Speski OffRoad - Expo roof rack build (1 Viewer)

[SUMMIT CRUISERS]

Hey Corbet your build is looking great! The crazy thing is my son, Garrett, and I finished the bends on Easter weekend and the cuts on his flat rack last weekend. We went with 1 1/2" round tube for the outside hoops and
1 1/2" square tube for the cross members. Overall measurement is 84" x 54". He got his 42" lightbar in last week and are waiting on the shipment for the smaller LED backup lights like yours. Very similar....
Keep the updates coming.

 

[Corbet]

We went with 1 1/2" round tube for the outside hoops and
1 1/2" square tube for the cross members.

Thanks, I would have gone square for the center cross bars if it were not for my Yakima stuff (bikes/canoe). Welding would have been soooooooo much easier.

Which Thule box are you using? I should've asked you to make 2 of these, we have very similar wants/needs!

Its an old Thule Evolution. Not sure on the exact model but its pretty big. Just wish it was a little longer though as I still ski a pretty long board. I have no plans to build these for resale. Too much work for low production and shipping out of Durango would be very inconvenient for both parties. If you have not already purchased a box look at Yakima. I think they have a flat bottom. That would make it compatible with most any commercial rack. I got my Thule used a couple years ago for $100 so I grabbed it up. But if I were shopping new it would be a Yakima for that reason.

 

[MicahMan]

So sweet! Corbet I hate you for having such good fab skills. Its making me want to move and be your neighbor so I can work in your Garage!

Very nice. I spoke with the Gamviti guys at Cruise Moab and they just started making some extentions for their feet that will work with my High Roof!

 

[Corbet]

Let me know when your ready to move. Plenty of nice family homes available in the "Shire"

 

[Corbet]

Where it sits now. I need to work out a light mount system up front that will not interfere with the Yakima Canoe Mounts. Planning to mount the LED ahead of the front cross bar. Probably going to need a little drop as well. I picked up some steel to build the custom tab/brackets. I don't plan to use the mounting feet that came with the light bar. The rears look like they will fit below the rack no problem.

My only disappointment right now is that the side camp lights will be blocked by the awning if I mount the receivers under the rack. Working on some other ideas.

Today is not looking good for any additional fab time and tomorrow is Mother's Day so probably no progress going to happen this weekend.

 

[NM Frontier]

That looks great, I am defiantly going to pick up some of those receivers for my Gamaviti rack when I pick up an awning.

 

[titanpat57]

Nice job!

I used a pc. of 15" LED strip lighting under the awning in the track. It has about a 6' length of wire with a female 12v end.....it just plugs into an available outlet. When being stored it is held in place by a strip of velcro

It has proven to be very adequate.... especially with reflection from the bottom of the awning.

 

[arcteryx]

This looks good Corbet!

 

[Corbet]

I used a pc. of 15" LED strip lighting under the awning in the track. It has about a 6' length of wire with a female 12v end.....it just plugs into an available outlet. When being stored it is held in place by a strip of velcro

It has proven to be very adequate.... especially with reflection from the bottom of the awning.

I'm looking that direction as well.

 

[MicahMan]

I love the LED options we have now. So much better than the giant bulbs the old timers used to carry!

 

[B Point]

Corbet.. any chance of a pic of the mounts from the feet to the rack? I'm thinking of building a nice low profile rack like yours and ditch the monstrosity I have on there now.

 

[Corbet]

I'm out of town for the weekend. But there are good pics on the Gamitivi website. As I used his feet and mounting plates the design is near identical with that respect.

 

[Huis Clos]

Came out really well. Bravo!

 

[freepowder]

Lighting. I went to Nick at Expedition Lighting Systems for some high powered LED lights. A 42" light bar and 4 smaller 2x2 style lights will provide froward and reverse lighting. 2 of them will be mounted up front at an angle and 2 in the rear for backing up. All the forward mounted lights are spot pattern. The rear are floods. My floods are currently mounted on my rear bumper. They work great there until I attach the camper. On top I should get more light on and beyond the camper rather than just lighting it up as they currently do.

In camp less is more. So I've sourced some camp lights from Shane at LabRak. Two each side. I like how they are protected by the mount from things like tree branches when installed. In camp they have enough light to see but not blind you.View attachment 891231View attachment 891233 View attachment 891234

Hey, Corbet,
Ever consider some amber or yellow camp lighting to reduce bug attraction?
I imagine it requires a specific shade of yellow. . .

 

[Corbet]

Hey, Corbet,
Ever consider some amber or yellow camp lighting to reduce bug attraction?
I imagine it requires a specific shade of yellow. . .

I've thought bout that but bugs are really an issue most places out west. However they were viscous last week at Dinosaur National Monument.

 

[freepowder]

I've thought bout that but bugs are really an issue most places out west. However they were viscous last week at Dinosaur National Monument.

Oh, I dunno, ever camp at Haviland Lake?
Pretty much any lake or creek side below 10k' I've been right well eaten up.

By the way, Mike and I (He's the brown FJ60 at the Bus Yard and I'm the tan & black one--you stopped when something went wrong on CO 3) took a little shake-down cruise a couple weeks ago up to Animas forks. Did Picayune, Maggie, Minnie and bits of Eureka, Engineer and California Gulches. 60s ran great, worked out a few changes in camp gear/packing. Since I got the MAF headers and exhaust on, anxious to see how that works at altitude and if I get a bump in mpg.

Cheers!

 

[Corbet]

Life has been super busy lately and all my spare garage time has been spent building barriers. Thank you for all the orders. I have not been able to wrap up the LED mounting on the rack yet but hope to this weekend.

I've had a chance to use the rack a few times and so far I'm super happy. The canoe fits great and can be loaded from either front or rear of the vehicle. The only issue there is my Hi-lift on the tire swing out. It sits too high. I have to lift the canoe to let it come to rest inside of it. Then once the canoe is tied down I can not access the rear of the vehicle. So I need to figure something out there eventually.

Pics of it on the vehicle. Still raw metal.

 

[jfnall]

What have you done to get the wiring from inside the truck an up to the rack?

 

[Corbet]

I have not tackled the wiring yet. My plan right now is to run it through the holes from the OEM rack.

 

[rifleshooter]

I duplicated your rack. Other than adding a cross bar at the rear of the rack. Thanks for the instructions/dimensions.