Well I saw 4x4Daltons (Great idea man thanks) post and really liked his roof rack plus I do not have a welder nor do I know how to weld. So I thought I would go this route with some changes. So after a trip to Lowes here is what I have so far.

I bought 8 pieces because mine is going to be a little longer.


Connectors


Now instead of using the screws that came with it I drilled through them so I could use larger bolts with lock nuts.



This will add more strength and helped keep it together.

Started putting it together



To connect the upper and lower section I cut and drilled some brackets


With both sections connected


Almost complete. I added a few more braces on the sides and front.
The fron part is angled and I plan and putting some lights inside there.



Thats pretty much were it is now. Tomorrow I plan on adding three support pieces from front to rear. Once it is done it will be primed and coated with bedliner.

I may add these along the side for more support and to help keep stuff in. Basically its just more pipe that I have flattened on each end. Crude but effective.

It is solid as a rock right now. Ill post more pics later. Let me know what you think.

 

nice work...any plans for paint?

 

Thanks, I just plan to primer it and bedliner spray.

 

Great job. Be sure to scuff and prep (wipe with solvent) the surface before primer. The galvanizing can be a pain to paint.

 

It would be cool (and possibly stronger) if you could have put you aluminum plate brackets where the couplers are. Do you have plans for the decking?

 

Ya I was thinking of that but my bolts were just a tad short and I bought a box of 100 lol. So I really didnt want to go buy new ones. As for the decking im going today to get 3 pieces to put in from the front to the back.

 

I finished it today. Just need to mount it. The liner is still wet thats why the shading is kinda different in spots. Garage is kinda messy also lol. Getting ready to toss a bunch of stuff.

 

That looks awsome, I am so doing this when I return home from college for winter break so I can use the old mans tools and garage

 

looks sweet,
the only thing i would consider different would be putting plates on both inside and outside of the rack,

 

How much did this cost you to make total?

 

I think right around 90 to 100. I would have to dig up my reciepts for an exact amount.

 

what size bolts did you use on that?

 

5/16 X 1 1/2

 

What size tubes did you use to make this? 1/2 or 3/4?

 

Turned out nice. I made mine out of conduit too.