first mod! budget roof rack

[MomentRider]

I found a set of yakima gutter racks, cross bars and locks on craigslist so I decided to jump on it. The very next day I found a wilderness basket which I snagged up immediatly.

The factory rack was a PITA to remove. A lineX is in the near future!

I wanted to mount the basket as low as possible so I attached it via the light brackets front and rear. This allowed me to drop it down about 3-4 inches from the original design. I have about 5 inches of garage door clearance left for my lift and tires (tires next week, lift next month)

total cost.......$280.00
$75.00 Yakima towers/crossbars/locks (craigslist)
$150.00 Wilderness rack (made by Garvin) (craigslist)
$55.00 Yakima faring and new bar end caps (REI)

 

[corsair23]

I wanted to mount the basket as low as possible so I attached it via the light brackets front and rear. This allowed me to drop it down about 3-4 inches from the original design.

Good score

I like the thinking outside the box and novel approach to attaching the basket. What do you think weight wise you'll be able to carry? I rarely carry more than 100-200lbs of stuff up top once or twice a year. Mostly it is the bulky crap (chairs, hammock, the like) that takes up too much space on the inside.

Up till now I've just dealt with the height issue by removing the basket when not needed which for me is 99% of the time unfortunately

 

[MomentRider]

The weekest point is the snap around connectors (yakima). The guy at REI told me that yakima recommends no more then 350 pounds evenly spread.....there is no way i will exceed that weight limit. Even with a highlift and some gas cans I wont reach that weight.

 

[FirstToy]

nice work!
only thing is that the way Yak uses those plastic connectors is at the bottom so the weight is on the crossbar.
the way you have it, the weight is being supported by the shear strength of the bolts. So, your weight rating will depend on that shear strength.

I like how you tucked it in and looks clean. we have the same trucks too!

 

[stevezero]

Great mod. I had to remove my rack last month due to some rivnut issues on my rack. You can plug you roof holes with good metal foil tape, and use herc-u-liner. A quart for $29.95 will be more than enough to cover your holes. It costs alot less than line-x.

How much wind noise do you have with the fairing installed, and how does it compare to being without the fairing? Would you mind taking some pics and measurements of the fairing?

 

[mainemike]

Nice simple solution. I've run the yakima round clips supporting yakima basketcases "inside" a 3-crossbar system for years with no failures. Usually I put two 5-gallon fuel cans on their sides up there, and/or firewood - so I haven't asked it to carry tremendous weight, but the plastic clips have never failed. I use the heavier grade bolts yakima provides with basketcases, or just see the local hardware store.

 

[Beowulf]

Nice set up and for another $75 (Craigslist score) you can add a 3rd and 4th cross bar if you need to better distribute the weight.

Leaves you more money for the important mods too!



-B-

 

[MomentRider]

SteveZero, The fairing does make some noise....sounds like a low hum which starts at about 50 MPH. Without the fairing I get the same hum only slightly louder and a lot of wistleing. The wistleing came and went at random speeds. As low as 25 mph! Very annoying!

lastly, the fairing size is 50 inches wide. The yakima site doesnt give any other specs on it....I can measure it if you want.

 

[NorthBay80]

Nice job on the rack. I like the idea of putting reasonably priced pieces to work. Gotta love Craigslist.