Cheapo Roof Rack?

[liamfisher]

What's the best cheapo roof rack idea you've run across? I've some posts before where people use wiring conduit. Does that work?

[NorCal_Chris]

rope or ratchet straps, doesnt get much cheaper than that

[jscherb]

I built this one from two Harbor Freight "ATV Cargo Racks" which you can buy on sale right now with a coupon for $32 each. It's mounted on a $15 XJ Cherokee roof rack I picked up at the local junkyard. Less than $100 total.



The ladder is just an experiment, I didn't end up installing that.



I used two of the HF 67623 racks:



I drew up some plans for the rack as well as plans for the light brackets, so if anyone's interested I can post them. Can also post closeup photos of the Hi-Lift brackets, which cost about $8 with parts from Tractor Supply.

[85SR5]

That's fawsome

[liamfisher]

That looks awesome! Exactly what I was thinking about. Thanks for posting.

[plym49]

Originally Posted by jscherb

I built this one from two Harbor Freight "ATV Cargo Racks" which you can buy on sale right now with a coupon for $32 each. It's mounted on a $15 XJ Cherokee roof rack I picked up at the local junkyard. Less than $100 total.



The ladder is just an experiment, I didn't end up installing that.



I used two of the HF 67623 racks:



I drew up some plans for the rack as well as plans for the light brackets, so if anyone's interested I can post them. Can also post closeup photos of the Hi-Lift brackets, which cost about $8 with parts from Tractor Supply.

I am interested in seeing the plans and photos for all, if you don't mind. Thanks.

[jscherb]

Originally Posted by plym49

I am interested in seeing the plans and photos for all, if you don't mind. Thanks.

Sure. I'll spread it over a few posts since there are a lot of photos. If anyone needs any more detail on any of the parts, just ask.



The basket is made from two inexpensive Harbor Freight ATV Cargo Carriers. One thing I like about this basket is how the "fence" doesn't go all the way around and leaves a "valley" down the center - this makes it easier to carry long items like 2x4's on the rack.

All this took besides two Harbor Freight $32 racks ($39.99 regular price - 20% off coupon) was:

• 2 48" pieces of 1" square steel tubing to strengthen the sides/form the mounts (shown in pink)
• 1 piece of 1/8" x 1" steel strip, 48" long, to form the center bolt strip (shown in orange, runs the entire width of the rack)
• 8 3/8-16 x 1" bolts/washers/nuts to bolt the baskets together in the center
• 24" of 5/16" x 1" steel strip to form the bottom of the clamps (shown in yellow)

All of the original bolts/nuts/washers supplied with the HF baskets were also used.

Total cost of the project was about $75.

Here's how it all goes together:

]

[jscherb]

Light Brackets:

These were cut from 2x2 steel tubing.







I have step-by-step photos of the building of the light brackets if anyone needs them.

[jscherb]

Hi Lift mount:

These started as Tractor Supply generic bolt-on stake pockets. I drilled a hole in each one for a 1/2" bolt and welded the bolt into the bracket.

[jscherb]

Spare Tire mount:

This is made from a piece of steel bent into a "C" shape; there's a threaded rod welded into the inside of the C and a hole in the outer part of the C to accept a lynch pin or a bolt.

[rustywagoneersdotcom]

/forum/general-4x4-discussion/1070849-another-roof-rack-made-harbor-freight-atv-racks.html

Another cheapo roof rack from HF parts that I assembled earlier this week.

[plym49]

Jeff, thank you for posting that. Nice and simple!

[jeeps4jesus]

dude where did you defender esque hard top?

[Dublin1]

Originally Posted by jeeps4jesus

dude where did you defender esque hard top?

He made it. Do a search as there's a pretty long thread about it.

[jscherb]

Originally Posted by jeeps4jesus

dude where did you defender esque hard top?

I built it from scratch in fiberglass in my home garage, here's a photo of it with the matching Jeep-tub trailer/camper kit in fiberglass I built to go with it.



I have licensed the hardtop to Gr8Tops, hopefully they'll have them for sale soon. They've been showing preproduction units at Jeep shows lately.