Idea for custom roof rack !!

[badmix]

Ive had this idea ever since I bought my K5 , 10 years ago. lol.

Ive been slowly, like glacier slow, trying to make this my version of an expedition rig. Which means built for extended off roading adventures, which means I need to carry a bunch. Anyways...........

Presently I have stage 1 of my custom roof rack done, I mounted up a Ford Aerostar factory roof rack and rails on my topper.

The next stage is to get another Ford Aerostar roof rack, cut it to fit and mount it on the cab of the truck (scary to drill into roof of actual truck, lol).

The final 3 & 4 stage is to build a roof rack out of aluminum that will be 2 pieces. Each part will mount one on the topper and one on the cab itself.

Utilizing the Ford Aerostar rails, the rack will actually be movable front to back and I can fit the two racks to make appear as seamless. But if I want to remove the topper, I can still have a roof rack on the cab. Both racks will be removable with only the rails still attached, this gives me versatility.

What ya'll think ??

 

[rampage]

Here's the idea I've always had. Mount a piece of angle iron about 1/8" thick sandwiched between the bed rail and topper so it's facing down (so water isn't channeled inside). Welded to the angle iron are tubes that extend up and support something similar to your standard lumber rack that extends over the cab. Might have to add another plate under the bed rail for added strength. This should still keep the top weathertight and there should be enough play in the mounting bolts on the cab to allow for this. You'd still have a full rack without the topper if you want, it's removable and there's no drilling holes in your roof that could leak.

 

[badmix]

Yea, I know what your saying, that be cool. The odds of me taking the top off is pretty slim, but like the option of it.

 

[ktmoutfront]

I justbuilt 1" OD tubingbent 45* at the ends welded to a plate that bolts to the roof. Glass section only. Then mounted a Yakima rack to that. Will use it for 6 days in Moab.

 

[badmix]

Now Im debating whether to do the cab portion or just stick to the topper.

one of the additions will be an LED lightbar, if I have rails on the cab, this will make mounting as far forward easier, plus look cool. lol.

Not sure what lightbar would look like or function back on the topper.

Thoughts?????????????????

 

[PWagon]

Let's see some pictures of that bad boy...

 

[badmix]

Let's see some pictures of that bad boy...

Of what? My truck? The roof rack is still in the conception phase.

 

[PWagon]

You've gotta at least sketch your idea on a piece of paper and then take a cell phone pic and post it. Words, words, words... where's the pictures? :-)

 

[badmix]

LoL..Thats no fun.

Basically going to be a tube design, and upper and lower tube, square tubing always looks "home-made", going to go with trick design to seperate the upper and lower tube and will probably run smaller square tubing across the bottom to make the floor. May go with expanded metal so the floor is completely coverd but will allow water and debris to fall thru.

The idea is when the front and back racks are together, itll look like one rack, but if I remove the topper, ive still got a rack or if I didnt want the cab rack, I could remove it. This is why Id like to have the lightbar with the option of being independant of the roof rack, meaning , i could have the low profile rails (that bolts to the cab) and then just mount the lightbar to that with custom brackets.

I like the idea of having options and different configurations. Just bolting a rack straight to the topper is not an option, I may not want the rack perma mounted, infact I know I dont, lol.

 

[ktmoutfront]

You dont want the light bar too close to the front of the cab. The reflective glare off of the hood is a pain.