I'm pretty bad about staying in touch or even updated on forums like these, but here's what I've been up to for the past ~month.
I've always loved roof racks on any vehicle as a defining feature; it makes sense that I would want one on my LX. So I had a dilemma. I could either fork up nearly a grand for a good one, or I could build one for a fraction of the price. Spending money hurts my feelings, so I went for the second option.
I accepted that making it myself will yield a less refined finished product, and I'm okay with that. So in advance, don't look past the roughness of the rack. I want your opinions!
I must've went through a dozen drawings for the shape and layout, but here's the one I more or less settled on.
I reckoned the cross members would be positioned well enough to handle weight, and I would leave the front open for the sunroof.
Those were the mounts I fabbed up, and they're solid. Next I wanted was a jack mount and lights.
After driving it around for a few weeks, I decided it was time to paint(I'm sick of the rust...).
For fun, here's my mutt.
There's still more I'm considering doing to it:
-Welding a rail ~2 inches high on all but the front
-Putting some expanded metal across all of the bars except the sunroof
-Adding a 5th and 6th support
I'm not sold on the extra supports yet. I've climbed on top of it and stood in the center. I weigh 260 and it flexed less than an inch with all of my weight basically centered at the least supported spot, even with me bouncing. Leads me to believe it is plenty strong to hold a well-distributed load.
Again, I know it isn't the prettiest. But I have less than $150 in it, it doesn't make much wind noise, it's plenty functional, and it weighs less than 50 pounds if I had to guess. Let me know what you guys think!
-Richard
I've always loved roof racks on any vehicle as a defining feature; it makes sense that I would want one on my LX. So I had a dilemma. I could either fork up nearly a grand for a good one, or I could build one for a fraction of the price. Spending money hurts my feelings, so I went for the second option.
I accepted that making it myself will yield a less refined finished product, and I'm okay with that. So in advance, don't look past the roughness of the rack. I want your opinions!
I must've went through a dozen drawings for the shape and layout, but here's the one I more or less settled on.
I reckoned the cross members would be positioned well enough to handle weight, and I would leave the front open for the sunroof.
Those were the mounts I fabbed up, and they're solid. Next I wanted was a jack mount and lights.
After driving it around for a few weeks, I decided it was time to paint(I'm sick of the rust...).
For fun, here's my mutt.
There's still more I'm considering doing to it:
-Welding a rail ~2 inches high on all but the front
-Putting some expanded metal across all of the bars except the sunroof
-Adding a 5th and 6th support
I'm not sold on the extra supports yet. I've climbed on top of it and stood in the center. I weigh 260 and it flexed less than an inch with all of my weight basically centered at the least supported spot, even with me bouncing. Leads me to believe it is plenty strong to hold a well-distributed load.
Again, I know it isn't the prettiest. But I have less than $150 in it, it doesn't make much wind noise, it's plenty functional, and it weighs less than 50 pounds if I had to guess. Let me know what you guys think!
-Richard
