Roof Rack Flooring

[Reata Rover]

Any idea what material would be best and where I can get some?

 

[Maximus Ram]

Some people have used this
http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/prod1;;pgha2215_HA2217.html

I'm going to order some for my Con-Fer rack when the time comes.

 

[cumminscruiser]

Roof rack flooring

I have used KIng Starboard for several projects, you can get it a a industral plastic supplier. Its a good marine plastic board.

 

[MuddyMudskipper]

People tend to use the Farmtek or Starlite XL for flooring. It does depend on taste but I personally like the Farmtek.

Here is a link for four threads with a similar question.

 

[Lemsteraak]

Why do you want a floor? What do you intend to carry?

 

[michaels]

Why do you want a floor? What do you intend to carry?

whether he carries anythign or not, his rack is pretty pointless without a floor.

if nothing else, it's a great place to relax. i've played guitar to old girlfriend's, tailgated, slept, and even hung out with friends and family up there.

it's a great thing to have, whether you use it for carrying around a bunch of stuff from the hardware store, relax up there, or use it for extra storage during travel.

i mainly use mine to carry my tent cot and firewood.

 

[Maximus Ram]

Why do you want a floor?

no floor, you keep falling :Wow1::sombrero:

 

[tdesanto]

I was interested in adding some of this to my Yakima Load Warrior; however, I've paused for a moment to rethink this. With this rack, there are several crossbars, about every 4-5". This gives me plenty of places to lash down whatever I'm carrying up there, but it's too difficult to actually stand up there or take photographs from there with a tripod.

So, that's why I was thinking about adding this flooring, but if I add it, I will be covering up all those crossbars and preventing me from being able to lash items down to the crossbars.

Is there a way I can have both a smooth floor and lashing points inside the rack and not just on the perimeter (like I have now)? Without the floor, I can attach at the perimeter and almost anywhere in the middle.

 

[ntsqd]

Something like these spaced about as desired in a flat top floor:
(clicky)

 

[The Adam Blaster]

That Farmtek stuff says it's easy to cut.
Just cut some square holes around every other support, one on the left side of the rack, one on the right.
If you only cut a few holes, it won't affect the structural integrity of the flooring material.

Just remember to make the holes large enough that you can get whatever rope material, or strap around the supports easy enough not to be a headache when you are packing the rack.

 

[Overland Hadley]

Is there a way I can have both a smooth floor and lashing points inside the rack and not just on the perimeter (like I have now)? Without the floor, I can attach at the perimeter and almost anywhere in the middle.

You could put two pieces of flooring down the sides leaving a small gap down the middle for lashing.

 

[Overland Hadley]

I need to make a Farmtek order here in the next couple of weeks.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Something like these spaced about as desired in a flat top floor:
(clicky)

I put those on the drawer in the back of my FJ40. Totally worthless. They are always either under something or not in the right place.

 

[tdesanto]

That Farmtek stuff says it's easy to cut.
Just cut some square holes around every other support, one on the left side of the rack, one on the right.
If you only cut a few holes, it won't affect the structural integrity of the flooring material.

Just remember to make the holes large enough that you can get whatever rope material, or strap around the supports easy enough not to be a headache when you are packing the rack.

You could put two pieces of flooring down the sides leaving a small gap down the middle for lashing.

I think either of these options are great. Now I've got some measuring to do.

Thank you gentlemen.

 

[Lemsteraak]

The reason I was asking why you want a floor was to determine the best material for the job. For example, Starboard is used in a lot of marine applications and mainly used down low for things like swim platforms. Extremely rugged, but heavy. I know the roof rack manufacturers go to a lot of effort to keep things light up there. If you have an old steel Con-Fer rack, you probably aren't too concerned about weight, but if you have an alloy rack, you spent a lot of money to get something light.

Plywood gives you the best bang for your buck but there are many quality levels. Probably the best for your application is microlam, many thin layers of wood bonded with a waterproof glue. If you want to really reduce weight, then go with one of the engineered solutions like Baltek http://www.baltek.com used when you need really good strength to weight ratios, usually less than half the weight of plywood while maintaining the strength. The first product, Baltek, was pretty simple, just a couple doorskins, thin plywood, bonded to a balsa wood core. The newer products that they have are entirely man made so they will be more durable, and probably more suitable. They would be similar to the foam core floor of your rooftent. The idea is that the core doesn't give you much strength, so make it light out of foam. The stressed skin is where the real strength is, same concept as an I beam.