Settle a debate, please--how strong are the rain gutters?

[Shahram]

My buddy, the one who I do all the welding/fabbing/jury-rigging with, and I are drinkin' beer and talking roof racks. I'm going to build one myself, with six gutter mounts, and no railing, just a platform with three or four ribs and an expanded metal floor. Simpler, a little lower, and a little more lightweight than some racks available on the market today.

He says, "I don't feel comfortable mounting a roof rack to the rain gutters."
"Uh....why the hell not?"
"They're not strong enough."
"You're crazy."
"Well you're stupid if you think the gutters are gonna hold a bunch of your gear and your fat ass in a roof tent."
"I'll be right back."
So, I bring him picture after picture after picture of expedition vehicles with roof racks mounted on the gutters. Some overloaded, others just right, and all traversing some of the most treacherous terrain on Earth. No use, he sticks to his guns, saying I've never seen a rain gutter sheer off, and how easy it is to do.

He says he'll help me build the rack, but I'd better understand that it's gonna fly off someday on the highway, and kill somebody.

Please school my retarded friend. Has anyone, ANYONE her even heard of someone's 80-series rain gutters broken as a result of normal roof rack use?

--Land Rover owners and guys who put their entire frat house on their roof need not comment.--

Muchas gracias.

 

[TX_TLC]

Never have heard of it....Might be interesting to check Thule's and Yamika's sites and see if there is any liability issues they address or hold harmless stuff.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

On an Inti rack at Surf and Turf, I saw 5 people on the rack at the same time. Two of the individuals were over 300 pounds, and one was over 200 pounds. With the other two that's over 1000 pounds right there. I think the gutters are plenty strong for the uses we give it. Don't sweat it and drink another one of your buddy's beers before he does.

 

[rockclmbr]

Nope, but I have heard of stories of the oem roof mounted racks flying off!!!

 

[flintknapper]

Go for it.

I've built several racks for different vehicles that utilized the rain gutter as a solid attachment point. Admittedly, I've not done one for my cruiser, but the gutters look comparable to the others I have done (strong as hell).

I use short pieces of 5/16" round stock (about 2" long) at the end of each "leg" or support. These sit down in the gutter and help spread the load. I have a rack on a '70 model Bronco Half Cab that has been to hell and back for the last 15 yrs. and never had a problem with it. A cruiser has to be at least as tough.

Build your rack, use your rain gutters, and then make your friend ride up there as "proof" of it's strength. Be sure to find some low hanging branches!

 

[RavenTai]

the gutters are sheetmetal but it is where a lot of sheetmetal parts meet between the lower body, roof skin and internal structure, as long as you spread the load it should be quite strong. 6 points with a 2 to 3 inch foot contact each should be great, more contact the better. feet are ushually rubberised to keep from cutting the paint, gutters can be a big rust problem down the road if the sealant or paint is damaged.

one thing more weight up top is said to lead to more C pillar cracking,

 

[drsales]

Just went to S. Carolina at 70mph with about 200 lbs. of material on top with a rack that was attached to the gutters. No problems what so ever. Go for it!

 

[topend yobbo]

I thought all 80 series roof racks were gutter mounted?
Where or how did your mate plan on fitting one elsewhere?
Really havent had any problems with my gutter mounted racks in all my bush expeditions.

 

[OZCAL]

OK - I've got one 80 with "bent" gutters from real heavy loads. I think the PO ran a disco up there. Where the rack would attach, the gutter is just bowed down a little. No cracks, though.

Something I have seen down here is a strip of aluminum, about an inch wide and 1/8 inch thick, running the length of the gutter mounted on the inside between the rack feet and the gutter. Maybe it's even bolted to the rack feet. Just some additional support for the whole operation, spreading out the footprint.

What kind of beer?

 

[mot]

Just an example

Just to show you how strong the gutters are (no photochop ):



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[OZCAL]

Shahram take a look at the first photo in this thread https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?p=1203051&posted=1#post1203051 it has the strip of something or other in the raingutter I mentioned earlier.