building a roof rack

96terrano · 09-10-2012, 13:27

ok chaps, i'm wanting to build another roof rack for my truck, since my prototype one i made from wood was a complete and utter failure and can only be used as a gate

im wanting to make another one, a better one, i want to make one from metal but since i cant weld and am too poor to afford metel

, i think i'll need to use wood again

BUT!!... it will be made from beams not crappy planks 'no offence plank'

but then it'll be heavy

anyone got ideas?

i want to do it fairly cheap too

Lazy-Ferret · 09-10-2012, 13:50

The main problem is keeping the weight down, remember the roof bars are only rated at 75Kg, and that includes everything you put up there.

To be honest, you would be better keeping an eye on Ebay and Free cycle for an old one you could work with as a base.

MudLifeCrisis · 09-10-2012, 13:52

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Single-Bed...item337c655d60

there you go , ready made and bits left over for a nudge bar and a dog guard ;O)

arcascomp · 09-10-2012, 13:53

You've got the roof rails, so slowly collect a bunch of second hand bars to fit across to produce a rack. Mine had a couple of el cheapo Automaxi bars bolted on by someone previously, must've been cheap (it does mean that I can't take them off now without leaving bolt holes in my rails, but I'm happy enough with them there)

arcascomp · 09-10-2012, 14:07

Pic of my teenager showing the crudely bolted bars.

arcascomp · 09-10-2012, 14:08

Close up of the quality fitting job!

96terrano · 09-10-2012, 14:16

ive got 4 cross bars

but don't want to bolt through the rails

96terrano · 09-10-2012, 14:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by MudLifeCrisis

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Single-Bed...item337c655d60

there you go , ready made and bits left over for a nudge bar and a dog guard ;O)

that aint a bad idea actually

arcascomp · 09-10-2012, 14:21

Yeah, it's not pretty, but was done before she was mine.

You can get clamp on ones though if you can't find something in the small ads anywhere. Weight is the big problem with anything other than metal and I can vouch that cheap metal bends too as I noticed when I had all the wood for my mates decking up there. Must have been way over the maximum!

96terrano · 09-10-2012, 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by arcascomp

Yeah, it's not pretty, but was done before she was mine.

You can get clamp on ones though if you can't find something in the small ads anywhere. Weight is the big problem with anything other than metal and I can vouch that cheap metal bends too as I noticed when I had all the wood for my mates decking up there. Must have been way over the maximum!

yeah, ive got clam,p on ones, but im wanting a full roof one, i'll see if anyone is selling a bed frame local

arcascomp · 09-10-2012, 14:29

Metal folding futon - open it out for full rack, fold up if you want something smaller. Add two poles and a tarp, stick the mattress up there and have a good nights kip!

Totally as an aside, I do wish the rear seats all folded down to one big flat area enough to stick a airbed in, it would save me putting a tent up at scout camps!

09-10-2012, 13:27	#1
96terrano Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland Vehicle: Nissan Terrano 2.7TD LWB Posts: 8,024	building a roof rack ok chaps, i'm wanting to build another roof rack for my truck, since my prototype one i made from wood was a complete and utter failure and can only be used as a gate im wanting to make another one, a better one, i want to make one from metal but since i cant weld and am too poor to afford metel, i think i'll need to use wood again BUT!!... it will be made from beams not crappy planks 'no offence plank' but then it'll be heavy anyone got ideas? i want to do it fairly cheap too

09-10-2012, 13:50	#2
Lazy-Ferret Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sevenoaks, Kent Vehicle: Terrano 2.7TDi SE Touring Posts: 5,221	The main problem is keeping the weight down, remember the roof bars are only rated at 75Kg, and that includes everything you put up there. To be honest, you would be better keeping an eye on Ebay and Free cycle for an old one you could work with as a base.

09-10-2012, 13:52	#3
MudLifeCrisis Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: St Albans Herts Vehicle: 1997 Mav 2.7tdi lwb Posts: 1,377	http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Single-Bed...item337c655d60 there you go , ready made and bits left over for a nudge bar and a dog guard ;O)

09-10-2012, 13:53	#4
arcascomp Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Vehicle: 96 Mitsubishi Challenger! Posts: 775	You've got the roof rails, so slowly collect a bunch of second hand bars to fit across to produce a rack. Mine had a couple of el cheapo Automaxi bars bolted on by someone previously, must've been cheap (it does mean that I can't take them off now without leaving bolt holes in my rails, but I'm happy enough with them there)

09-10-2012, 14:16	#7
96terrano Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland Vehicle: Nissan Terrano 2.7TD LWB Posts: 8,024	ive got 4 cross bars but don't want to bolt through the rails

09-10-2012, 14:21	#9
arcascomp Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Vehicle: 96 Mitsubishi Challenger! Posts: 775	Yeah, it's not pretty, but was done before she was mine. You can get clamp on ones though if you can't find something in the small ads anywhere. Weight is the big problem with anything other than metal and I can vouch that cheap metal bends too as I noticed when I had all the wood for my mates decking up there. Must have been way over the maximum!

09-10-2012, 14:29	#11
arcascomp Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Vehicle: 96 Mitsubishi Challenger! Posts: 775	Metal folding futon - open it out for full rack, fold up if you want something smaller. Add two poles and a tarp, stick the mattress up there and have a good nights kip! Totally as an aside, I do wish the rear seats all folded down to one big flat area enough to stick a airbed in, it would save me putting a tent up at scout camps!