Then I added light tabs, lightbar hoop, antenna and shovel mounts. Not sure I like the way it looks so much, but it functions very well.
Box Rocket
Well-known member
got the track system finally installed on my bed rack.
rubberduck
Observer
Home made, low profile, and works great.
To all the people with roof lights. Doesnt the glare drive you nuts? I rigged some temporary lights on the rack to see if I liked them. The distance from up high was great, but the light across the hood and wind sheild was terrible. I even mounted them behind the top of the wind sheild.
To all the people with roof lights. Doesnt the glare drive you nuts? I rigged some temporary lights on the rack to see if I liked them. The distance from up high was great, but the light across the hood and wind sheild was terrible. I even mounted them behind the top of the wind sheild.
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Howski
Well-known member
Home made, low profile, and works great.
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Is that the "J-Moose" style rack made out of an atv ramp?