Hey I would like to put a basket rack on top for hauling extra stuff to camp. Have any of you done this and if so whats the best one for the money? I also need it to haul a canoe and ladder every now and then, will it do double duty? Do you have pics? Best price? TY

 

I am planning the same thing.

So far I have pruchased and installed a Yakima base rack system and I am in the process of deciding to buy a pre made basket or make my own.

I need to carry at different times a 12ft porta bote or a 12ft Jon boat as well as all the other itmes that may find there way up there.

I am still in the planning stages for the rack/basket. I have been researching alot of options and one of the more interesting option seesm to be to use a set of the aluminum folding ATV ramps as a nice base to build from. I am still not sure what to do yet.

Either way I think you will need some type of "Base" rack system either Yakima or Thule because our roof cross bars are too low to the roof to mount stuff to them.

Rc

 

Sarge rmb, The most common are the Yakima and Thule. Yakima offers the round bar cross bars and Thule cross bars are square. I've always believed that the round would be stronger then the square so I went with the Yakima. It seems the Yakima is very common with a lot of dealers so stuff/parts are easy to find. I had a set of "control towers" and cross bars that came off my F250 and all I needed to fit them to the X were 8 square nuts. One phone call to Yakima's factory and they shipped them to me. Check out their website

www.yakima.com



<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>What is a Base Rack System you ask?



It's the core system to carry all of your gear. Before you can put any accessories on your top-of-car rack, you have to have a base system to build on. Take a look at our fancy-dancy diagram to the right to see all of the parts. Then get to choosing below...


</TD><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=887 align=center bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width=887 align=center bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE class=RackTable id=BaseRackDataList style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=RackTableCell><TABLE id=Table1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 align=left bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="5%"><INPUT id=BaseRackDataList__ctl0_BaseRackButton type=radio CHECKED value=BaseRackDataList:_ctl0:BaseRackButton name=BaseRack></TD><TD vAlign=top width=100>Control Tower



Allow(s) you to carry:

• Bicycles
• Snow products
• Water products
• Gear baskets
• Cargo boxes

more info…
$221.00 USD


</TD><TD align=left width="45%"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Price includes all parts for your base rack system.



<TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=0 width=400 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=left colSpan=2><TABLE class=TitleTable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>HullyRollers (1 pair) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>These u-shaped rollers enable you to slide your boat onto the roof, making loading easier than pie. And when you add mako saddles securing your boat is easier than pie, tarts, donuts, cupcakes, or pretty much any form of pastry.




</TD></TR><TR><TD></TD><TD align=left>

• U-shaped rollers fit many hull shapes
• Dynaflex™ rollers pivot for convenient loading angles
• Boats roll on and off effortlessly
• Combines with mako saddles for the ultimate combination of easy loading and boat security
• Heavy duty straps with padded buckles included
• Includes bow/stern tie-down straps to complete kayak stability
• Also compatible with factory crossbars (just add mighty mounts, sold separately)

</TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle colSpan=2> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

There are many more choices on their website... I would recommend pricing out what you are looking for and then surf ebay or craigslist for the same items, you might get lucky!

You asked for a photo, here's a shot of my "space case" Works like a charm. Watch your clearance at the drive through!

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

www.4by4connection.com/ford3.html has a couple nice full leangth basket style roof racks that are designed to mount with the factory hardware

 

Thank you very much, I ordered a Thule rack today. They seem about the same quality as the yakima but my buddy made my mind up by giving me his ski and bike parts for his old rack. Thank You! Ill post pics when I have time to put it together and clean the truck, it hasnt been washed since I bought it 2 weeks ago.

 

How the heck do ya get stuff off the top? Im 5'8" Do you keep a ladder in your x?

 

Good question...hehehe. I am planning on having a step stool in the back of the X.

I also ordered 2 ladder rollers and I plan on fabbing up some type of sliding extension that will pull out from the rear far enough to allow me to lean my boat against the rack/rollers and not touch my paint. From there I am hoping to be able to use the rollers to load my cargo. My wife has a bad back and my children are too small to help so I am looking for a one man solution.

I am still in the planning stages and havent quite worked everything out yet, I got the idea from this product YAKIMA SHOW BOAT.

Carl