building a roof rack - how to mount?

[safari435]

I was thinking of building my own roof rack for my FJ 60.
Any recommendations of mounting it? Buy Raingutter mounts? (expensive), weld to raingutter? or?
Also what's the max weight the roof can take?

 

[ozwallaby]

Well if you're handy with a welder make your own raingutter mounts... definitely don't weld to gutter.. there is a sealant there that will melt.. then you'll have an even bigger threat for roof rust..

 

[tag3]

Find some con-fer mounts.

 

[lovetoski]

One commercial option are the "quick n easy" brand roof rack mounts.

Another are the mounts offered by sale on MUD by a fellow cruiserhead. Unfortunatly I searched and couldn't find the thread where he shows his offerings...sorry.

 

[superjuice]

I think your looking for mudmember GROUCHO Check out post 5 in this thread

 

[sk8salomon]

i picked up some used Thule raingutter style mounts on craigslist for cheap. They work great and have locking cores in them. Thule uses rectangular roof bars that slide into the mounts. Everybody else uses round bar which is stronger. depends on how much weight you will put up there.

 

[Hertzogg]

....
Also what's the max weight the roof can take?

I have the same question.
I found a set of four gutter mount clamps on CL and plan to do the same thing.

Also, what's the best spacing/location for two bars to give max weight allowance?

My 60's gutters are tweaked upwards just above the front doors from some previous mount. I can only guess some PO put something tall on there and the wind applied too much pressure on it.

 

[lovetoski]

I think your looking for mudmember GROUCHO Check out post 5 in this thread

Yep - those are the ones I was referring to - thanks for the link!

 

[lehiguy]

Rain tray clamps always lead to rain tray rust therefore I'm seriously considering making a permanent rack and bolting it through the B and D pillars. Anybody out there been down this road?

 

[77TLCFJ40]

Could that open up a bigger can of rust worms than the gutter mounts?

 

[lehiguy]

Could that open up a bigger can of rust worms than the gutter mounts?

Done right I think it would be better. At least I wouldn't be relying on three miles of seam seal to keep it form rusting.

 

[sk8salomon]

Could that open up a bigger can of rust worms than the gutter mounts?

yeah, no kiddin, I would rather triple powder coat a set of gutter mounts than drill huge holes in my roof. If you are so worried about rusting the gutter mounts, put something thin between the clamp and the gutter like nylon or rubber.

 

[ntsqd]

.... Thule uses rectangular roof bars that slide into the mounts. Everybody else uses round bar which is stronger. .....

No, just the reverse as long as the square tube's sides can be orthogonal to the direction of the force(s). It is only when the direction is unknown or from many angles that round tube is preferred over square tube.

(engineering disclaimer: I'm assuming tubes of similar size and wall thickness.)

 

[EUROTECH1986535]

i made my own mounts from 1/4 flat plate with split rubber hose on edge to protect gutter i would use at least 6 mounts for a full roof rack..... i did 8 on mine but i also put a bench seat up there on occassion to hunt from

 

[sk8salomon]

No, just the reverse as long as the square tube's sides can be orthogonal to the direction of the force(s). It is only when the direction is unknown or from many angles that round tube is preferred over square tube.

(engineering disclaimer: I'm assuming tubes of similar size and wall thickness.)