roof rack/cage for bj73
- Thread starter esp22
- Start date
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Ron R
Drive a Landruiser, enjoy life
Esp22
If you find a nice one, call me.
I've a HZJ73 FRP-top and had the same problem. So I constructed my own.
First attempt was with long flat 'flaps' spreading the load over the whole of the top. After about a year cracks started to develop in the upper corners of the rear (cargo)doors.
I now have a contraption that sits on raingutter supports at the front and has two 'poles' at the rear that are bolted to the body. At the inside there are backing plates. It's holding for about two years now, but I have to admit that I only had significant load on it (about 75 kgs) for about 15.000 km's be it on (very) bad tracks.
If you find a nice one, call me.
I've a HZJ73 FRP-top and had the same problem. So I constructed my own.
First attempt was with long flat 'flaps' spreading the load over the whole of the top. After about a year cracks started to develop in the upper corners of the rear (cargo)doors.
I now have a contraption that sits on raingutter supports at the front and has two 'poles' at the rear that are bolted to the body. At the inside there are backing plates. It's holding for about two years now, but I have to admit that I only had significant load on it (about 75 kgs) for about 15.000 km's be it on (very) bad tracks.
Last edited:
hoser
SILVER Star
Excuse the Land Rover but has anybody done any bar work like this? And how strong would the mounting point to the front fender be on a 70?
crushers
post ho
cut a hole through the front fender and drop to the frame or extend to the front bumper mounting locations...
depends, bush buggy or a purdy rig?
depends, bush buggy or a purdy rig?
hoser
SILVER Star
Well, medium duty but mainly as a roof rack for an RTT. I'm not so keen on using the gutters.
crushers
post ho
do a set of side bars and bring the front mount down to them...just in front of the door with an 1 1/4" clearence between the bar and the sheet metal...you could also use oblong for the fender part...
hoser
SILVER Star
Not a bad idea. 
Excuse the Land Rover but has anybody done any bar work like this? And how strong would the mounting point to the front fender be on a 70?
Those mounts all bolt to internal extensions that tie into the frame on a defender.
Hi Guys,
The problem of fitting a roof rack has been something I have been trying to find a solution to for a while.
I am thinking of getting a mate to weld a roof rack support for me. Here are my ideas. He should be able to
tell me if its gonna work or not. Chris is a professional boiler maker and him and his dad build hot rods so they
no their s***e.
I dont know what works but this, when I get a few other things fixed up, is what I want to build when I get a chance.
The second ides is the one I think I'll go with. I dont need a full length rack. Just enough to fit an RTT and maybe
a spare tyre if its strong enough. Planning a round Australia trip
Use you imagination!!!! Not to scale, just a basic idea at the moment. Any opinions or advice is appreciated.
I had the option of getting a factory rack but I dont want to mount anything to the gutters,
Cheers
Gav.
The problem of fitting a roof rack has been something I have been trying to find a solution to for a while.
I am thinking of getting a mate to weld a roof rack support for me. Here are my ideas. He should be able to
tell me if its gonna work or not. Chris is a professional boiler maker and him and his dad build hot rods so they
no their s***e.
I dont know what works but this, when I get a few other things fixed up, is what I want to build when I get a chance.
The second ides is the one I think I'll go with. I dont need a full length rack. Just enough to fit an RTT and maybe
a spare tyre if its strong enough. Planning a round Australia trip
Use you imagination!!!! Not to scale, just a basic idea at the moment. Any opinions or advice is appreciated.
I had the option of getting a factory rack but I dont want to mount anything to the gutters,
Cheers
Gav.
Most of them are done like the 1st sketch. The gutters are ok if you use good mounts and you can use the full length of the roof
crushers
post ho
one thing to remember when mounting a roof rack to the frame mounts, the body moves different from the frame (rubber mounts) and even though it is minimal this must be taken into consideration.
i like the second one if you are planning on a very heavyload. if just a spare then the gutters and flat load extension plates will be more than adaquate./
remember also, COG, so what in reality will you br putting up there that needs that much support?
now if this was a roll bar combo rack then i could see the need.
i like the second one if you are planning on a very heavyload. if just a spare then the gutters and flat load extension plates will be more than adaquate./
remember also, COG, so what in reality will you br putting up there that needs that much support?
now if this was a roll bar combo rack then i could see the need.
Ron R
Drive a Landruiser, enjoy life
Clint79.
Don't know about the Aus spec 79 color.
Color of my rig is original by Toyota and I love it.
I'm not a hardcore off-roader, but I don't avoid a bit challenging terrains (see pictures of my trip to Russia on my website).
Then, when the dirt is washed off and the rig is shining again I allways enjoy the nice red color.
I have to say that the two top pictures are a bit blue-ish. The real color is more like the lower one of the three.
Hi Guys,
I have seen a few (on the net) with mounts like Clints top two pics. A German site has them but the page didn't translate
that well. It would be big$$$ to import a rack from Germany. I have sourced a factory Jap one through mot (forum member)
but these are about a grand before you even think about shipping. Dont really want to spent $1500+ on a rack.
Bolting a homemade one to the chassis is the only way I can think of doing it sorta cheap and staying of the gutters.
Then get a standard type rack, less than $100 or ebay or at the wreckers and stick it on the cage. The cage wouldn't
offer much/any protection in the event of a rollover. I only want to put a RRT up there which is only 50kgs when on the
road and when camping the extra weight of me and the girlfreind is probably less then 150kgs.
Something like this one in the pic would be ok. Should handle the weight of the tent. Its the factory Jap one.
They dont come up for sale very often. Just dont know about extended treks on corrugated roads.
Hey crushers I've got polyurethane body lift blocks but I spose there would still be some movement. Also thought
about putting rubber blocks between the roof and the exo rack to sure it up and eliminate some movement.
I have seen a few (on the net) with mounts like Clints top two pics. A German site has them but the page didn't translate
that well. It would be big$$$ to import a rack from Germany. I have sourced a factory Jap one through mot (forum member)
but these are about a grand before you even think about shipping. Dont really want to spent $1500+ on a rack.
Bolting a homemade one to the chassis is the only way I can think of doing it sorta cheap and staying of the gutters.
Then get a standard type rack, less than $100 or ebay or at the wreckers and stick it on the cage. The cage wouldn't
offer much/any protection in the event of a rollover. I only want to put a RRT up there which is only 50kgs when on the
road and when camping the extra weight of me and the girlfreind is probably less then 150kgs.
Something like this one in the pic would be ok. Should handle the weight of the tent. Its the factory Jap one.
They dont come up for sale very often. Just dont know about extended treks on corrugated roads.
Hey crushers I've got polyurethane body lift blocks but I spose there would still be some movement. Also thought
about putting rubber blocks between the roof and the exo rack to sure it up and eliminate some movement.
crushers
post ho
it should be easy enough to fab up a rack like the yellow truck has...
Ive heard of owners making them out of Rhino Rack bits and pieces. You have to form a T shape but Rhino dont make the parts to join the longways and side to side bits.
Wouldnt be too hard to work out
As for gutters being srong enough. Plenty of 60 series and troopies have gone to some amazing places with gutter mounted roof racks.
Long gutter mounts can spread the weight over a bigger surface
Once again thanks guys.
I reckon I'll grab the 60 series type rack I've been looking at and rig up four front and maybe three rear gutter
mounts. Might also put some rubber blocks under the rack where the inside roll bar meets the roof to ease
any flex issues. One concern is the rack will flex too much and hit the FRP top. If cracks develop I can take
the rack off and fix it with resin. Should be right fibreglass is pretty easy to work with if cracks develop.
Thanks for your wisdom fella's
Cheers.
I reckon I'll grab the 60 series type rack I've been looking at and rig up four front and maybe three rear gutter
mounts. Might also put some rubber blocks under the rack where the inside roll bar meets the roof to ease
any flex issues. One concern is the rack will flex too much and hit the FRP top. If cracks develop I can take
the rack off and fix it with resin. Should be right fibreglass is pretty easy to work with if cracks develop.
Thanks for your wisdom fella's
Cheers.
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I'am looking at putting rails on the FRP top ( simalar as for gutterless Cruiser etc.), but the total lenght of the roof rack. Not exceeding the weight for driving purposes of 50kg max. It should spread the weight over the whole roof, I think it is a easy option ?
Ron R
Drive a Landruiser, enjoy life
I did that, even used large plates to spread the weight. But even then, despite mild loads (about 75 kgs max) the FRP top started to develop cracks.
See posting no 2 in this thread.
See posting no 2 in this thread.
