making a roofrack/light bar

TwistedcaB · Dec 11, 2008

well i need to have a project for my welding class and im thinking i could probably make a cool rack out out of some 1" square tubing.

well i messed around with sketchup a bit and im thinking something along these lines. and thinking the light rack can swing down with areas with low brush so the light bar would be horizontal over the windshield, and also idk if i should make more bars goin acrost the bottom or have some kind of mesh or what..anyways heres some pics :2thumbsup:

Supermanxj · Dec 11, 2008

That look frikin cool. i wish my welding class teacher woulda let me build something like that.

Be sure to keep us posted!

josh

go1lum · Dec 11, 2008

The only problem i see with the drawings is the lack of welding symbols.

pb_beaker · Dec 11, 2008

go1lum said:
The only problem i see with the drawings is the lack of welding symbols.

yes i agree are the welds going to be on just one side or all the way around. :laugh3:

grinola · Dec 11, 2008

I made my Roof Rack out of 1" square tubing and attached it with angle iron to the original mounts. We did not have a bender so we octagoned the ends. Heres what the finished product looked like. I intend to mount the lights to the bar on the front. No money for lights yet.

HOUSEDIVIDED · Dec 11, 2008

How do you plan on making the front light bar swing down? Here is an idea. Some butterfly hinges on the bottom and an outdoor electric actuator that you use with a switch from inside the cab to lower the light bar and even aim the lights.

smccollamjr · Dec 11, 2008

As to your question about the bottom. That depends on what you're going to haul. If you're just putting a spare tire there what you have will probably be fine. If you're going to haul smaller stuff (like camping gear) I would use aluminum mesh as a bottom.

SC Rednek · Dec 11, 2008

I didn't see any plan's for attaching it, I'd take a closer look at grinola's rack, or if you're just moving small stuff then consider some sort of gutter mount so that it's easily removable, but that would make your design wider. Either way, you'll have to weld on something to bolt through, cause since the roof is sloped you can't just lay it up there and bolt it down.

grinola · Dec 11, 2008

There is a major flaw in my rack. It isnt high enough off the roof. When I hit bumps they touch and drives me nuts. I had to put pading between them to stop it. I reccomend at least an 1" of spacing.

magimerlin · Dec 11, 2008

I know xxmidianxx will not mind me posted his rig sooo. This is the rack that he made. Not the best pic of it though. It has not giving him any issues yet that I am aware of. He's the red one

TwistedcaB · Dec 11, 2008

allright some great ideas guys especially Housedivided i was wondering how i should do it. that would be pretty cool to be able to aim the lights from inside as long as it isnt to $$. wouldnt happen to have any links to em would ya? and does anyone know a writeup on how to make gutter mounts? or should i go out and just buy some?

stumpXJ · Dec 11, 2008

I have made a couple roof racks, and mostly used 1 inch (3/4 actually) tubing. Here is the one on my jeep:

Here is the one I made for my Tacoma, which is very similar to your drawing. Its easy, and a great first project.

When I first built it:

Later, when I chopped off the side to accomodate a roof top tent, and added different lights.

~James

stumpXJ · Dec 11, 2008

Also, after finding the prices on gutter mounts, I decided to make my own. They work very well.

~James

TwistedcaB · Dec 11, 2008

ok thank you man. haha i think the lights on ur tacoma are the ones im planing on getting for mine just with the clear lenses. with 130w bulbs?

stumpXJ · Dec 11, 2008

130 watt bulbs, they are clear when they were on, and they are the biggest waste of money you will ever spend. I bought 8 of them from ebay, and might as well had lit the money on fire.

Seriously, save your money and get some quality lights. My Hella's have all been converted to HID and are awesome, some of the best money ive spent. I still have those crap lights rolling around in the shop somewhere... total garbage, seriously.

~James

stumpXJ · Dec 11, 2008

Cheepass lights you want to use, broad daylight.

at night:

Hella's converted to HID broad daylight:

At night (same spot as other cheap lights)

~James

MnGrnXJ · Dec 11, 2008

hey stump, where did you find those gutter mounts?

stumpXJ · Dec 11, 2008

Like the post says, I made them myself.

~James

userbmx1315 · Dec 11, 2008

stumpXJ said:
Also, after finding the prices on gutter mounts, I decided to make my own. They work very well.

~James

can you pm me some pics of those mounts? under the door also? i sold my rack last week cause it was way to big. but i like the way those mounts look. any problems with the rail coming off?

MnGrnXJ · Dec 11, 2008

oh... yeah, i see that now, thanks

making a roofrack/light bar

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