Homemade Roof Rack?
10-20-2009, 09:13 PM
#31
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Year: 1988
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10-20-2009, 10:26 PM
#32
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Year: 1995
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Yeah, I have given up on the whole wood idea. I may get to building one out of conduit, since my newest xj doesn't even have the factory luggage rack, which is kind of nice...and kind of sucks.
10-20-2009, 11:46 PM
#33
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Just remember, the more weight ip there, the higher your center of gravity.
10-21-2009, 01:24 AM
#34
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Year: 1998
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wood??? that seems like it wood look gay, it might looks nice though if you do it right but im a steel fabricator and i dont really believe in wooden rock crawlers n such... i do like the inside of the jeep though it looks way awsome!
10-29-2009, 08:23 AM
#37
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Year: 1998
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Engine: 4.0 inline 6 (o yea!)
For what it is worth I am in the process of building a roof rack out of EMT conduit. The best part is I got plenty of it for free from a building that was being remodeled near my house. It was laying in a dumpster and I asked the forman if I could have it and he said if I wanted to dig it out. The best part is there were a lot of pre bent turns so I did not have to bend anything. I made my rack 4'x6' because I wanted it to be big enough to sleep in. ( I like to randomly go camping with just my jeep). I removed my factory cross members and used the factory runners to attach to. I will post pictures as soon as I get them or possibly start a new thread.
My suggestions:
1. find a construction site (they almost always have extra conduit)
2. If your going to buy steel buy from a steel yard not hardware store (you can get a full length of metal cheaper than you can get a couple feet)
3. Find a friend with a welder
(If you have to use a shop to weld it lay everything out prior so all they have to do is weld)
4. Make sure to remove galvanizing before welding (very toxic)
Pros:
1. Got what I wanted in the size I wanted
2. Very Cheap ( cost of one roll of welding wire, and some misc hardware and paint)
3. Light weight and very strong (have had two people in it)
Cons:
Galvanizing is hard to get paint to stick to and it scratches easily
Does dent if impacted directly with something
My suggestions:
1. find a construction site (they almost always have extra conduit)
2. If your going to buy steel buy from a steel yard not hardware store (you can get a full length of metal cheaper than you can get a couple feet)
3. Find a friend with a welder
(If you have to use a shop to weld it lay everything out prior so all they have to do is weld)
4. Make sure to remove galvanizing before welding (very toxic)
Pros:
1. Got what I wanted in the size I wanted
2. Very Cheap ( cost of one roll of welding wire, and some misc hardware and paint)
3. Light weight and very strong (have had two people in it)
Cons:
Galvanizing is hard to get paint to stick to and it scratches easily
Does dent if impacted directly with something
10-31-2009, 09:29 PM
#39
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Year: 1989
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I made one from conduit 3/4" from lowes very cheap i think $4 for 10ft Used around 50 ft. I didnt have a bender so I just bought 8 90* bend pieces which brought my total to around $40 
10-31-2009, 09:32 PM
#40
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11-01-2009, 10:13 AM
#41
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11-01-2009, 01:32 PM
#43
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Thanks man The only thing I wish I did was make it a little bigger its to narrow and I may cut it in half and widen it... The length isn't to bad and the high is perfect I wanna say its 3ft x 4 1/2ft x 6"
11-01-2009, 01:40 PM
#44
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Year: 1997
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yea i been researching and trying to figure out dimensions of what i want to make mine , but i need to find quality gutter clamps that i like so i can get a good base for measurements
11-01-2009, 01:43 PM
#45
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Year: 1989
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I just used some u bolts and bolted it to the stock racks.. It doesnt rattle or make any noises as long as its clamped tight and it can support me in it (200lbs)