Custom Roof Rack Mounts

[Matt]

Put 70lbs at the center of each crossbar (so almost 500lbs worth) and constrained the model by the very ends of the mounting bars to maximize the moment arm. We're talking about max stresses under 2ksi. So yeah, i wouldn't be concerned at all going with this method. Technically wouldn't even need any extra "beefiness"... but im a mass overkill kind of guy so I'd still like to see something there.



Edit:

But it would be best if those built in "load bars" are solid and the "perimeter" bar is cut and welded to each side of it. That way there would be more weld and it would be distributed around the sides with the lower stresses.

I would not want just a 4" long piece welded on to the exterior of the perimeter bar.

[IamJEEP]

Thats a cool tool you have there.

Is it possible for you to share the dimensions of he final product for others to home fab? With all the work you are putting into this, i would totally understand if you don't want to disclose that info.

[Matt]

Yeah man, i can turn pretty much make any of these into 2D drawings without much trouble.

Are you looking for dimensions of the mounts or the rack I modeled?

The rack was just kind of thrown together... I'm planning on having Doc "do his thing" in terms of how he wants to build the rack. I just made that model to help visualize some of the mounting ideas I had (like the most recent one I posted incorporating the crossbars)

[IamJEEP]

The rack, those mounts will be a bit much for a home fab with standard tools. Alltho, you can probably make an extra set and sell it on here. Put a little change in your pocket.

[Matt]

Sure. It's pretty standard though... pretty much made it 4'x6' (tapered the rear back to 46"), then adjusted the size of the top until the angles of the front and rear looked appealing.

[Matt]

Here's a side view. Rack height was 6" OC and the angle for the front was around 37 degrees and the rear was 70 degrees.



lol if i had a a tube bender, welder and some welding skills i'd probably be out there making it.

[pjmjr508]

looks great. will be nice to see once you have it made & attached.

[IamJEEP]

Sure. It's pretty standard though... pretty much made it 4'x6' (tapered the rear back to 46"), then adjusted the size of the top until the angles of the front and rear looked appealing.

Thank you, can't wait to see this actually made. This is going to be a nice rack, now just add some attachment tabs. LOL...

[pjmjr508]

I took another look at the roof rails in relation to what I wanted to do, and realize that they are not close enough width wise to forgo the cross bars & attach the rack directly to the roof rails. so the unitstock will have to work to lower. great model of what you want to have made.

[Doc in AZ]

I'll tell you anything you want to know about the rack, but you'll have to spend a minimum of about $ 600 to get a decent Bender and tooling to get started. And I'll say it again, youare putting wayyyyyyyyy too much effort into the rack design.

And I've got to say this is my favorite quote

Thats a cool tool you have there...