BIG RACK!

[audaciousduo]

Nothing like a big rack ...... on a 70. The limited storage for camping gear got me looking for a rack. They were all about $600 for anything decent so I decided to build one. The steel cost about $60 but it was a lot more work than I thought. I still have to paint the darn thing but at least its done. I was originally going to just use the drip rail clamps but they turned out to be aluminum! I had to weld the rails to the bottom of the rack. Its still functional but not as clean looking as I planned.

 

[canucksafari]

Now that's what I call a misleading subject line.

By the way, the ROOF rack looks very good. How much does it weigh?

 

[audaciousduo]

I haven't weighed it but I'd guess 40 Lbs?

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

material ? 1 1/4" square tubing - thin wall ? 0.06

 

[audaciousduo]

material ? 1 1/4" square tubing - thin wall ? 0.06

1/4" tube 14 Gauge. I wanted to stay light as its only the tent, sleeping bags and light weight stuff I put on the roof. Side angles are scary with too much weight up there.

 

[kim]

I thought the 70 did circles rather than flip.

 

[d0ubledown]

nice work dave!

 

[AJAEbj42]

Great looking roof rack!

I use stainless steel muffler clamps to hold my roof basket to my Thule rails. Not as pretty as welding, but allows the Thules to be used on their own.

I also put an expanded metal floor on mine, but it does add to the weight!

 

[audaciousduo]

Test fit

Test fit before paint. I may weld a couple of tabs on fore and aft to mount lighting before I paint it.

 

[Granite Grinder]

That is plenty over-engineered, nice work!

 

[audaciousduo]

Yup, the framing carpenter in me got carried away with the cross bracing. I was, and still may run some girder style braces on the side. It should take a good bang and stay together.

 

[brownbear]

That's a nice design. Only thing I could think of is the gaps are too much and you might find it needs plywood on the bottom so stuff doesn't fall thru. I know this from having a rack for the last year on my truck. My gaps are smaller, but even putting a 20 of propane up there with odd gaps is trick. It keeps falling thru.

But easy enough if you decide that...you are the fabricator... Sweet design...!

 

[Granite Grinder]

On mine I used less cross bracing but used a sheet of expanded steel for the floor.

 

[canucksafari]

On mine I used less cross bracing but used a sheet of expanded steel for the floor.

The big aluminum JDM rack I have also has a steel floor. Was actually thinking of taking it off, as it is pretty heavy. But it also has a sunroof hatch which might make that steel floor a useful thing to have on the rack.

 

[audaciousduo]

I have a huge water proof cargo bag that fits perfect in the rack. That was kind of my intention with the build. The only thing I want to put up there is light weight back country camping gear until my kids are big enough to carry a pack. Either that or I have to get a mule and I already have a 13 year old senile, deaf and dumb dog to deal with so a mule is out of the question.