Another roof rack thread...

[UglyScout]

I just finished my roof rack and thought I would share the details.

I went with 3 cross bars made from 1.5"x1.5"x.120" aluminum. I set them on 6" pieces of the same material that I angle cut at the ends so I could screw them to the camper (I saw that method somewhere on here -- THANKS!!)

I put one at the front over the front wall, one at the back as far back as I could go and one just behind the roof vent. I then built a tray between the rear two bars out of a flat sheet of scrap aluminum.

I welded everything together with a mig spool gun.

Here is the tray. It is 18.5" between the rails, so a 5 gallon NATO gas can just fits when on its side - as do the smallish 8 gallon rubbermaid action packers and water jugs.

Nothing pretty, but it doesn't weigh much and should last forever.


Here is a shot of my new to me truck with the camper - just before the roof rack project...

 

[Darryla]

Looks good. Your welds look great for a first time if that is what you did.

 

[Mark W. Ingalls]

<snip>

Nothing pretty, but it doesn't weigh much and should last forever.

<snip>

Beauty is as beauty does.

 

[UglyScout]

Looks good. Your welds look great for a first time if that is what you did.


Thanks - I've had the spool gun for almost 2 years and only used it once to see if it worked.

I'd never welded aluminum prior to this project - you really have crank up the heat and move fast! And not nearly as forgiving as mild steel.

 

[SunMan]

Looks good. Very similar to what I did with diamond plate, wish I had the forethought to tighten the gap between bars for the exact fit for jerry cans like you did, very nice.

 

[natjwest]

Scout, I see in your first pic that you have a significant rear rain gutter. I have the same one. And in your second pic I see that you have the roof lifters. Do you have them in the rear? I can't seem to figure out how to get them attached in the rear with that large sized gutter. Can you send a rear pic of your lifters?

 

[UglyScout]

Scout, I see in your first pic that you have a significant rear rain gutter. I have the same one. And in your second pic I see that you have the roof lifters. Do you have them in the rear? I can't seem to figure out how to get them attached in the rear with that large sized gutter. Can you send a rear pic of your lifters?


Yes and yes. I will try and get the pics tonight.

 

[craig333]

I'm not sure who I copied for mine. Just waiting till i get a solar panel to do the third bar.

 

[Lighthawk]

Scout, I see in your first pic that you have a significant rear rain gutter. I have the same one. And in your second pic I see that you have the roof lifters. Do you have them in the rear? I can't seem to figure out how to get them attached in the rear with that large sized gutter. Can you send a rear pic of your lifters?

I think the key is to get the off-set brackets for the rear lower lifter mount, which should clear the gutter. I got mine from Marty and they work fine on '08 Hawk.

 

[natjwest]

I think the key is to get the off-set brackets for the rear lower lifter mount, which should clear the gutter. I got mine from Marty and they work fine on '08 Hawk.

I bought the offsets, the ones everyone has mentioned in the lifter thingy thread, but my gutter appears to stick out too far for the brackets to clear it.

 

[tk254254]

what are you guys drilling into?

 

[UglyScout]

what are you guys drilling into?


The cross bars in the roof.