Con-Ferr Rack Rebuild for FJ62

[samtoddlee]

I'm still a fan of the original Con-ferr. Even though they went out of business 20 years ago. If you're patient you will find them, and if you know a good welder you can do anything with them, shorten or lengthen them, beef them up etc... and they are bombproof. My existing rack on my 1989 low mile FJ62 is the old welded 4-inch rack which was 4x5 when I got it and I lengthened it to 7'3" by 5' long then repainted it and added a FarmTek poultry material floor.
However, I thought I'd post a thread on the new rack I'm having rebuilt for the truck by Sam in Surprise, Arizona. He's a really good welder and machinist. I got the rack from Barry Henderson, a CSC member here in Phoenix and originally a native of South Africa. It's the large 6-inch tall Con-ferr which has somehow always looked right on the 60 series to me. Currently, plan is to use 1/2-inch square stock to beef up the rack, basically forming a floor with 6-6 inch spaces throughout, and I'm adding front and rear integrated LED lights. Eventually a 2nd spare tire holder (an original Con-ferr that I picked up on Ebay a few years ago, a propane tank hold down and a 3-can carrier for 2.5gallon spectre cans (I find these MUCH easier to get on and off the roof).

ANY INPUT FROM MUDDERS WOULD BE VERY WELCOME.

The first pics are of the rack on Barry's truck and then when it arrived at the shop. It was solid but bare bones. Small areas of corrosion.

Before pic on 60

• samtoddlee
• Apr 18, 2018

Before corrosion

• samtoddlee
• Apr 18, 2018

Before corrosion

• samtoddlee
• Apr 18, 2018

Classic Portholes

• samtoddlee
• Apr 18, 2018

this thing is big

• samtoddlee
• Apr 18, 2018

 

[samtoddlee]

First update with pictures. Added nine full length pieces and five cross pieces from 1/2-inch square stock to "Beef Up" the rack. it made a huge difference and also straightened out one of the bent cross members. Also welding a light bar on the front and rear full width to install current lights. Also leaves me open to change out the lights easily in the future. Getting the rack ready to go to powder coating on Friday. Going with a finish that'll look slightly glossy black, with a silver color on the gutter mounting brackets.

1/2-inch square stock for floor on 6-inch squares

• samtoddlee
• Apr 18, 2018

Welding preparation for light mount bars

• samtoddlee
• Apr 18, 2018

Testing 12 20-inch LED bars to Front of rack

• samtoddlee
• Apr 18, 2018

 

[Devils Paw 80]

Nice. Here's one that really needs some help. 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ62 4WD- Parts Vehicle

 

[89BIGBLUE]

Nice. Here's one that really needs some help. 1988 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ62 4WD- Parts Vehicle

MUDFLAP SIGHTED!

 

[samtoddlee]

turns out that powder coating was pretty expensive, so decided to go with a good sanding primer and two paint coats. My older Con-ferr that's on the truck now has seen two years of Arizona sun so far with no problems and it wasn't pre-treated nearly this well before painting.

 

[samtoddlee]

Painting the rack black, and the 8 gutter mounts (also original Con-ferr) will be flat silver on the lower portion that mounts to the truck and the rest of it black. Hoping to set off the clamps a little and echo all the chrome that came on these 62s.

 

[mobydick]

I've got the same old Conn-Ferr rack on my 62. I'm just now toying with the idea of replacing the wood floor with some expanded steel. It's a good sturdy rack and has carried literally tons of "stuff" over the years.

 

[samtoddlee]

I've got the same old Conn-Ferr rack on my 62. I'm just now toying with the idea of replacing the wood floor with some expanded steel. It's a good sturdy rack and has carried literally tons of "stuff" over the years.

this is yours right? good looking Truck!

 

[mobydick]

Yep. That's on the road to the Saline Valley salt tram. Swansea Grade and Cerro Gordo mines.

 

[samtoddlee]

all painted now with holes drilled for lights front and rear. painted the top part of the old con-ferr brackets black like the rack but the lower two pieces that clamp onto the gutter mounts a dull silver as contrast. Fitting to truck now will post more pics when I get 'em.

 

[samtoddlee]

Rack is now finished and on the 62. Been driving around with it for two weeks now with no noticeable wind noise and/or rattling. shouldn't rattle as it's all welded on the rack itself. Lights are super bright with the two worklights in the back and the two modest 20-inch bars on the front. Went camping last week and it really lights up the woods. Pleased with it overall though I think it's now about a half inch too high to go into my garage. Thanks again to CSC's new South African member for a great rack that gave me a great starting point.

 

[samtoddlee]

pics.

 

[samtoddlee]

last

 

[NMC_EXP]

Pleased with it overall though I think it's now about a half inch too high to go into my garage.

Nice piece of work on the rack. I like the old school type for the 60 series, have a Garvin Wilderness on mine. Like the Conferr better.

Mine is too high for the garage as well.

 

[mobydick]

Very nice job! Good that you recessed those lights. I've moved aside many a large branch with the front of that rack. How are you running power to the lights?

 

[samtoddlee]

Nice piece of work on the rack. I like the old school type for the 60 series, have a Garvin Wilderness on mine. Like the Conferr better.

Mine is too high for the garage as well.

I just yesterday remembered that the Gamiviti gutter brackets I had for another rack were a good inch and a half to two inches lower. They are the 30-60 degree ones for a 60 series that they still sell on their site. Swapped them out and WA-LA!, now it fits into the garage. The original Conferr gutter mounts that came with it instantly struck me as really high. Maybe lots of other vehicles in the 1980s, not LCs, had a lot more crown or curve to the roofline. I sometimes forget that con-ferr didn't just make them for our specific favored vehicle.

 

[samtoddlee]

Very nice job! Good that you recessed those lights. I've moved aside many a large branch with the front of that rack. How are you running power to the lights?

I love the front ones, they are 20-inch units that fit perfectly in a 21.5-inch space. Don't like the square ones on the back though. Probably will order two more of the 20-inch ones and put them in the back in the same way, just angled down more.

 

[B Bear]

I found a Conferr rack for my BJ60, but I am missing one of the clamps (the part with threaded stud) any idea where I might find one? Thanks

 

[John McVicker]

@65swb45 Marks Off Road I believe sells the clamps you asked about...not true Con-Ferr but every bit as strong & look exactly the same.

 

[samtoddlee]

I found a Conferr rack for my BJ60, but I am missing one of the clamps (the part with threaded stud) any idea where I might find one? Thanks

DITTO FOR GAMIVITI. I actually ended up using the Gamiviti clamps on this to make it fit into the garage. they are identical other than being lower. choose the 30-60 degree version that's designed for the 60 series.