how do we mount a roof rack?
#1
how do we mount a roof rack?
my buddy got this roof rack for his truck and it has a bar for his spot lights incorporated into it along with the spare tire.
thing is, he does a lot of off-roading where there are low-lying trees and tight paths. we are worried that if the roof rack were bolted to the roof, it would shear part of the roof if the roof-rack were to get caught on a tree or something.
so, we are looking at alternative ideas that are similar to that of a ski-rack. With straps that would break before the roof were made into a permanent sun-roof, ya know?
here is a pic of the truck:
thing is, he does a lot of off-roading where there are low-lying trees and tight paths. we are worried that if the roof rack were bolted to the roof, it would shear part of the roof if the roof-rack were to get caught on a tree or something.
so, we are looking at alternative ideas that are similar to that of a ski-rack. With straps that would break before the roof were made into a permanent sun-roof, ya know?
here is a pic of the truck:
#2
FLRERUNNER on Gen Edge had a roof rack mounted to the roof of his truck, but it leaked and rattled a lot, so he custom built a roll bar and attached the rack to it.
heres a pic
heres his cardomain
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/603347/4
heres a pic
heres his cardomain
http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/603347/4
#3
hmm, i would think if a strap was strong enough to hold a rack on on the highway, its strong enough to seriously damage some sheet metal if he hits something with it. bottom line is, if hes going to hit something with it, he doesnt need it. there is hardly any safe way to mount it that wouldnt cause any damage if he ran it into something that didnt move
#4
The rack my friend has basically looks like the rack FLRERUNNER had without the rollbar attached. But that is a good idea, having the roof rack attached to the rollbar and it may seem, the way that my friend off-roads, that he would make good use of a rollbar. I will suggest it to him.
And you are correct about the straps idea.. personally I wouldn't attach anything to the roof of my truck that has the potential of snagging something and killing the roof. The rollbar idea is a good one, though.. kill the bed and not the cab!
And you are correct about the straps idea.. personally I wouldn't attach anything to the roof of my truck that has the potential of snagging something and killing the roof. The rollbar idea is a good one, though.. kill the bed and not the cab!
#5
#6
Ahhh I forgot about the hard tonneau he has... I don't think the rollbar idea will work, now.
Ok does anyone have any ideas on how to mount the roof rack without drilling into the roof? I had an idea of using bent brackets that fit into the channels right above the doors and a ratcheting strap setup that would tighten it down.. kind of like the bike rack for my mum's car.
Ok does anyone have any ideas on how to mount the roof rack without drilling into the roof? I had an idea of using bent brackets that fit into the channels right above the doors and a ratcheting strap setup that would tighten it down.. kind of like the bike rack for my mum's car.
#7
im going out on a limb here but is there a way you could fabricate a slider to put the rack on with ethier a lock or a study pin to hold it in place when your drving on the street then some sort or tab that will allow the rack to slide off when enough pressure is applied to it. this way its in sturdy on the road and can detach if you hit something. the tabs would have to be desently strong tho so that the rack wont fall off if he goes up a hill.
the only other problem i see with this tho is what kind of damage will be caused by the rack falling. just an idea i was thinking of
the only other problem i see with this tho is what kind of damage will be caused by the rack falling. just an idea i was thinking of
#8
why not get a WAAG bar or something siliar for his lights....i'm sure that it'll still light up the trail infront of him just as good...
the roof rack thing seems too much trouble...unlessu can just get something that what the stock nissan frontiers have that sits rather low and has that black shield thing on it...u could put lights on that and it's not too tall...
the roof rack thing seems too much trouble...unlessu can just get something that what the stock nissan frontiers have that sits rather low and has that black shield thing on it...u could put lights on that and it's not too tall...
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#19
Originally Posted by SUPERGILDO
quite honestly, why would you want a roof rack??? dont have enough room in the bed??
I think they look silly and it would look like you are trying to hard. in any situation, bumper light and MAYBE a light bar would suffice like no other.
I think they look silly and it would look like you are trying to hard. in any situation, bumper light and MAYBE a light bar would suffice like no other.
if i have a 4wheeler filling up the bed of the truck i don't have anywhere to put my bags of duck decoys... if the bed of my truck is full of deer feeders or feed bags, i may not have room for other stuff... it's just an extra place for me to put things. also, when i carry pipe or tubing, i don't want it laying against my roof scartching up the paint, so i lean it on the roofrack and tie it on with bungies.... also, i have reverse lights to mount on the rack... and i have used the rack as a rest for my gun when hog hunting from the bed of my truck..
i use my roofrack all the time.
next time i really use it, i will snap a few pics and you will understand why it comes in handy so often..
#20
thats cool christia, but honestly couldnt you do without the roof rack?? there wasnt enough room for your decoys in your supercab? and there wasnt enough room in your truck on your suction cup gun racks?
I dont know, maybe its just me but roof racks arent my thing. In which case maybe I shouldnt have even posted in this thread
I dont know, maybe its just me but roof racks arent my thing. In which case maybe I shouldnt have even posted in this thread
#21
my supercab has a 15" subwoofer box and amp filling it up... what does my gun rack have to do with any of that? i meant i used the rack as a place for me to lean on while shooting, instead of leaning on the roof... not to carry a gun... i would never have a gun up there while driving around, that would mess it up and would be stupid...
decoy bags wouldn't fit in the truck even if there was nothing in the bed.. you must not know how many decoys one takes hunting... decoy bags are almost too large for the roofrack.. and once the decoys have been in the water, they are soaking wet... i like my interior dry and smelling nice..
i like my roofrack, i use my roofrack... it's my truck...
decoy bags wouldn't fit in the truck even if there was nothing in the bed.. you must not know how many decoys one takes hunting... decoy bags are almost too large for the roofrack.. and once the decoys have been in the water, they are soaking wet... i like my interior dry and smelling nice..
i like my roofrack, i use my roofrack... it's my truck...
#22
Originally Posted by SUPERGILDO
quite honestly, why would you want a roof rack??? dont have enough room in the bed??
I think they look silly and it would look like you are trying to hard. in any situation, bumper light and MAYBE a light bar would suffice like no other.
I think they look silly and it would look like you are trying to hard. in any situation, bumper light and MAYBE a light bar would suffice like no other.
quite honestly, i don't remember asking your opinion on roof racks!
i merely asked for suggestions for mounting the thing to the roof...
i am going to check out yakima.
yes, it is a 4-door. i dunno what the rain gutters are, but if i am thinking correctly - i think that's where i was suggesting that the clips go.
#24
Originally Posted by SUPERGILDO
thats cool, i wouldnt use a roofrack. and most people wont is all im sayin.
i checked out the www.yakima.com and it seems like they've got a good idea with the rain gutter setup. but, i looked at the pic of my friend's truck and it doesn't look like his 4-door has the rain gutters on it.
also, as previously stated by ranger02_4x4, they are too expensive because i know they would break on the trail. i'm gonna ask him if he has rain gutters, however... and perhaps make something similar to the Yakima setup.
mounting it to the tonneau seems like a plausable idea as well. it would kinda look like those prerunner spare tire/cage setups i see on the rangers. cool!
edit: err.. but it is supposed to double as a light bar and i still think those two black trucks look wicked badass with the roof racks!
Last edited by Hole-Shot; 01-30-2005 at 12:06 AM.
#25
Originally Posted by Trevelyn1015
You must not know how many decoys one takes hunting... decoy bags are almost too large for the roofrack.. and once the decoys have been in the water, they are soaking wet... i like my interior dry and smelling nice
This man speaks the truth....God forbid you are hunting Canadian Geese. Maybe a bag of Quail decoys would fit inside the cab....