Luggage rack question for Exped. EL
 

Well, here goes the first post. Recently bought a 2011 Exped EL to replace one owner family member 1985 Suburban which has thrown a rod. One of the first orders of business is to rig a rack on the roof to load and carry my 12 aluminum fishing boat. Previously, I had a rain gutter rack made of brackets and 2x4 lumber that included a cross bar that extended out about 18 inches from the rear of the Suburban. Tip the boat up and lean it bow up against the bar, lift down at the transom and up and forward, load the boat onto the Sub. Tie down and ready to go.

So now I'm dealing with the "luggage rack" on the Exped. (Rain gutters having gone out fashion about 18 years ago.) Does anyone know of any equipment or parts that fit into the t-slot or key way of the longitudinal luggage rack that I can acquire and then build a rack off of? I would need something I could bolt a 2x4 to.

I have the two cross bars, but they are curved in two dimensions and I'm not thinking I am going to attempt to build something off of them. I would place them near by and use them to help brace the rack that is attached to the roof.

An alternative I have considered is to bolt two sets of artificial rain gutters onto the outer sides of the luggage rack, add my rain gutter fixtures (I could go with the old "quick and easy" if necessary) and build up from there. A solution that involved the use of the slot in the rack to lock in a base would be more elegant, however. I am aware of weight issues and would put the parts at the front and back ends of the longitudinal racks.

Thule makes a rack that lock on the side rails of the luggage rack. they have different size crossbars depnding on the size you need. I have them for my 2 kayaks. I have used them for 3 years now and once locked down they have never moved.