I finally had some cash to put into a couple mods on my LX. Limited finances, but enough to make things happen. My wife and I decided that the very first the we should do after buying the rig was to put a rack and tent on top. This makes sense because we aren't doing anything too crazy yet. Nothing that this beast can't handle stock.
I never realized just how quickly the money starts piling up when just trying to put a roof rack on your vehicle. It's the rack, the mounting equipment, is it powder coated?, shipping, etc. Etc. Another thing to look at was customer service and accessibility. For me, I feel like a business should be easy to deal with and easily accessible Monday thru Friday for questions or concerns I might have. This is our investment after all.
We had a certain type of rack we were looking for. Something wide, at least 52" and something long, 90". We looked at baja racks. They were easy to get ahold of and willing to help, but production of the rack I was seeking was at least 3 weeks out and was over a G after shipping.
I was real close to buying a rack from Tim at Gamiviti because that type of rack was exactly what we were looking for. He was extremely helpful and was willing to customize the rack however I wanted. But, man those pieces of steel and the labor to slap them of really starts adding up. Also, it would be super cool if Gamiviti had a business line to throw ideas around. I'm not great at emails and checking emails. So, gamiviti has the almost perfect rack and willingness to customize, but after shipping, and the mounts, and knowing that I'm gonna have to paint or powder coat this thing after shipping, got my wife and I thinking. We almost did a JMOOSE and after researching that, I wouldn't have done it, unless I could have added numerous welds and more aluminum. And I just couldn't bring myself to go too MAD MAX on the ride. No offense to anyone with the moosey.
One night, she came up with the bright idea of calling around and see if anyone can do it locally. LIGHTBULB.
The next morning I went down to a local fabrication shop that doesn't specialize in 4x4 racks or bumpers, and I showed the what I wanted. These guys were more than happy to whip this thing out. I paid these guys $400 dollars and they finished my rack before they closed that day. HOLY SH@t. Are you kidding me?!
I have to give HUGE PROPS to GAMIVITI for having such a great rack design. Although, this one is a little more stout with 1.5" steel. It weighs in at 80 lbs. 92"X 52". I did have to have some welds on the mounting plates gone over because as you can see in the pics they just spot welded them on. They ended up going over the length of the plates and filling any gaps. No tabs or anything fancy yet. Just a place to put our tent. I did end up buying Tim's mounting hardware. It's the least I could do. Plus, when other rack companies are turning me away and telling me to use GAMIVITI MOUNTS, that's gotta say something. So, after the rack($400), the mounts($130)", mounting hardware($20), and the HERCULINER($80 that's right I said it!) I got the job done for $630.00. The herculiner is pretty badass too. Lots of scuffing and priming and scuffing, and this stuff is plastered to the rack. With a paint mixer and a paint brush, I was able to do a real good job. It looks like it's sprayed on. Now I just have to mount it up, and throw this 200 lb TEPUI Kukenam ruggedized XL on top and we'll be fishing in no time.
Tepui is another company that is easily accessible and well put together. The tent we received looks to be of amazing quality and craftsmanship.
So long story not short at all, if you are on a budget and need to get some steel work done, sometimes you gotta look at the places closest to you. Look at places that are reputable. And no offense to anybody, but sometimes A NAME is attached to the price tag.
Here's a couple pics of the work and I will also post the finished product.
If you made it to here, thanks for reading.
I never realized just how quickly the money starts piling up when just trying to put a roof rack on your vehicle. It's the rack, the mounting equipment, is it powder coated?, shipping, etc. Etc. Another thing to look at was customer service and accessibility. For me, I feel like a business should be easy to deal with and easily accessible Monday thru Friday for questions or concerns I might have. This is our investment after all.
We had a certain type of rack we were looking for. Something wide, at least 52" and something long, 90". We looked at baja racks. They were easy to get ahold of and willing to help, but production of the rack I was seeking was at least 3 weeks out and was over a G after shipping.
I was real close to buying a rack from Tim at Gamiviti because that type of rack was exactly what we were looking for. He was extremely helpful and was willing to customize the rack however I wanted. But, man those pieces of steel and the labor to slap them of really starts adding up. Also, it would be super cool if Gamiviti had a business line to throw ideas around. I'm not great at emails and checking emails. So, gamiviti has the almost perfect rack and willingness to customize, but after shipping, and the mounts, and knowing that I'm gonna have to paint or powder coat this thing after shipping, got my wife and I thinking. We almost did a JMOOSE and after researching that, I wouldn't have done it, unless I could have added numerous welds and more aluminum. And I just couldn't bring myself to go too MAD MAX on the ride. No offense to anyone with the moosey.
One night, she came up with the bright idea of calling around and see if anyone can do it locally. LIGHTBULB.
The next morning I went down to a local fabrication shop that doesn't specialize in 4x4 racks or bumpers, and I showed the what I wanted. These guys were more than happy to whip this thing out. I paid these guys $400 dollars and they finished my rack before they closed that day. HOLY SH@t. Are you kidding me?!
I have to give HUGE PROPS to GAMIVITI for having such a great rack design. Although, this one is a little more stout with 1.5" steel. It weighs in at 80 lbs. 92"X 52". I did have to have some welds on the mounting plates gone over because as you can see in the pics they just spot welded them on. They ended up going over the length of the plates and filling any gaps. No tabs or anything fancy yet. Just a place to put our tent. I did end up buying Tim's mounting hardware. It's the least I could do. Plus, when other rack companies are turning me away and telling me to use GAMIVITI MOUNTS, that's gotta say something. So, after the rack($400), the mounts($130)", mounting hardware($20), and the HERCULINER($80 that's right I said it!) I got the job done for $630.00. The herculiner is pretty badass too. Lots of scuffing and priming and scuffing, and this stuff is plastered to the rack. With a paint mixer and a paint brush, I was able to do a real good job. It looks like it's sprayed on. Now I just have to mount it up, and throw this 200 lb TEPUI Kukenam ruggedized XL on top and we'll be fishing in no time.
Tepui is another company that is easily accessible and well put together. The tent we received looks to be of amazing quality and craftsmanship.
So long story not short at all, if you are on a budget and need to get some steel work done, sometimes you gotta look at the places closest to you. Look at places that are reputable. And no offense to anybody, but sometimes A NAME is attached to the price tag.
Here's a couple pics of the work and I will also post the finished product.
If you made it to here, thanks for reading.
some on here have actually bought an atv/lawn mower ramp at harbor freight and modded it as a roof rack. Aluminum, 1500 lbs rated. Yeah. Cheap, cool.
