- Location
- Westminster, SoCal
My plan is to build more of a flat platform to strap things to instead of having a traditional rack with the sides. Anyways, let me know what you think:
For starters the main rails of the factory rack will get removed and replaced with angle iron (3/16" or 1/8", not sure yet). In between the angle iron (new rails) I will run 1/2" square tubing (probably 1/8") for the main crossbrace pieces (not sure yet how many I want to run, but I think I'd want one every 1ft ~ 1.5ft). That would be covered with a floor of sorts (I am think of something that I think is called expanded steel).
Now here comes the tough part: I want to have upper side rails (kind of like the Farmer Matt rack): I am thinking about using either 1/8" or 3/16" 1" (or so) square tubing. That tubing would be attached to the angle iron (that's bolted to the roof) in no less then 4 locations (front, two center, 1 rear).
The main concerns that I have:
1. Will I be fine if I go 1/8" all around? 3/16" is not that much heavier, but it all adds up.
2. Will the main crossbraces be fine by themselves or should I look into reinforcing them a bit more? I figure that even if I do them every 1.5ft they should stiffen things up pretty nicely.
3. Will 4 attachment points for the side rails be enough?
I know there are probably other things that I've missed/overlooked. Do point them out as I wanna do this only once (famous last words )
For starters the main rails of the factory rack will get removed and replaced with angle iron (3/16" or 1/8", not sure yet). In between the angle iron (new rails) I will run 1/2" square tubing (probably 1/8") for the main crossbrace pieces (not sure yet how many I want to run, but I think I'd want one every 1ft ~ 1.5ft). That would be covered with a floor of sorts (I am think of something that I think is called expanded steel).
Now here comes the tough part: I want to have upper side rails (kind of like the Farmer Matt rack): I am thinking about using either 1/8" or 3/16" 1" (or so) square tubing. That tubing would be attached to the angle iron (that's bolted to the roof) in no less then 4 locations (front, two center, 1 rear).
The main concerns that I have:
1. Will I be fine if I go 1/8" all around? 3/16" is not that much heavier, but it all adds up.
2. Will the main crossbraces be fine by themselves or should I look into reinforcing them a bit more? I figure that even if I do them every 1.5ft they should stiffen things up pretty nicely.
3. Will 4 attachment points for the side rails be enough?
I know there are probably other things that I've missed/overlooked. Do point them out as I wanna do this only once (famous last words )