Hey guy's,
Roof racks are so overpriced and usually get mounted 6-8 iches above the roof. Who's got a ladder??? there's got to be a better way.
I purchased a 139.00 2pc rack and did a stretch job on it.

I added some scrap steel, broke out the mig and tacked away. From 40 by 40 to 40 by 60 in a few hours.



I removed the complete factory system and made custom
square tube mounts so that the rack sits 3/4 inch off the roof. A nice look.


Then I fabricated a freebie bully bar for the receiver so I can get to the rack with ease.



a little non skid tape and I'll have a safe step to reach all the goodies in my rack.


I then fabricated a custom air dam from black plexiglass and added a factory sticker for that stock......not so stock
look.



Here's my terry cloth towel seat covers. They look almost like factory seats and the terry cloth sticks to the seat like glue.


Here's a set of 17.00 lights for rear lighting on the rack.
Lights from Harbor freight. 200.00 for little lights was out of the question.



Here's the rig in it's natural habitat.

Kenny Sharrocks <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Nice work. The low-boy mounts on the rack are the only way to go. 1/2" over the crown of my roof was too close, the center support would rattle against the sheetmetal every once and a while.

Mike

This will mark the first time I told a guy he has a nice rack!

How did you mount it? I recently lifted 2 inches and now I cant fit in my garage with my lights up. I had to turn them over.

Josh, It took some doing and thinking to come up with the
connecting blocks. Remove all current rack pieces and use the little square mounting clips. The blocks are made from
3/4 by 1 1/2 steel square tube with black plastic caps in the end. If your mechanical, you'll figure it out.
Thats why all racks are just clamp on's.

I like modifying my vehicles with hand made one off pieces because it make people wonder What catalog did he get that from??
I love tweeking factory things to make them work a little
better also. Sometimes you sacrifice looks because the bolt on item is a universal fit. K>s>

Nice job on the mods. It's probably alot more strudy welded up that way. I had the exact same kind of rack.
I took mine a step further when I had a pathfinder I had the Bauer BVG rack with a extendsion.
I made a light bar to go on mine here's a snap of my old 95 pathfinder.

Basically I used two plates of aluminium bolted them together and cut 4 peices of L brace and drilled and bolted them too the plates and put 4 hella 500's on it.



The back pic of the rack when it was complete I used the same kind of thing with plates of aluminium and 4" L brackets I used some farm tractor lights as backup lights. I kinda miss it at times my G/F rolled it 5 times back in Dec of 2002. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Wow, very nice, and I love that color! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

how sturdy is your rack?

i have the same rack and would like mine to sit closer to the roof, but maintain the same strength it has when mounted on Yakima crossbars.

That rack can hold more than I would ever put in it.
Kenny S>

Nice rack setup ... On your rig that is ... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> It does sit low profile for sure. My Yak Load Warrior basket uses the Yak clamps and locks attached to the factory cross-braces. I have already hit a lowered parking garage sign or two with the tire on top. Might have to look into the way you did yours. How do you secure it from someone with a set of tools unscrewing it from your rig? Just curious. Since I have my spare up there I want to keep it there if you know what I mean. If I could figure a way to use my Yak lock parts and such that might be worth the fab time. Nice work on your setup. Ingenious thingking on the home-made extension piece. Really clean! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Ricochet

Here's a little drawing of the set up . It's easier when you see how the steel rectangular tube works as a mounting point.You need to drill a top access hole in the steel rectangle to tighten the bolt in the bottom of the rectangle. A tap and dye set will be needed to thread the bolt hole for the rack Kenny s.