ARCHIVE Building a Safari style roof rack
- Thread starter UnderDawg
- Start date
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Phares
Mostly Useless
That's great by me. I hate UPS. They damage everything they deliver! So I root for Denny Hamlin and team FedEx. I'm super excited to get the rack. I can't wait. Thanks brother!
Hello. I'm new to the forum. I would like to talk to you about a rack. I currently have a THULE MOAB and would very much like to get something that I can keep on and still get in the garage. How do I contact you?
So, I ordered a rack from Jason. Being that I live MODERATELY close, I decided to save on shipping and pick it up myself. I also asked Jason if he would help me install it. I live in a small town, most of my friends are far away and I knew it was going to be a two man job. Jason said no problem, so I PayPal'ed him the money and then scheduled a pickup on one of my free weekends.
I got to Jason's house and checked the rack out. It looked great. Rack looks great, welds are solid, powdercoat is perfect. I texted my wife and said "I'm here, should be about 30 min to install". Yeah, I was wrong. First, Jason hadn't yet drilled the mounting holes because he wanted to be sure that the holes would line up with my mounts (Gamiviti). I thought, "Well damn, that's a good idea." I would have been screwed if something was off. So, rather than pre-drill them, he waited for me. We measured twice, drilled once and the thing fit perfectly.
Then we ran into problem #2. Gamiviti failed to include the second set of allen bolts/washers/nuts for the top half. So, Jason and I hopped in his cruiser and he drove me to Home Depot and I bought bolts. This had a hidden benefit in that it allowed time for the paint that he applied to the fresh holes to dry (to stop any rust from getting started on fresh steel). Again, another problem avoided that I wouldn't have considered.
Finally, we muscled the rack up top and Jason and I got it fitted and started tightening it down. Jason looked down from my truck and said "Do you think insert vendor name here, I'll leave it out to avoid drama would be out here on a Sunday helping you install this?" I laughed and said "Uh, no."
So, in summary, my experience was top notch. I am very happy with the product and Jason spent 3 hours of his time that he had previously allocated to watching the Browns lose to help me out. Anyway, on to the pics!
Bonus pics of some VERY scientific load bearing testing. Jason said he weighs about 200lbs. That's probably the only questionable part of the experience, LOL. In the words of Jim Carey.. "YEAH, IN YOUR BRA!" But seriously, the rack support his full weight with no issues. I'm 100% certain that my planned RTT and jerry cans will be fine.
BUT WAIT! There's MORE! I was so happy with the rack... and so determined to drain my holiday budget... that I decided to buy a bumper as well! We didn't get that installed... and I honestly probably won't have time for a few weeks. But stay tuned for pics of that installed soon! I am very happy. I now have a rack and a winch bumper.
I got to Jason's house and checked the rack out. It looked great. Rack looks great, welds are solid, powdercoat is perfect. I texted my wife and said "I'm here, should be about 30 min to install". Yeah, I was wrong. First, Jason hadn't yet drilled the mounting holes because he wanted to be sure that the holes would line up with my mounts (Gamiviti). I thought, "Well damn, that's a good idea." I would have been screwed if something was off. So, rather than pre-drill them, he waited for me. We measured twice, drilled once and the thing fit perfectly.
Then we ran into problem #2. Gamiviti failed to include the second set of allen bolts/washers/nuts for the top half. So, Jason and I hopped in his cruiser and he drove me to Home Depot and I bought bolts. This had a hidden benefit in that it allowed time for the paint that he applied to the fresh holes to dry (to stop any rust from getting started on fresh steel). Again, another problem avoided that I wouldn't have considered.
Finally, we muscled the rack up top and Jason and I got it fitted and started tightening it down. Jason looked down from my truck and said "Do you think insert vendor name here, I'll leave it out to avoid drama would be out here on a Sunday helping you install this?" I laughed and said "Uh, no."
So, in summary, my experience was top notch. I am very happy with the product and Jason spent 3 hours of his time that he had previously allocated to watching the Browns lose to help me out. Anyway, on to the pics!
Bonus pics of some VERY scientific load bearing testing. Jason said he weighs about 200lbs. That's probably the only questionable part of the experience, LOL. In the words of Jim Carey.. "YEAH, IN YOUR BRA!" But seriously, the rack support his full weight with no issues. I'm 100% certain that my planned RTT and jerry cans will be fine.
BUT WAIT! There's MORE! I was so happy with the rack... and so determined to drain my holiday budget... that I decided to buy a bumper as well! We didn't get that installed... and I honestly probably won't have time for a few weeks. But stay tuned for pics of that installed soon! I am very happy. I now have a rack and a winch bumper.
Phares
Mostly Useless
Look at how badly he is compressing your rear springs! I'd say 275 easy.The rack looks great and congrats on both purchases. I can't wait to get mine. Quick question though, did you all just rattlecan the drill holes or use something specific? Thanks.
Nice craft, looks great UnderDawg.
UnderDawg
Wannabe welder
- Thread starter
- #209
Thanks gentlemen. Mike you were a pleasure to deal with and look forward to working with you again. I'm up in your neck of the woods 2-3 times a year so if its cool I'd like to call you and hook sometime. We can at least beach cruise and hang out.
@mummy3 thank you very much, I do what I can.
@Phares I'll hit you with a tracking number as soon as one is generated.
@Qball Your rack is gonna be squared away asap too. I used these http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/ID-Tube-Clamp_p_1467.html
at first I used something a little different and didnt like the way it was working so I nixed it. This is gonna be a offered rack option from now on as well. lol all the stuff you ordered from me is now in the line up. You must have good taste
Thanks everyone for your support and orders. I cant ask for better customers than the one's I have now. Cheers to you fella's.
Jason
@mummy3 thank you very much, I do what I can.
@Phares I'll hit you with a tracking number as soon as one is generated.
@Qball Your rack is gonna be squared away asap too. I used these http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/ID-Tube-Clamp_p_1467.html
at first I used something a little different and didnt like the way it was working so I nixed it. This is gonna be a offered rack option from now on as well. lol all the stuff you ordered from me is now in the line up. You must have good taste
Thanks everyone for your support and orders. I cant ask for better customers than the one's I have now. Cheers to you fella's.
Jason
Sounds good to me! Mosin fireballs from the roof of the Landcruiser!
Dirty Koala
SILVER Star
Back in October I called up Jason and we discussed a few customizations to his rack design. I wanted a mesh floor running the full length of the rack and I wanted the top tube to sit a little lower. As the build progressed I decided I also wanted a good and versatile way of securing cargo since the solid floor takes away the ability to run straps around the lower tubes. I ordered up three heavy duty aluminum airline tracks (L-track) from UScargocontrol.com and had them shipped directly to Jason to figure out a good way to mount them.
Fast forward to this past Friday, my wife has been on my back about picking up the 2 christmas trees all week, which I promised we would do this weekend. I told Jason this and he offered to personally drive the rack and other goodies I ordered to my house 7 hours away! (Ohio to New Jersey) Jason and his apprentice arrived around 3pm Saturday, and stayed for about an hour to help get me started on the install.
The install consisted of drilling 12 holes in the mounting plates (6 mounts, 2 bolts per mount), fishing the bolts through the holes and bolting on the top half of the gamaviti mounts. (Fishing the bolts throught was the hardest part since I have the solid floor which makes access rather tight, but doable.) I had a friend over at the house help get it up onto the roof and the bolts started...called it quits for the night after the 25 degree temps got the better of my finger tios. This morning I went out and finished tightening all the bolts down and took the truck for a spin.
The rack is very solid, I was crawling all over it while tightening all the bolts, and I noticed no deflection (205lbs of me). The powdercoat is very nice with a slight texture to it. the L-track also got powdercoated, which I think was a very good recommendation that Jason made.
I am very satisfied with this custom rack, and Jason went above and beyond to get this to me when I really needed it. I will be doing business with Jason again in the future!!!
On to the pics:
Fast forward to this past Friday, my wife has been on my back about picking up the 2 christmas trees all week, which I promised we would do this weekend. I told Jason this and he offered to personally drive the rack and other goodies I ordered to my house 7 hours away! (Ohio to New Jersey) Jason and his apprentice arrived around 3pm Saturday, and stayed for about an hour to help get me started on the install.
The install consisted of drilling 12 holes in the mounting plates (6 mounts, 2 bolts per mount), fishing the bolts through the holes and bolting on the top half of the gamaviti mounts. (Fishing the bolts throught was the hardest part since I have the solid floor which makes access rather tight, but doable.) I had a friend over at the house help get it up onto the roof and the bolts started...called it quits for the night after the 25 degree temps got the better of my finger tios. This morning I went out and finished tightening all the bolts down and took the truck for a spin.
The rack is very solid, I was crawling all over it while tightening all the bolts, and I noticed no deflection (205lbs of me). The powdercoat is very nice with a slight texture to it. the L-track also got powdercoated, which I think was a very good recommendation that Jason made.
I am very satisfied with this custom rack, and Jason went above and beyond to get this to me when I really needed it. I will be doing business with Jason again in the future!!!
On to the pics:
Dirty Koala
SILVER Star
A few more pics
fireball
SILVER Star
That rack looks a heckuva lot better than your DS slider!!! 
Dirty Koala
SILVER Star
True!!! I ordered slee arms the day after our last RC run...still being built I guess.That rack looks a heckuva lot better than your DS slider!!!
UnderDawg
Wannabe welder
- Thread starter
- #215
Thanks Morgan for your order and great review. I hope this shows the guys of MUD just how far I'll go for my customers... about 800 miles 
.
Check me out on Facebook guys for more updates and pictures. Also for up coming products and products in development.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/UnderDawg-Fab-Worx/1507256536220996 Please LIKE and SHARE to help spread the word.
Thank you, Jason
.Check me out on Facebook guys for more updates and pictures. Also for up coming products and products in development.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/UnderDawg-Fab-Worx/1507256536220996 Please LIKE and SHARE to help spread the word.
Thank you, Jason
Jason I love the expanded metal. Where are you at on my rack? I would love the front basket area to have this also as I want to place fuel cans up front and a RTT on the back. Thanks. If not possible no worries I can add later. It would be great to have all the powder coating. Thanks again.
Wow man! I have been reading most of your threads and I'm very impressed. You're doing great work and pricing things so we can actually afford them. I'm also happy to see you're so close to me. I'm just down in Columbus and will be picking up my first 80 on Monday. It already has a front and rear bumper on it that will do for a while but the roof rack isn't my favorite. I'm sure to be wanting a roof rack from you at some point. The deal with the wife is that I'm not allowed to do anything to the 80 until I get rid of some of the other projects I have in the driveway. Either way in the warmer months I'm up in Loudenville frequently to ride my mountain bike so could easily pay you a visit. Also as your business expands I'd be willing and have the ability and time to help you with deliveries if interested, but we could talk about that in person sometime.
I do have custom idea for a ladder I'd like to pay you to make sometime using those tubing quick connects you said you were experimenting with. We can also talk about that when the time comes.
My personal input on the roof racks is about the cross tubing. I am no stranger to loading heavy loads onto the roof of a car. Over the years it's mostly been sports equipment....kayaks, bikes, skis, storage boxes, etc. I've always used Yakima products and found them to be quite sturdy plus I can configure the system any way I'd like. I have many many attachements and they have held up for years. I'm sure you mentioned it earlier somewhere but I can't recall....if the tubing size were the same as the Yakima cross bars then that would greatly expand the ability of customers to utilize your rack. This idea obviously wouldn't work with the expanded metal but still it's a great idea and might only require a minor change to tubing size and/or location. I've been messing with Yakima stuff for 20+ years so I'd be happy to show you what it's all about sometime. I could even give you an old crossbar to measure and play with. Really the diameter is the key and to be honest it looks close already. I think it's about 1" O.D. but again I haven't measured.
Anyway, keep up the good work and protect those eyes. Hopefully we'll meet sometime soon since we're so close.
I do have custom idea for a ladder I'd like to pay you to make sometime using those tubing quick connects you said you were experimenting with. We can also talk about that when the time comes.
My personal input on the roof racks is about the cross tubing. I am no stranger to loading heavy loads onto the roof of a car. Over the years it's mostly been sports equipment....kayaks, bikes, skis, storage boxes, etc. I've always used Yakima products and found them to be quite sturdy plus I can configure the system any way I'd like. I have many many attachements and they have held up for years. I'm sure you mentioned it earlier somewhere but I can't recall....if the tubing size were the same as the Yakima cross bars then that would greatly expand the ability of customers to utilize your rack. This idea obviously wouldn't work with the expanded metal but still it's a great idea and might only require a minor change to tubing size and/or location. I've been messing with Yakima stuff for 20+ years so I'd be happy to show you what it's all about sometime. I could even give you an old crossbar to measure and play with. Really the diameter is the key and to be honest it looks close already. I think it's about 1" O.D. but again I haven't measured.
Anyway, keep up the good work and protect those eyes. Hopefully we'll meet sometime soon since we're so close.
UnderDawg
Wannabe welder
- Thread starter
- #220
Excellent. I do over nighters in Mohican State Park all the time, in fact just did one Tuesday and got rained on most of the time but stayed dry with good gear. I'll be here when your ready Chris and we'll get you set up the way you want it to be. I like the idea on an integrated ladder system as an add on for my racks. the pipe I use has a 1" O.D. so hope thats what you wanted to hear. Congrats on the purchase and remember to always keep your wife happy when it comes to your Cruiser. One cant afford any animosity towards the Cruiser.
Merry Christmas to you and your family,
Jason
