Homemade Roofracks.

[mustangwarrior]

This thread was a big inspiration for me, and i wanted to share my recently completed rack for my 3rd gen 4runner. It's small but should prove to be another step in the right direction when it comes to cargo organization.

i actually dig that rack, low profile to keep down on wind noise and aerodynamics, also would hold a bike, yak or canoe, plus the gussets keep if professional looking, might have to copy it for my WJ

 

[shmabs]

Mustangwarrior,

Those gussets are actually mounts for my highlift. I made a few stainless steel "wing bolts" that screw into those gussets and sandwich the high lift between two leaf spring bushings. In the past it has worked well.

Copy away at your free will!

 

[Tumbleweed]

Couple of thoughts after building a few racks: have made several from 1" square steel tubing but do not like the fact that most ratchet straps and tie downs with an S hook end will not fit over 1". Use 3/4" top rail or where straps may go and they fit fine.
If you use galvanized tube, the muratic acid works well for stripping the zinc. You can also get it at a pool supply store. Old weldors that weld galvanized for years drink a glass of milk before and after welding to sooth the stomach and help with the yucky taste in your mouth. It works.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

Simple build I did...

3/8 bolts with plates slide into stock rails and hold a pair of thule bars on. Then a tri-fold atv aluminum rack was bolted to the bars. The front "feet" of the ramp that would have sat on tailgate for loading are spanned with a piece of aluminum diamond plate I had laying around. Then stuck some Hella Micro lights I had in the garage on it. Came out nice and sturdy. The lower profile seems to have helped my MPG compared to the LoadWarrior that used to ride up there. Also passed the noise test and no issues there. Need to pull it back down and swap on the proper mounts to a couple lights, give it a good coat of paint and wire up the lights.

I had everything on-hand so no real cost to me, but looking around it seems it could be duplicated for right around $100 plus lights.

Of course, PICS...

 

[Conrad_Turbo]

If you use galvanized tube, the muratic acid works well for stripping the zinc. You can also get it at a pool supply store. Old weldors that weld galvanized for years drink a glass of milk before and after welding to sooth the stomach and help with the yucky taste in your mouth. It works.

Kinda like being in contact with something corrosive without gloves, but then making sure to wash your hands afterwards. lol. The muriatic acid also works great for stripping off mill scale, which allows for TIG welding with ease or for super clean MIG welds.

 

[onetraveller]

These racks look great. There's a lot of time and skill put into them.

However please be aware that there are numerous hazards associated with welding. Zinc oxide from galvanized steel, hexavalent chromium from stainless steel, cadmium poisoning from cadmium plated components. There's a reason OSHA regulates welding activities.

Here's a good summary sheet.

http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA_FS-3647_Welding.pdf

If you want to know more.

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/weldingcuttingbrazing/index.html

Be safe.

Mike

 

[Mark Harley]

More of a tent rack than a roof rack, " too cheap to buy a RTT"

7' x 7' 1 1/2" angle and expanded steel.

It sits on a frame work of 1 x 3 tubing.

 

[AFSOC]

I have always considered wood an underutilized construction material for overland equipment. If we are going to snub high tech fabrics in favor of waxed cotton over garments, pay through the nose for campaign furniture and wear shemaghs to foster the "look" our overlander fantasies demand, why not go the rest of the way by utilizing rich, full grain woods in the crafting of our Overlander's kit?

Here's a clever fella that added countless cubic feet of storage to his rig as well as always having ready reserve firewood. Innovative...

 

[RKraft]

Here are a couple more pictures of my roof rack been kind of a slow on going build. Family and other commitments coming first of course. The light bar is totally removeable held on with 3/8" bolts will make lights quick disconnect also so if need to remove or one is broken. Sorry for crappy pictures but it is from my phone. There is 6 total 7" HID 55 watt lights the outside ones are fogs & 4 inside are spots.
Randy

 

[photoman]

My custom rack x2. One over the cab and one over the shell.

 

[subytoy]

My futon frame roof rack

I finally got my rack on the 80. I got Kargo Master feet but they were too short, so I bought eight hockey pucks. Problem solved!

I'm still thinking about adding lights to it.


Craig

 

[shmabs]

your futon rack looks great!!!! How did you secure it from folding?

Mike

 

[subytoy]

I found some pipe that fit inside the larger diameter tubes and just bolted it in. I haven't put a load on it yet, but I tested it before I mounted it on the vehicle. It held 300lbs with no problems.
I'm mainly going to use it for my kayak, so it won't have over 50lbs most of the time.

Craig

 

[Mark Harley]

Tent Rack painted black with tie downs and corner stops for the tent rods.
Tried it out and it worked great!

 

[landcruiser40th]

Mark that turned out great. In the back of my cruiser i used expanded metal for the sleeping platform floor and it was uncomfortable to kneel on. i was at colemans military surplus and i bought a couple of the military roll mats and used them under my sleeping bag. They had irregular cut ones cheaper and i bought those because i was cutting them anyway and just ziptied the ends in place everynight.

mike