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Another Roof Rack Question

kis2

kis2

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Hey folks,

I did some searching, but couldn't find anything about this specifically...

I want a roof rack for my 84 K5, but I'd like one that only mounts over the fixed top cab area. My thought was if I could find a rack for a k30, it'd probably work for my purpose. But I can't find one of those either.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks
 
Wasn't anything like that from the factory, so you're talking purely aftermarket or custom.

The stock answer here on CK5 would invariably be to buy a welder and DIY. You'd be amazed at how handy a welder is =)) If you were closer I'd offer to help; you might well find somebody local who'd do it for beer money for his time (obviously you'd pay for materials.)

Failing that, I think Con-Ferr is out of business, but there are other companies making mid-sized roof racks. You will of course be doing some drilling and maybe minor fab work to mount it to your particular truck.

A bit of Googling pulls up a variety of brands and styles, e.g.:

http://www.etrailer.com/dept-pg-Roof_Cargo_Carrier-sf-Roof_Basket.aspx

depending if you wanted a flat tray, a Yakima-style basket, or my personal preference, what that site calls "safari style."

-- A
 
Here is what I did;

I picked up factory roof rack rails from a Ford Aerostar van at the junkyard and I bolted them to my fiberglass top.

The idea is, once you have the rails attached, they are pretty low profile, you can get or make a rack that mounts to factory rails, when the rack isnt in use, just take it off and your left with perma mounted rails.

My idea was to put rails on the topper and the cab and build a 2 piece rack that when put together looked like one continuous roof rack. And you could take either end off and use the other. If you wanted to take your topper off, you still had the over the cab rack.

Keep in mind, there isnt much room up on top, you have to take into account the slope of the cab roof. There is only like about 2 feet of useful flat surface area. The width isnt a problem. All youd have to do is get 2 sets of roof racks from a Aerostar and just cut down the cab ones.

If you get the roof racks, make sure to get all the cross bars too, they help with support and square up the rails, especially when you go to install it.

I can get some pics of mine if your interested.
 
kis2 said:
... I'd like one that only mounts over the fixed top cab area...
Click to expand...

It's been a while since I had it on the truck, but here goes; Con-Ferr, 36"x54":

rr.jpg
 
the only way ive seen it is to take a regular rack and cut it down to the size you want and then reweld the end sections to make it the size you want.they did it on a jeep rack a couple years ago in petersons off road.that or you can contact one of the rack companies and see wha tthey could do to make a one off rack to your specs.
 
When I first bought my K5, I had a Yakima LoadWarrior on the shell. It was certainly the right width to fit over the cab area. If you could find a used one, a little cutting and splicing could probably shorten it to the length you need. The bonus is that it would fit on most any rack system.
 
Badmix

I can get some pics of mine if your interested.[/quote]

Yea on the pics please do, I like the sound of this setup :waytogo:
 
Roofrack010.jpg



Roofrack005.jpg


Roofrack003.jpg


Roofrack012.jpg
 
Heh..forgot the text for my post.


This is a Ford Aerostar Van roof rack. The S10 Blazer roof racks are the exact same style except they arent as wide.

I looked at the Chevy tahoe and suburban roof racks but they were way harder to remove and install.

The aerstar one uses star bits to get out and I just used Stainless Steel hardware with acorn nuts in the inside. Was super easy to install. Just becare of the ribs on the insde of the topper, I drilled thru one, while not a big deal, just makes it harder to make it look good and get an acorn nut on the bolt.
 
I wish you were closer to me, I've got one made out of square 1" that's exactly what you're looking for. It a two-piece deal that has a seperate section for the half cab and for the fiberglass. It was given to me by the PO and I haven't had any use for it. Figured I'd cut up the tube and use it for something eventually. I'm pretty sure it's homemade, but it is really square considering the rest of the retarded stuff that was done to that truck. I would think that it was manufactured by a business, but there's no brand or logo or anything on it.

I can get some pictures if you'd like. It's not that great of a design but it would be simple to make and it might give you some more ideas.

x2 on getting a welder. A nice 110 wire feed will cost you about the same or less than buying or having a rack made (unless of course you're giong to the junkyard like most of us and being resourceful), especially if you shop Craigslist or something. Not to mention that my welder is probably my most versatile tool I own, I use it on tons of stuff not related to fabrication. If you could afford to do a big 220 unit, that's what everyone recommends, but I like having a small portable unit anyway, so it's not like you'll just outgrow it and sell it at a loss. It's like a grinder, I like having cheap small ones around so that I'm not always changing stuff over for different applications, and sometimes a smaller one is more practical. Or you could probably find a 220 buzzbox for pennies, they usually go for $50-$100 around here used and they last an eternity and in skilled hands can do pretty much anything.
 
thanks everybody, for the advice and pictures!

owenst7, if you have the time, I'd like to see the pictures

thanks again
 
the front portion of that looks like a perfect fit that would for the most part just clamp on. and i could keep some additional lighting. win win.

where did you find that?

thanks
 
I don't remeber, it was here or Pirate. but its bad ass I Want to build one for my Burb
 
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