- Thread starter
- #61
i still would like to know if it is easy to put lights on the ARB. i want between 2 and 4, and it doesnt' look like you can?
Roof Rack
- Thread starter FZJ80ismybaby
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
I need some advice on the gauge of perforated steel I would need for my half-built roof rack. I'm using Groucho's rack clamps and bars. This is where I'm at right now (just before tacking this part together):
I'm currently at about 54 lbs. I will be putting 5 or 6 square tubes across the bars lengthwise as well, then laying the perforated steel on top of that (a lot like jfnall's image previously in this post). The stock of perforated steel I've found at a local supplier has a maximum thickness of 14 gauge (~1/13") and a coverage of 50%, which at 30 square feet is about 47 lbs. By my calculations:
54 lbs (current build) + 20 lbs (added beams) + 47 lbs (flooring) = 121 lbs
So what I'm asking is:
I'm currently at about 54 lbs. I will be putting 5 or 6 square tubes across the bars lengthwise as well, then laying the perforated steel on top of that (a lot like jfnall's image previously in this post). The stock of perforated steel I've found at a local supplier has a maximum thickness of 14 gauge (~1/13") and a coverage of 50%, which at 30 square feet is about 47 lbs. By my calculations:
54 lbs (current build) + 20 lbs (added beams) + 47 lbs (flooring) = 121 lbs
So what I'm asking is:
- is 14 gauge steel with 50% coverage thick enough for what I'm trying to do, or would it just start sagging once a 200 lb dude started walking around up there?
- is 121 lbs a reasonable weight for this type of thing? Am I way over or under?
Last edited:
A comment on the Wilderness rack
I picked one up locally used via CL end of last year. Came with 4 mounts. Inside side to side is about 54 to 55" (can't remember exactly) and it was about 1/2 the length of the roof. Got a local welder buddy of mine to add some additional cross-brace stiffeners, and he fabricated a duplicate section to make it a full length rack. The original design is the front curved area bolts to the center rectangular area, and then another curved section. I had my buddy create a second rectangular area (which can be ordered from Garvin) and bolted it all together as one big expedition length rack.
Picked up 4 more clamps from a fellow mudder who fabricates them, that are hella-stout. Bolted up the full length rack, and installed 7'11" long 2 x 10 boards and bolted them through the cross-braces. Its REALLy sturdy, and for the camping trip I just went on, no problem loading up on it, and no flex. Will want to trade out to perf metal or expanded metal before the summer monsoons, but I can highly recommend the Wilderness rack, even though I used it as a starting point. Haven't tried walking up there, but would be surprised if I couldn't do it.
The full length goes from just a couple of inches short of the rear deck glass, to just a little over the front windshield. Thought about making a sun visor for it, similar to the old 1940/50's sedans. Living in Arizona, that wouldn't be a bad idea. Having the wood in there now gives a significant amount of shade on the roof, and even with all the windows in the FJ60, it is cooler since you aren't getting that direct heat from the uninsulated roof.
Glenn in Tucson
I picked one up locally used via CL end of last year. Came with 4 mounts. Inside side to side is about 54 to 55" (can't remember exactly) and it was about 1/2 the length of the roof. Got a local welder buddy of mine to add some additional cross-brace stiffeners, and he fabricated a duplicate section to make it a full length rack. The original design is the front curved area bolts to the center rectangular area, and then another curved section. I had my buddy create a second rectangular area (which can be ordered from Garvin) and bolted it all together as one big expedition length rack.
Picked up 4 more clamps from a fellow mudder who fabricates them, that are hella-stout. Bolted up the full length rack, and installed 7'11" long 2 x 10 boards and bolted them through the cross-braces. Its REALLy sturdy, and for the camping trip I just went on, no problem loading up on it, and no flex. Will want to trade out to perf metal or expanded metal before the summer monsoons, but I can highly recommend the Wilderness rack, even though I used it as a starting point. Haven't tried walking up there, but would be surprised if I couldn't do it.
The full length goes from just a couple of inches short of the rear deck glass, to just a little over the front windshield. Thought about making a sun visor for it, similar to the old 1940/50's sedans. Living in Arizona, that wouldn't be a bad idea. Having the wood in there now gives a significant amount of shade on the roof, and even with all the windows in the FJ60, it is cooler since you aren't getting that direct heat from the uninsulated roof.
Glenn in Tucson
