I put these together today and they work pretty well. They are made from Yakima mighty mounts size 19H and quick fists with a bracket made from angle iron. Flat bar would work too and be easier to put together, but I didn't have any laying around.
DIY tool mounts for stock roof rack (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Bryan Kast
- Start date
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nukegoat
Should have bought a Jeep
Dude no. You crash and you send a 25lb spear through the vehicle in front of you. Not cool at allThis is what i made to mount my tools to the factory roof rack. With the 2 fiberglass sand ladders, Hi Lift jack, steel pry bar, Pick, and shovel puts me right at the factory racks 100 pound weight limit.
The pieces in front of the tools would seem to keep them in place.
LS1FJ40
SILVER Star
Remind me not to drive in front or behind either of you guys!
I prefermy 80 not having tools flying though my windshield or back window!
I prefermy 80 not having tools flying though my windshield or back window!
The pry bar shaft is tapered on the small end, and square on the bottom end, since the rings i machined on the lathe to hold the bar get smaller in inside diameter as you go up the length of the bar, that will not allow the bar to travel forward in a crash. The back end of the bar has a machined nest made out of 1 1/8 X 1 1/8 steel tubing that holds the tip of the bar from moving up or down, or side to side, and it's attached to the frame with a grade 8, 1/2 bolt.
You are correct, i machined each tool with a custom made metal nest that is Tig welded to the frame. That makes it impossible for the tools to travel forward in a crash, along with the nest, all items are bolted to the frame using grade 8, 1/2 bolts.
All of my tools are attached to a custom made 1X1 Tig welded steel tube frame, that frames nested down inside the I.D. of the factory roof racks frame rails. Then it's securely clamped, and bolted with poly lock nuts and bolts to the factory roof rack, so it's not going anywhere.
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- Thread starter
- #7
Nice Rack Rifleman!
Mounting tools on a roof rack isn't exactly ground breaking stuff. Rifleman's rack seems to be more than secure, and the mounts I used are specifically designed for this use. I'm not worried they are going to fly off.
Mounting tools on a roof rack isn't exactly ground breaking stuff. Rifleman's rack seems to be more than secure, and the mounts I used are specifically designed for this use. I'm not worried they are going to fly off.
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LS1FJ40
SILVER Star
All of that is fine and dandy. However, the factory rack is attached to sheet metal. You can grade 8 bolt whatever you want to it but the whole thing is coming off in an accident. Seen it happen.
Add to that if there is any hidden rust which is very common.
When I removed my rack on my 93 (whole life in Southern California) half of the nutserts were not holding.
Get gutter mounted feet/towers.
Add to that if there is any hidden rust which is very common.
When I removed my rack on my 93 (whole life in Southern California) half of the nutserts were not holding.
Get gutter mounted feet/towers.
- Thread starter
- #10
Gutter rails are sheet metal too. And how much does a roof top tent weigh? Probably more than a shovel and axe.
LS1FJ40
SILVER Star
Gutter rails are not one layer of sheet metal... rail mounts are clamped to multiple layers. And gutter rails are proven to handle the load.
Do whatever you want. It’s your rig. Just know you can no longer claim ignorance.
There are multiple instances documented on Mud where people attached stuff to the flimsy factory rack only to have it rip off.
Do whatever you want. It’s your rig. Just know you can no longer claim ignorance.
There are multiple instances documented on Mud where people attached stuff to the flimsy factory rack only to have it rip off.
While I agree with LS1FJ40, I don’t care to be in front of anyone that has their hi-lift, axe, or any other bs attached to their roof racks, it looks like Rifleman took safety into careful consideration. Only Rifleman knows how well it’s built, and until given a reason to doubt someone, I will give them the benefit of the doubt. He has to live with himself if he “half-assed” it, and someone ends up injured or worse, because of it.
Looks like a nice set-up!
Looks like a nice set-up!
If that small amount of stuff is going to cause his Cruiser to flip over then I’m going back to driving a Heep! Get real..... as far as Death Valley roll over- either hi speeds or high driver were most likely to blame. I’ve been wheeling going on 40 years, and have always carried 2 Gerry cans of water up top, and I’ve managed to keep rubber side down.
I know you mean well, but I'd like to point out a few things. First, before i even started on this project i pulled the factory roof rack off, and inspected all the riv nuts that hold the rack to the roof, Not a spot of rust. Next, notice that the weight on the rack is evenly distributed, and every thing is keep low to the roof line to keep the Center of Gravity low, my truck also is still running on stock sized tires. Every tool i put on that rack has a custom made nest that keeps each item from moving.
I've worked my whole adult life doing automotive, welding and machine shop fabrication work. I hold two Journymans cards from the United Auto Workers Union. One as a tool and die maker, and the other as a mill right, so I'm sure my racks well made. Does that mean that the factory rack that it's attached to can't come off in an accident, no it doesn't. But in life, as in most things, you work with what you have.
In my case I'm retired and my wife is disabled, because of her disability that means money is always in short supply. So i have to divide my time, and money, between her, and the things I'd like to do to my truck. In this case, that meant spending around 40 bucks in materials to make a roof rack, instead of spending 800 dollars on a custom gutter mounted roof rack. I feel safe using the roof rack i made, you don't feel it's safe, so i guess we'll just have to agree, to disagree, and let it go at that.
Anyway, i hope you and your family have a happy, and safe New Year.
