Bowfin Cruisers Roof Rack for the 100 Series

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My prototype rack is off of the truck right now but I am working on brackets tonight, and if all goes well I will have it back on and together. As soon as I do, I will shoot a picture. The wind deflector does intrude into the front of the sunroof looking straight up.
 
I know most people don't care about using their sunroofs, and eventually they stop working anyway but currently mine works and I love opening it during nice weather. Will the sunroof still open?
 
BJJCruiser said:
I know most people don't care about using their sunroofs, and eventually they stop working anyway but currently mine works and I love opening it during nice weather. Will the sunroof still open?
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Yes, you can still use the sunroof. The wind deflector shades the front few inches of it but it still opens fine.
 
BlueMica said:
Looking forward to this! @dogfishlake do you think the rear roller will be available around the same time as the rack?
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I don't think it will be ready at exactly the same time because I am spending all of my development time on the 100 and 60 racks. I will be going right into the accessories as soon as those launch though. There are more racks to work on, the 40 series up first, then GX470 and 200, (and 1 4runner rack for my wife's TRD Pro), but gotta get some accessories before that. My Wenonah canoe wants a roller to happen too!
 
What is the height from the roof to the highest point of the rack? My 100 is garaged so with the lift and with the rack, wanted to see if she still fits inside. Will you also consider having a cut out / opening on the fairing to be able to install a light bar?
 
Haring Bagsik said:
Any upates?
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Yes, finally. First off, the height of the rack is 4" from the center of the roof in the back, 3" in the middle, and 4" in the front.

Second, I have been agonizing over how to make the brackets "installer friendly" with the 49" wide bars, and just not liking it. As fate would have it, I have a side development going for an aluminum hardshell tent kit that fits on the rack (full length with provisions for mounting items on top of the tent shell. The problem is the cross bars really need to be 51" wide like the 80 series rack. Well, I finally said screw it and went back to the original idea of wider bars with design elements that came in later. I just cobbled it together today with wider bars and I think ot will be good, really good. I have to make a new front panel, adjust and finalize the roof mount hardware, and adjust the cosmetic bend on the front of the side rails and I think I'm finally there. I will include a couple of pictures but please remember, it's just proof of concept stuff because a lot of it looks wierd, like the spacers in the wind deflector and brackets to get the right width. Side rails are 12 giage steel on this test rack, actual will be 1/4" 6061 aluminum.
20180421_110303.webp
20180421_110248.webp
20180421_110316.webp
 
dogfishlake said:
Yes, finally. First off, the height of the rack is 4" from the center of the roof in the back, 3" in the middle, and 4" in the front.

Second, I have been agonizing over how to make the brackets "installer friendly" with the 49" wide bars, and just not liking it. As fate would have it, I have a side development going for an aluminum hardshell tent kit that fits on the rack (full length with provisions for mounting items on top of the tent shell. The problem is the cross bars really need to be 51" wide like the 80 series rack. Well, I finally said screw it and went back to the original idea of wider bars with design elements that came in later. I just cobbled it together today with wider bars and I think ot will be good, really good. I have to make a new front panel, adjust and finalize the roof mount hardware, and adjust the cosmetic bend on the front of the side rails and I think I'm finally there. I will include a couple of pictures but please remember, it's just proof of concept stuff because a lot of it looks wierd, like the spacers in the wind deflector and brackets to get the right width. Side rails are 12 giage steel on this test rack, actual will be 1/4" 6061 aluminum.
View attachment 1682476 View attachment 1682478 View attachment 1682479
Click to expand...

Looks fantastic! Hardshell aluminum hardshell tent kit? Tell me more! Oh, and do you offer scholarships? o_O
 
Just curious if this project is still happening?
 
Bandit said:
Just curious if this project is still happening?
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It is. I have gone back to the drawing board several times and have been longer than I would like. I know it sounds like a broken record (it feels like a broken record!) but it is still very close to ready.
 
Cool. Thanks for taking the time for the proper development.

BTW, I noticed your roof line above the windshield has paint bubbling. Hope you take care of this.
 
reconranger said:
Cool. Thanks for taking the time for the proper development.

BTW, I noticed your roof line above the windshield has paint bubbling. Hope you take care of this.
Click to expand...

It is a rusty truck all over. The price I paid reflects it though. I got sick of waiting til spring to drive a Cruiser as the others are put away so I bought one that doesn't bother me to drive in the salt crap winter roads. It'll get some measures to slow it down but I will likely just wait for a nicer rust free 100 to replace it eventually. It's funny because it should technically be in the "beater" category because the PO neglected it so much but since it's a 100 series, it has no idea what quit means. I love driving it and it would go cross country without issue I believe.
 
Well, I am pretty much there. I am meeting with my laser cutting guy this week and having the production mounting brackets cut out of thicker stainless steel. Also I have to change the wind deflector just a bit to match the side rails better. I am also going to have thin metal gaskets made to protect the hole created when you remove the factory roof rack. It is still watertight in there, but I dont like how debris can get stuck down in there and potentially hold water and cause a rusting situation. I think the kit will include a gasket and proper sealer to keep it closed up. I will include pictures of this when I get the gaskets made. They are pretty simple so I don't see a time hindrance getting it done.

Here are some shots of it on my 100 today.
20180610_160619.jpg
20180610_160549.jpg
20180610_160524.jpg
 
What is the total height of the rack from the roof of the rig? Where can I order the rack? Will there be a cut out on the deflector to maybe install a light bar?
 
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