HD Roofrack clamps

[jvazquez53]

We did a group buy of these clamps for the Rising Sun Club in Colorado and there are a few sets of 6 left. Please PM me if anyone is interested in these.

These clamps are made in the USA, the main item is made of 3/16" HRPO steel, the other two details are 10 GA(0.130") Cold Rolled Steel. Each clamp comes with the hardware seen in the picture. Two 3/8-16 bolts, 5 3/8 flat washers, 5 3/8 lock washers and 3 3/8-16 nuts, all grade 5 clear zinc. The brackets are powdercoated(based on a group decision by the Rising Sun group who got in on the group buy) Mock-Rock, which is a slight texture, polyester outdoor powder which is very durable to abrasion and the elements. These clamps are heavy duty and work on most vehicles with a rain gutter. They work on all FJ40's, Fj60's and FJ/FZJ80's.

Check most recent posts for pricing...

I looked but found nothing, where can I get these??

 

[moiremusic]

Can anyone who has experience with these on a 60-series chime in about the amount needed for a full-length rack? I keep going back and forth between 6 and 8 clamps. I'd hate to make a mistake and bend my rain gutters one day with two few clamps and a heavy load, but also don't want to have more than I need. I'll be building a rack for this, so I kinda need to figure this part out before finalizing the design. Advice?

 

[groucho]

I looked but found nothing, where can I get these??

There is a price list near post #72 in this thread. Next order will be coming at the end of Feb 2009.

Can anyone who has experience with these on a 60-series chime in about the amount needed for a full-length rack? I keep going back and forth between 6 and 8 clamps. I'd hate to make a mistake and bend my rain gutters one day with two few clamps and a heavy load, but also don't want to have more than I need. I'll be building a rack for this, so I kinda need to figure this part out before finalizing the design. Advice?

I have a rack on my 80 series that uses 8 brackets. It is an 80" rack from front to back. I would say anything over 5' long needs 8 brackets. Anything under that 6 is more than enough. But that is my .02

 

[Super Tico]

I built mine out of 3.16 by 2 inches wide flat stock with a round piece of 2 by 3-8 inch welded to the bottom that sits in the gutter to keep it from digging in.
Its 6 feet long and I have carried 400 lbs on it with no issues.NOT wheeling but damn near.....The roads here suck.

 

[moiremusic]

I have a rack on my 80 series that uses 8 brackets. It is an 80" rack from front to back. I would say anything over 5' long needs 8 brackets. Anything under that 6 is more than enough. But that is my .02

I guess it's better to be safe than sorry. OK, I'm back in for 8 clamps... no more waivering from me. Thanks, Groucho.

 

[Trapper50cal]

I went with 8 and am happy I did

 

[groucho]

OK, so here is the new thing...

I have been working on making this a little easier for everyone. This has been a 10th priority thing lately, but I think it is finally ready to go.

If anyone wants to purchase roofrack clamps, crossbars or cupholders, you can now go to a website and pay with paypal. It is all paypal links, so all personal info is on their secure site, not the site where you can select the items.


The site address is this:

TallowPot Products

So instead of me trying to keep up with emails, and shipping costs, everything forward of 3-1-09 will be this way.

Shipping is included on all items. The gutter brackets will go flat rate box via USPS, the crossbars are parcel post in a tube, and the cupholders go priority in a priority box. It was the easiest way to offer inexpensive, and for the most part, consistent shipping.

If anyone experiences difficulty with the webpage, please PM me.

 

[moiremusic]

Excellent! So the site indicates that the black clamps are in, correct?

Edit: no matter, I just bought 8! Good call on the website, Groucho. Ordering was a snap. Can't wait to get started on this project.

 

[BenMara]

what weight ratings between 14 vs 10 ga?

 

[groucho]

what weight ratings between 14 vs 10 ga?

That is a loaded question. What are you planning? Building a rack? Or just strapping down your load to the crossbars? How will your rack be built? How tall will your load be? How much do you want to carry.

In the crossmember thread I recently posted this:

I can provide two different thicknesses. In most cases, the 14GA (.074) thickness will suffice.

For high weight expedition builds on a rack where more than 4 gutter clamps would be impractical, I can also supply 10GA (.135) thick crossbars. For most applications, these are overkill. Both thicknesses are available in 48", 53" and a 62" lengths.

The strength comes from the way they are bent. This is where they achieve their rigidity. So far, I have only made 3 sets of the 10GA parts. The first two guys have reported back that they are probably overkill. They also weigh more than twice as much.
The 14GA are plenty strong for most applications, whether for a roof top tent or a moderately loaded rack with equipment. The key is weight distribution. If only 4 HD gutter brackets are used (two on a side, two crossbars) and a rack is overloaded, the weight per crossmember and bracket pair is 1/2 the weight of the rack. If able to use 3 sets or four, the weight is cut into thirds or fourths, making the 14GA crossbars more suitable for even moderate loads.

If a rack has 300# of stuff in it, with two sets (four brackets, two crossbars) the amount of weight on each set is 150#. Just by adding one more set, the weight per set drops to 100#, and with four sets the weight drops to 75#. We have tested deflection in the middle of a 14GA crossbar at over 150# with less than .250 deflection when bolted to the gutter brackets and mounted to a solid gutter.

I have a roofrack for my 95 FZJ80. It has 8 brackets with 4 crossbars. I made the rack out of 1" tube. It is similar in design to the tradesman or con-ferr design. I have had 500 plus pounds up there with no deflection from the 14 ga crossbars (the THIN ones). Here is a recent post from one of the few who asked for 10GA:

Just got mine in the mail. The box weighed more than my entire old roof rack! I though these were for my truck, not for attaching the space shuttle to a 747! They rock! Can't wait to get them installed and fab up the rest of my custom RTT. These are gonna kick ass!

Please feel free to ask askeyey what he thinks of the 10GA, and ask Nakman who bought the 14GA his opinion about them. Nakman used his without a rack on them to move furniture.

As for a weight rating goes, I will say that one single 14GA crossbar connected to two gutter brackets will hold approximately 100 static pounds. A single 10GA setup will hold 184#(My weight). After that, it depends on the final idea about the rack with regards to how much it will hold.

Does that answer the question?

 

[BenMara]

Yep answered my question to the tee

 

[moiremusic]

Just received my 8 clamps today. For anyone attempting to justify the cost to themselves, let me tell you that these are probably the last roofrack clamps you will ever need to buy. I'm pretty sure I'll wear out a lifetime of roofracks and still be using the same clamps. Very pleased, and very glad I didn't go with a cheap commercial option.

 

[groucho]

Just received my 8 clamps today. For anyone attempting to justify the cost to themselves, let me tell you that these are probably the last roofrack clamps you will ever need to buy. I'm pretty sure I'll wear out a lifetime of roofracks and still be using the same clamps. Very pleased, and very glad I didn't go with a cheap commercial option.

Awesome! Glad to hear they made it safely.

Someone was interested in FJ40 clearance with these clamps, so I took a picture to show...

 

[groucho]

Updated post #1 with new information...

 

[Eric Hohlfelder]

I heard about your parts from Jim at Solid Rock Off Road and he recommended your gutter mounts for a RTT install. I will be installing these on an 80 Series with a 48"x71" Camping lab RTT. I was planning on using 4 cross bars (14ga). Would the 48" bars be long enought to catch the brackets on the 80 or should I go for the 53". Don't have the truck here with me, as it is in CO waiting for us to fly out from Ct to pick it up and expo it home. Also, do you and Jim at Solid Rock ever cross paths as we could save on shipping if you could get them to him some how. Just a thought.

 

[groucho]

I do not get down to Jim's area of town very much at all. I live/work one the north side of the metro area, and he is on the south side. If we could meet at the Rising Sun monthly meeting it may be possible to do a hand off, and may work for both of us. The trouble is, if I were to make a special trip to his area, I might spend as much in gas as the $10 shipping for clamps. Due to the way I have shipping set up, for brackets and crossbars it might make more sense to ship them (I use the USPS and I have had good reports so far) unless we can meet at the Rising Sun Meeting.

I used the 48" crossbars for my rack. My rack is only 48" wide, so I can definitely say it i the wise choise. The bonus is that the 48" bars do not hang over the edge, in fact they are short by a inch or two on either side. This helps for close clearance stuff.

I will do what I can on getting them to Jim. Let me know. If you just want to purchase and ship, just go here to order seamlessly.

 

[Eric Hohlfelder]

Thanks for the info. I will get in touch with Jim at Solid Rock and see its on his agenda. Otherwise the shipping doesn't sound like its that expensive anyway. As for the RTT, the 48" bar sounds good to you, but do you feel 4 standard .075" thick bars is OK as well. Didn't know if I need to be looking at the heavy cross bars, or if thats way over kill for a RTT set up? Thanks again for the info, and what looks/sounds like a great product for a very good price.

 

[2badfjs]

i could meet you at the next meeting.

i need to pm you anyway.

don't i owe you sliders from like 4 years ago?

 

[groucho]

Thanks for the info. I will get in touch with Jim at Solid Rock and see its on his agenda. Otherwise the shipping doesn't sound like its that expensive anyway. As for the RTT, the 48" bar sounds good to you, but do you feel 4 standard .075" thick bars is OK as well. Didn't know if I need to be looking at the heavy cross bars, or if thats way over kill for a RTT set up? Thanks again for the info, and what looks/sounds like a great product for a very good price.

I use the 075 crossbars for my rack. Rack is 81 inches long. I regularly will get up there myself to organize and strap down the gear. As for a RTT, the 075 are more than adequate with some sort of floor put on them to support the RTT. Sounds like Jim will pick up whatever you need at the next meeting.

i could meet you at the next meeting.

i need to pm you anyway.

don't i owe you sliders from like 4 years ago?

What is one year or four? No biggie, just sorry I couldn't help more with the slider thing from a while back...

 

[Eric Hohlfelder]

Jim that sounds great, if you could pick up 8 HD Gutter mounts and 4 of the 48" cross bars in the .075" standard thickness. I will be ordering one of those cool cup holders for a 96 FZJ80 as well, if you don't mind. Also, I will be arriving at your shop on May 23rd likely around 2:30pm to button up the RTT install. Talked to Fernando today and will coordinate getting the RTT and accesories to your shop some time likely a week or two before I arrive. You guys have been great two work with. Thanks a bunch.

Groucho, I'll do the order on your web page to cover payment this week or so.