Roof rack home build.

[OKTrailblazer]

Debating weather to build or buy a roof rack, I have the ability to build and customize it. What kind of problems have you ran into when building/fitting to the TB? Any one recommend attachment to the roof (ie removing the headliner and bolting thru the roof supports.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Not many custom building the roof rack department. Roadie has a good set and write up from when he got his rtt.

[NC_IslandRunner]

Using super-strut/Uni-strut in place of the stock rails can get the rack closer to the roof, I did this after seeing how Roadie mounted his RTT. The lower profile helps loading and unloading rack, surprising how much 1"-1.5" difference can make, If your gonna build your own check out BajaRack or Yakima for some good design ideas.

[Trail X]

I used closed-end rivnuts in the roof for my front rack, over the front window. They work well and haven't leaked to my knowledge yet. Just an option for you.

[Blazintrails03]

I drew up a sketch using 1" Square Tubing and 3/4" Conduit for the cross bars, something I could build to the size I wanted but still be low profile. Even bolting together I was getting prices around $75 just for materials. I'm gonna "steal" Kyle's idea with the tri-fold.

[The Roadie]

Yah, I used Unistrut on the OEM rivnuts. double stick tape and a layer of 1/16" neoprene under the strut to the roof.

[NC_IslandRunner]

Yah, I used Unistrut on the OEM rivnuts. double stick tape and a layer of 1/16" neoprene under the strut to the roof.

I couldn't find neoprene so I used a bicycle innertube cut to fit.

[dvanbramer88]

FWIW. Here are pictures of the Roof Basket I made for my buddy. He bought the 1" square tubing and cut it up at work. Came over and we welded it together. Welded short 1.5" angle iron taps to the front to bolt the light bar to. Probably took 4 hours total. He's going to remove his factory roof rack and bolt this one down in a similar fashion to Rory and Bill's racks. He wants to put an expanded metal grate in it for the floor.

But like Kyle did, You can get that HF trifold ramp on sale for like $69 and it's aluminum. That might be your best bet if you just want a big platform.

[Blazintrails03]

But like Kyle did, You can get that HF trifold ramp on sale for like $69 and it's aluminum.

Picked mine up this morning. On sale for $99.99 plus a %20 percent off Labor Day coupon.

[OKTrailblazer]

Thanks for all the help, any thing you would add in your builds you had to add later? (i.e. mounts for lights, mounts for shovels or bags/boxes) What about the wiring for the lights?

[dvanbramer88]

Wiring for the lights: Use a 4 pin trailer wire harness connector for the positive wires for the lights. That way, if you ever remove the rack, the lights are quick disco. You can ground the lights to the rack, which should be grounded to the body via the factory roof rack bolts. Real easy to double check that ground with the continuity feature of a multimeter.

[Trail X]

From my experience, the roof rack's ground is questionable. Better to run a power and a ground through your plug, and ground internally.

The only thing I wish I did differently was make it wider.

[NC_IslandRunner]

From my experience, the roof rack's ground is questionable. Better to run a power and a ground through your plug, and ground internally.

The only thing I wish I did differently was make it wider.

X's 2, I grounded mine in the truck on the same place I ground the CB. No longer use light bar so I guess I could remove the wiring. I used the 4 prong trailer harness and it discos in the B-pillar