Roof racks ?

[Deleted Member S]

I have been thinking of getting a roof rack as I can't get very much in the boot. I'm also thinking of putting 4 spots on the rack.I've seen a few photo's in the gallery & like the way they look. I don't have roof rails fitted so i'm going to need a set.
Can any one recomend a roof rack & a set of roof bars. I've seen a set on ebay abit like the Thurle set ups, would these be ok ?
Thanks for any help :smile: :smile:

 

[mr-gadget]

I got a second hand pair of roof rails. either get them from ebay or the used parts gateway.. I think i gave about £50.00 for them, They take about 1 hour to fit. You need 12 rivet type nuts. you drill holes in the roof and bolt the rack down from the top, you don't need to remove the roof lining... Then for the cross rails i used 2 pieces of cut and shaped 3x2 timber.. cost about £4.00 and can carry alot more than roof bars from Thule. I have had about 150kgs on the roof.. (Sssshhh don't tell the law i am already in enough trouble...)

 

[Deleted Member S]

You need 12 rivet type nuts.

Are they like normmal pop rivets ? I had thourght about the proper T2 rails just worried i'd get them out of line.
I have no luck if it was'nt for bad luck :lol:

 

[mr-gadget]

The rails i got were genuine nissan rails, they are not normal rivets. these are the type. but not sure of the size, would have to check... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-10-x-8mm-...ryZ30917QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

The bolts come with the rails if you get used ones. My 13 year old fitted one side i done the other. The rails brackets are shaped to fit the roof. you cannot fit them wrong, (not easily anyway) You need an allen key with a ball on the end or just a bent one.

 

[Deleted Member S]

Now I see what your on about :smile: I know I may seem stupid at times but have a reason for that Do you just pop them in the hole & then tighten up the allen key bolts, a bit like a wall stud :?

 

[mr-gadget]

No you need a crimper. Here's a set... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-10-HAND-N...ryZ30917QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I think the nuts you need are the 6mm

 

[Deleted Member S]

Thanks very much for that Mr Gadget :smile: Thats helped alot :smile:

 

[mr-gadget]

Like i say it is very easy to fit the rails. When you drill the holes in the roof be sure to use a spacer on the drill bit so it does not penetrate the head lining.. Just drill a hole through a piece of wood then cut the wood to length so the drill bit only goes through the steel about 4mm. You won't damage anything then...

 

[Terranosaurus]

If you need rivnuts and a gun I can supply one not got catalogue to hand but PM me for more details.

I got rails off a skoda felicia estate, approx same length and they take all the same fittings as the Nissan ones. If you look in the Thule catalogue n halfords you can work out what other cars use the same style of rails and then look down your local scrappy. Cost me £15, removed them myself and so have all the fittings.

 

[Deleted Member S]

Could some one tell me what the length of the roof bars fitted to a SWB T2/Mav please with a cherry on top :smile: because if I can't track down the proper ones I may try Hummingbirds idea
Thanks very much

Neil

 

[tommo]

hi Sweety
i fitted roof bars and rails of a Kia sodona thay where 12" to long but easy to cut to length and only £15 off EBay
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l97/TOMLINA/Picture012.jpg
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l97/TOMLINA/Picture011.jpg

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

hi,

i can see how looking a say the thule catalogue would define which other models used the same cross rails as you but can you be sure the longetudal rails will be the same, surely the shape of the original vehicle's roof and feet of rails could differ. and therefore the matches are based on how the cross bars lock on.

i would like some too for my lwb but still not sure if just non roof rail independent cross bars/rack will be easier. the draw back being that they will fix at roughly centre of front and rear doors and not cover 'boot' area unless combined with a 3door kit, any idea if such a combo is viable.

the terrano has a pretty flat roof and wouldnt mind a full length roof rack in style of say a discovery or even those classic volvo 240/740 estates.

anyone seen one like that, guessing with full length rails, well b pillar back could use more than 2 cross bars or a custom frame.

 

[JonathanM]

I use the clamp on thule rails, and onto this add either the roof rack basket or bike carriers, according to need. I will probably fit roof rails to neaten it all up though, and because the clamp on ones are a bit of a pain to fit on & off. Like the idea of the alternatives via the bay, so I might look into this a little bit more. Plus if you can cut some down to size, it may mean a bit more length available.

 

[Terranosaurus]

i can see how looking a say the thule catalogue would define which other models used the same cross rails as you but can you be sure the longetudal rails will be the same, surely the shape of the original vehicle's roof and feet of rails could differ. and therefore the matches are based on how the cross bars lock on.

When i checked the skoda felicia estate uses different length cross bars but the same feet to mount them to the rails. Thule do it that way, a certain part number for the feet/clamp and another part for the actual cross bars. As you say the section shape on the bars varies, the T2/Mav ones being roughly triangular whereas the Pug 405 estates are round for instance.

 

[Terranosaurus]

It's taken a while but I've finally got round to fitting my roof rails (photos to follow). The skoda felicia estate rails are perhaps a little too long for a swb but it looks ok. I got the bars from ebay on one of those really terrible listing - heading was just "roof rack" turned out it was roof bars for a Renault Laguna estate with roof rails - quick look at Thules on line catalogue and they use the same feet as the skoda and T2/Mav and the same bars as The T"/Mav, £15 even managed to pick them up in Doncaster whilst I was there for work, so no postage.

 

[Deleted Member S]

Hi Hummingbird do you have any photo's of your new roof rack yet :? From what you have mentioned I think i'll try what you have done as i've missed out twice on ebay for a set for mine as at the last minute the price shot up to about £70 & the condition was'nt very good form the photo's :roll:

 

[Terranosaurus]

Just came back to this post to add that I've now bought an expedition type basket roof rack to o on my rails and bars, classic bit of ebay miss listing so I got a bargain, just ned to flog the Shogun roof bars that came with it.

It's HERE


So I've realized I never put a photo of mine with the rails up so its HERE

I mounted the bars further apart than the standard ones.


Just need to fit the rack and take another few photos now I suppose.

 

[Deleted Member]

Nice rack HB,you going to be putting spots on the front for the night laning?? :lol:

 

[Terranosaurus]

Yes got them sat under the stirs already, Cibie Oscar +'s, 4 off, though I might go for 6 if theres room, I've got them so why not, also some reverse/work lights on the back, wired independent of gearbox and for off road use only of course :lol:

 

[Deleted Member S]

Very nice Rack HB & I think the price you got it for is good too as i've seen them go for three times the price :roll: