My take on an atv roof rack

[Azonic84]

Got the rack at cabelas for a 100 dollar bill. Mounted it it to my thule x bars with u bolts. I need to revise the u bolt method. Its super stable. I crawled around on it.

Definitely a work in progress though.
It will work for a tent though.

Dimensions are 69x48.

Constructive critism is welcome. I did this because there is no way in hell I am spending a grand on a rack.

 

[bmwjnky]

I've thought about doing this to mount a RTT in the future since I've got 6 extra gutter mounts. Side question, what width roof bars are you using? My 42" ones from my previous car are too short.

 

[Azonic84]

I have some 58" wide bars. they look weird with the rack on the but it leaves me alot of room for other gas mileage decreasing fun toys!

The shovel is mounted with quick fists.

 

[Azonic84]

To clean up the mounting I am going to drill some holes through the rack and x bars and mount it via some eye bolts.

Also to make the rear look better I will be riveting some 90 degree aluminum stock on there.

 

[SIZZLE]

It looks good to me and the price is sure right. How is the wind noise on the highway?

 

[Azonic84]

So far quieter than just the 3 thule bars are!

Havent had it above 50mph so I will update when I find out.

I am going to use the u-bolts to mount it as the eye bolts will be to far inboard for my taste. I am going to drill 2 holes through the rack and xbar at each corner and have the u bolt going down through both and then have the bolts and strap underneath the cross bar. It will be way cleaner and stronger.

Then I am going to mount 3 eye bolts per side on the outer most part of the rack for tie down points.

 

[Funner]

Looks Great

I made a similar one from the Harbor Freight tri-fold ramp. I removed the hinges and, like you, mounted it to crossbars with U-bolts. I used Yakima crossbars and rain gutter mounts, only used two and it was plenty strong for me to be on top with 2x5 gallon gas cans, a full size 33" spare, and a 20lb propane tank with extras, so 3 bars must be stout.
I like the trifold because I figured I could sacrifice a section as a sand ladder if needed, plus it was on sale for $79 and with the added 20% off coupon it was just $63.
I used the rack on a 2500 mile trip through Baja with lots of off-roading, it held up perfectly.

Rack link below
http://www.harborfreight.com/1500-lb-tri-fold-aluminum-loading-ramp-69595.html

 

[Azonic84]

I left the hinges on because mine are welded to the rack, I wish they were riveted then I could just drill them out. Maybe when its warmer some day I will grind them off.

 

[Azonic84]

Ok, redid the mounting with the u bolts!

Much, much cleaner and stronger to boot!! This thing is going no where!

1 bolt per corner would have sufficed but I already had the ubolts so I thought, in 80 series style, why not over build it.

 

[duggy]

FYI, I had this setup and it did not last a whole trip and the Yakima gutter mounts tore up my gutters. also please be weary of mountin your hi lift up there. mine fell an hit my window when I had it mounted the same way

 

[Azonic84]

Yours was bolted on?

I sure hope it doesnt fall. It has two 1/2" bolts holding it on with lock washers. Hasn't moved yet but I will keep an eye on it!

 

[duggy]

yes sir, I had u bolts holding it down to the bars.this whole fiasco is what caused me to spend $750 on my current rack

 

[Azonic84]

Hmmm. ! may have to look into some longer bolts and drill some holes through them with a cotter pin on the bottom side of the nut so they cant back out.

New project!

 

[Azonic84]

You had Yakima bars? I wonder if it had anything to do with the round bar vs the rectangle bar. Was yours bolted through the jack as well?

 

[duggy]

mine were bolted through the lift and the rack. truthfully, I don't think it was not bolted strong enough, but it's no justification for it to be as weak as was on both ends.

your mileage may vary but I'll never go to that setup again.

 

[Azonic84]

Gotcha. I am going to get some longer bolts and drill a hole through them so I can have a cotter key through both bolts to eliminate a chance of it flinging off.

 

[Timpanogos Slim]

FYI, I had this setup and it did not last a whole trip and the Yakima gutter mounts tore up my gutters. also please be weary of mountin your hi lift up there. mine fell an hit my window when I had it mounted the same way

it sounds like your rack got caught on a branch or something?

 

[duggy]

it sounds like your rack got caught on a branch or something?

this is to be expected when trail riding/wheeling. the yakima bars do stick out a bit further then normal.

 

[marius]

This is how I did mine, long ago