Roof Rack Built
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
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From: North Florida
Sorry brother... I didn't make any "plans" as it were. I just scribbled out on paper what I wanted with some overall measurements of how big I wanted it and then started cutting and welding.
From the top of my head: The overall length is 69 inches. The overall width is 48 inches. The crossbars are 52 inches across and raised 2 inches off the roof line. The angles on the front are 30 degrees. The side pieces are 5 inches giving the walls on overall height of 7 inches. The spare tire mount is installed to eventually hold up to a 35" tire.
I made it to fit with my commo antennas and to not stick out past the sides of the roof line.
Hope that helps!
James
From the top of my head: The overall length is 69 inches. The overall width is 48 inches. The crossbars are 52 inches across and raised 2 inches off the roof line. The angles on the front are 30 degrees. The side pieces are 5 inches giving the walls on overall height of 7 inches. The spare tire mount is installed to eventually hold up to a 35" tire.
I made it to fit with my commo antennas and to not stick out past the sides of the roof line.
Hope that helps!
James
Last edited by DSN46; Oct 24, 2013 at 06:47 AM. Reason: forgot something
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
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From: North Florida
It was a personal thing for me.
1. I run radios that require antenna placement on the roof that a full length rack would interfere with.
2. With it back from the windshield line that far, I don't get any noise from the rack and have only lost about .3 mpg. Not much drag when it sits back in the natural vacuum the Ex makes on the roof anyway.
3. I don't particularly like the looks of racks that come all the way to the windshield. I did it when I made one for my 4runner, but it was so short that it looked OK.
That's about it!
James
1. I run radios that require antenna placement on the roof that a full length rack would interfere with.
2. With it back from the windshield line that far, I don't get any noise from the rack and have only lost about .3 mpg. Not much drag when it sits back in the natural vacuum the Ex makes on the roof anyway.
3. I don't particularly like the looks of racks that come all the way to the windshield. I did it when I made one for my 4runner, but it was so short that it looked OK.
That's about it!
James
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Hey Everybody, Not one to spend money when I have the skills to do something myself, I made a roof rack this last week. I used 16 gauge, 1" square tubing. I made the cross bars and mounts just like I made ones for my old Tahoe, so it was pretty easy... just time consuming. Whole thing cost $170 in materials and welding consumables (and flap disks). Here are some pics: Hope it looks okay. I like it. Now to make the AR-15 Rack for the area that the spare used to be in! James
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From: North Florida
In my experience (and experience of a lot of others I know) putting a fairing on the front only mitigates wind noise. It rarely, if ever, regains MPG losses. I can tell you that the small SUV's like 4Runners and Cherokees take a huge hit on MPG loss. It may be that they don't really have the horses to push through the air without having to press the go-pedal too much. I know that the rack I made makes absolutely no noticeable difference in drag on my Ex. I KNOW from the numbers that it did make a difference, but it is not felt when driving, or pushing on the gas pedal.
James
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Thanks Vince! In my experience (and experience of a lot of others I know) putting a fairing on the front only mitigates wind noise. It rarely, if ever, regains MPG losses. I can tell you that the small SUV's like 4Runners and Cherokees take a huge hit on MPG loss. It may be that they don't really have the horses to push through the air without having to press the go-pedal too much. I know that the rack I made makes absolutely no noticeable difference in drag on my Ex. I KNOW from the numbers that it did make a difference, but it is not felt when driving, or pushing on the gas pedal. James
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From: North Florida
Ok. Ya I had a feeling it might cause some noise. And from my old square tube rack I had no noise on that one too. Nice job man once again. I will be starting mine this fall. And where did u get ur metal at. Lowes and home rapo are pricey might try farm and tractors
Find a local Steel Supply business. A welding or fabrication business. I get my steel from a place called Boone Welding and Fabrication. They also sell steel.
The tubing I bought was about 83 cents per foot. At Lowes, the same steel was almost $3.00 per foot!! When you add it all up, you can pay what I paid... about $140 in steel, or if I had bought it at Lowes... about $450.00. I have bought small sticks of steel from Lowes when in a pinch, but not for a big project.
Keep us posted on your rack.
James
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DON'T go to a box store for steel unless you just need one piece that you can't get anywhere else! Find a local Steel Supply business. A welding or fabrication business. I get my steel from a place called Boone Welding and Fabrication. They also sell steel. The tubing I bought was about 83 cents per foot. At Lowes, the same steel was almost $3.00 per foot!! When you add it all up, you can pay what I paid... about $140 in steel, or if I had bought it at Lowes... about $450.00. I have bought small sticks of steel from Lowes when in a pinch, but not for a big project. Keep us posted on your rack. James
James
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From: jacksonville florida
id like to make a small one just to securely mount the spare on the roof. I cant see carrying anything other than a tire up there myself.
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Thanks
No worries this will help. Thanks
Sorry brother... I didn't make any "plans" as it were. I just scribbled out on paper what I wanted with some overall measurements of how big I wanted it and then started cutting and welding.
From the top of my head: The overall length is 69 inches. The overall width is 48 inches. The crossbars are 52 inches across and raised 2 inches off the roof line. The angles on the front are 30 degrees. The side pieces are 5 inches giving the walls on overall height of 7 inches. The spare tire mount is installed to eventually hold up to a 35" tire.
I made it to fit with my commo antennas and to not stick out past the sides of the roof line.
Hope that helps!
James[/quote]
Sorry brother... I didn't make any "plans" as it were. I just scribbled out on paper what I wanted with some overall measurements of how big I wanted it and then started cutting and welding.
From the top of my head: The overall length is 69 inches. The overall width is 48 inches. The crossbars are 52 inches across and raised 2 inches off the roof line. The angles on the front are 30 degrees. The side pieces are 5 inches giving the walls on overall height of 7 inches. The spare tire mount is installed to eventually hold up to a 35" tire.
I made it to fit with my commo antennas and to not stick out past the sides of the roof line.
Hope that helps!
James[/quote]
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 30,593
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From: N. IL
Sorry brother... I didn't make any "plans" as it were. I just scribbled out on paper what I wanted with some overall measurements of how big I wanted it and then started cutting and welding.
From the top of my head: The overall length is 69 inches. The overall width is 48 inches. The crossbars are 52 inches across and raised 2 inches off the roof line. The angles on the front are 30 degrees. The side pieces are 5 inches giving the walls on overall height of 7 inches. The spare tire mount is installed to eventually hold up to a 35" tire.
I made it to fit with my commo antennas and to not stick out past the sides of the roof line.
Hope that helps!
James
From the top of my head: The overall length is 69 inches. The overall width is 48 inches. The crossbars are 52 inches across and raised 2 inches off the roof line. The angles on the front are 30 degrees. The side pieces are 5 inches giving the walls on overall height of 7 inches. The spare tire mount is installed to eventually hold up to a 35" tire.
I made it to fit with my commo antennas and to not stick out past the sides of the roof line.
Hope that helps!
James
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 15
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From: Running Springs, CA
Really nice job! I am considering the same just longer with lights and tire mount like yours!
If anyone else makes one please post as we can use all the ideas anyone has :-)
Thanks again and great job :-)
If anyone else makes one please post as we can use all the ideas anyone has :-)
Thanks again and great job :-)
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