Cheap cross bar ideas for roof rack brackets?

[MDarius]

My son has the FJ80 up at college and needs a cheap but sturdy roof rack. I've got 4 brackets, but no cross bars or rack. These are the brackets...

I've made one out of an ATV ramp once... Didn't do a very good job. I've also used sign posts like from a stop sign. He thinks that's too redneck. I say it's not redneck enough. Agree to disagree.

Other options, or advice on making the ATV ramp work more securely? The aluminum seemed pretty weak.

 

[EvanD]

Depends how much weight he needs to haul.

I'm sure if he says sign posts are too redneck he won't like the idea of 2x4 or 2x6 lumber but I've seen it done enough and it def works depending on weight that will be added to it.

I know from your other thread that youre on a budget but Thule/Yakima/other systems can also be had super cheap on Craigslist/similar sites.

Edit - personally I'd just bolt some metal or pressure treated lumber to it and let him figure it out of he needs/wants more.

 

[MDarius]

That's a good call. He'll figure it out. I keep pointing him here but I haven't seen him in the forum.

 

[aktundra]

I cannot add anything to @EvanD. I have made several ATV ramp roof racks. They are simply a platform, not a structuraly complete rack. Find a Yakima/Thule crossbar & tower off of CL, and bolt your ATV ramp platform to it. Add more Yakima/Thule cross bar & tower sets as you find ‘em, to further enhance weight carry capacity.

 

[EvanD]

That's a good call. He'll figure it out. I keep pointing him here but I haven't seen him in the forum.

Even if he never makes it here there are plenty of resources to show him how to get it done. I'm far from an expert in anything but a big reason I think I do somewhat decently in most any aspect of life is because I was allowed/forced to figure some things out.

You've already given him an awesome vehicle, let him figure out the roof rack if he "needs" one. He'll thank you later. All IMHO of course.

 

[IdahoDoug]

You haven't mentioned what he needs the rack for, or if there's a factory rack up there, so a little hard to help. Also it looks like the part in the picture is only half a clamp - what holds it down in the drip rail? Ski rack to drive up the mountain to ski? Bike rack to go half a state away? Just to carry a fly rod on the roof?

 

[MDarius]

Thanks Doug. He's in Logan, UT and does all the things. Kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding, multi-day camping. He'll use it differently than I do just because there's one of him and I've always carried at least 5 people in my adventures. The inside of the truck is pretty cavernous for 1 or 2 people and we've removed the 3rd row. Maybe he won't even need one.

We've removed the factory rack since it had a broken rail.

I'd like to have something that provides flexibility to just strap something on creatively, whatever it is. I'll let him figure it out, I'm just starting the conversation.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Unistrut

 

[ChaseTruck]

Extruded aluminum?

 

[MDarius]

@IdahoDoug , Also, the clamp is on, it's just not obvious in the picture.

 

[thatcabledude]

I'd just mail him the brackets and tell him have at it!

 

[Oscar Witte]

What about the galvanized steel channel they have at home Depot? I knew a guy that used it for exactly what you're doing, but I don't know how much it handles.

 

[BILT4ME]

Bolt these sections together so they are permanent. Someone else did this here along time ago.

Reese TowPower Tri-Fold Ramp, 1,600 lb. Total Capacity at Tractor Supply Co.

Find Reese TowPower Tri-Fold Ramp, 1,600 lb. Total Capacity in the Loading Ramps category at Tractor Supply Co.The Reese TowPower Tri-Fold Ramp

www.tractorsupply.com

 

[mudgudgeon]

What about the galvanized steel channel they have at home Depot? I knew a guy that used it for exactly what you're doing, but I don't know how much it handles.

View attachment 2098595

It's plenty strong, but the version with holes in it can scream like a banshee at highway speeds

 

[Railwelder93]

Angle iron dude, it’s what the world is made of.
Make a rectangle of angle and fill it in with cheap pine boards. That’s how every flat deck trailer is made. Would probably cost less that 150$.

 

[Fj81]

Unistrut

View attachment 2098485

Thats what I used on my first Rack.