Ok maybe not everyone..... Well by this upcoming new years I would like my truck converted to a somewhat camp truck. Got a big ugly rear bumper. And working on a new front tube bumper.

What Im needing is a roof rack. Truck is getting cab lights soon so the rack needs to fit around those and it will have 2 offroad lights, a CB antenna, and a HAM radio antenna. Also a jack, shovel, spare tire and maybe a 5 gallon gas can on really long trips.


I can make one so thats not a problem but im looking to see if anyone has had any before and has pictures. My truck is a 1971 f-250. Single cab. Base model. No trim or anything to worry about. Also does anyone know any websites that have ones to get an idea from? I like some professional opinions. Thanks all.

 

With a standard cab, there's not much room to mount roof racks to the gutters and carry the amount of proposed weight... that's at least 250 lbs. A better approach would be to build a cab-over safari rack like the one pictured below and then incorporate brackets, tabs, etc to mount the parts, tools, and cargo.



I've pondered this idea and have come up with a potential low-buck solution: Buy a used contractor's lumber rack and shorten it - back to front. Weld in some expanded sheet metal within the front hoop, a 6-inch tall rail at its perimeter, and then add tabs and brackets. To make it more aero-friendly and to keep away splattered bugs, weld some tabs for a deflector like that used on Yakima racks.

Here's General Tire's Tundra.. note the downward angle where the lights mount, the side-mounted hi-jack, and the small KC work lights.



Do it!... and don't forget to start a build thread.

And I hope this is "professional" enough for ya.

 

You had to put a toyota and a nissan didnt ya?

Haha i dont much like that safari ack. Looks to much like some plain jane plumbers truck rack. But I could give it a go. I really do like the rack on that toyota. Do you happen to know where I can get some close ups? But I really like that Honda CRF with baja design headlight in the back.

If I do, do a build thread it'll be short of some pictures as my phone is quite moody and my camera broke when my dirt bike threw me off back in august. But I will try to get some good Pictures in the process.

Thanks for the help HIO

 

Sure thang....Oh, it's the only pics I could find online with what I was looking for!

Close up pics of the Tundra? Well, it looks like your lucky day cuz I took pics of the truck when it was on display at AutoClub Speedway (Fontana, CA). The same idea has been bouncing around in my head for a long time....

Here ya go:






It looks really easy to make.

 

Haha, nothing wrong with a Yoder I drove an 85 for a year and a half before I got my 68 f100. 285 thousand miles and still tickin! Oh, and the 25 mpg and 4 wheel drive were a plus haha
I really dig the rack that extends over the bed. Not only could it be storage, you could sleep up there with the right provisions! haha I've seen the tents and setups for a "roof" tent, thought they were neat, but the rack could serve double duty.

 

Spike TV's "Search and Restore" rebuilt a 94 GMC. Ian of Xtreme 4x4 built a custom safari rack that mounts like a bed bar but extends over the cab. It's a better example than the one on the Nissan above.

Sit a spell and watch the trailer or watch the episodes. Below is the only pic of it I could find online: Search & Restore - Video

 

Now that's ingenuity

 

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XxPNdKcXCyKQGl5trW_0cOz2SYgEg4zD1k8jTsS9xag?feat=e mbedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7u9eaMvF1S0/T-yKGgdLTDI/AAAAAAAABGU/QOlUvy6JCYA/s640/DSCN0373.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/103121090173279404612/20110512?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">2011-05-12</a></td></tr></table>
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/r2ggDmgOULsiFATHaI4P8-z2SYgEg4zD1k8jTsS9xag?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ViGZPBl2ZH4/T9f9CEZ4_II/AAAAAAAABDk/FUb7hs3ccN4/s640/DSCN0360.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/103121090173279404612/20110512?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">2011-05-12</a></td></tr></table>

And for the spare tires
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Lf_O4pkufHCDnLG79k4qpIYKLK_-AALJyQY9DXxlPlU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-H17fM9l8QDU/TcxU0BeFs5I/AAAAAAAAAF4/X0eV0u1VyZw/s640/DSCN0126.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/103121090173279404612/May122011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCOSV8L26rd_Q3wE &feat=embedwebsite">May 12, 2011</a></td></tr></table>

 

I have seen that truck before... Are you on fordification?

So today I spent my time rebuilding a motorcycle trailer From 8am-4pm. And I have spent the last hour and a half working on a drawing, measuring and searching for parts.

So I am going to need to find a place to mount a 4 switch panel and a place for all of the wiring to where its out of sight. (Wiring for lights, airhorn, and 2 antennas) Ill keep working on that. Any advice is wanted and appreciated.

Thanks all

 

I'm not but my truck might be....

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SsBis-h-5axv1EOEI-d_1IYKLK_-AALJyQY9DXxlPlU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fC4B1KYcRUo/Tc9xzTefJGI/AAAAAAAAAbs/Q-IG1QwIqBI/s400/PICT1478.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/103121090173279404612/May122011?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">May 12, 2011</a></td></tr></table>

I need to take new pictures of my switches but here is my first try...

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-AoGXVvTkL1ak53qMYsY2oYKLK_-AALJyQY9DXxlPlU?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9KhYAP7B7NY/Tc9x0_2kD6I/AAAAAAAAAcI/otWeBhghhpc/s400/PICT1486.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/103121090173279404612/May122011?authuser=0&feat=embedwebsite">May 12, 2011</a></td></tr></table>

It's now a real switch panel in my center consul

 

Ok then Im probabily just thinking about some pictures ive seen on here. I have a very similar rear bumper as you (From the pictures ive seen) and i love your rack. What size are the lights on the front of it? and is that switch panel just up on your headliner? Wheres all the wiring? Whats the panel from?

 

You can buy racks similar to Brady's from autoanything.com

Explorers/Bronco II's were available with racks that attach with straps, these were made by Yakima.

I've seen Brady's truck in person at a SoCal Chapter GTG. T'was held at an Anaheim Mexican restaurant that we all pigged out at.

 

I got mine from 4Wheel Parts because my buddy works there and i got a good deal plus it came with the four front lights for free.....

The issue is that any rack that will only be over the cab of a 2 door will be so small its worthless...i like the idea of taking a ladder rack and cutting the part over the bed short and add a rail and floor to make a chase truck type rack....

 

I can't help but be amused when I hear "I love your rack"
Seriously, just remember you pretty much have nothing but sheet metal to attach all this weight to. Part of what I do is repair stuff like that that gets shook to pieces off road. Even a contractors rack with a cab over is only bolted to the sheet metal bed sides and I have seen those disintegrate the bedsides. Even just running without a tailgate can destroy a bed. Structural integrity takes a lot of thought, and often some trial and error.

 

No need for trial and error. There is already a correct way...

Rack mounting plates need to be installed like a bolt-in roll cage/bar - there needs to be backing plate at least 3/4-inch larger all around than the other side that sandwiches the sheetmetal. If they were the same size, load momentum would induce stress and flex along the perimeter and eventually fatigue and crack the sheetmetal.