Homemade Roof Rack?
#1
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0H.O. I6
Homemade Roof Rack?
I am pretty limited on funds and a welder and a bunch of metal is out of the question so I was thinking...
I made a wood front bumper for my 92XJ and I really like it. It is very simple and has a light bar. It can't really be used for towing but it has held up just fine for a couple years.
I have been trying to make some plans to fab up a wood roof rack. The wood would be treated and painted of course. They used to make truck beds out of wood so I figure there is no reason a roof rack can't be made out of one.
The rack would more than likely be mounted to the factory rails or luggage racks. Probably the rails because they provide a flatter surface to work with.
Anyway, let me know your thoughts/concerns please.
Thanks,
Bryan
I made a wood front bumper for my 92XJ and I really like it. It is very simple and has a light bar. It can't really be used for towing but it has held up just fine for a couple years.
I have been trying to make some plans to fab up a wood roof rack. The wood would be treated and painted of course. They used to make truck beds out of wood so I figure there is no reason a roof rack can't be made out of one.
The rack would more than likely be mounted to the factory rails or luggage racks. Probably the rails because they provide a flatter surface to work with.
Anyway, let me know your thoughts/concerns please.
Thanks,
Bryan
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
thoughts and concerns-
1. it would weigh a lot
2. it would be hard to secure
3. it would be very unattractive
1. it would weigh a lot
2. it would be hard to secure
3. it would be very unattractive
Last edited by taythegibs; 08-06-2009 at 01:13 AM.
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0H.O. I6
Here are some pics. I used a 4x6 board I think and beveled the edges and mounted a simple light bar to it. It has been on for around 2 years and hasnt tried to break or fall apart.
I would paint the rack black and use as light of materials as I could. I am trying to figure out a clamp that would work to secure it to the rails or rain gutter.
This may be too much trouble than it is worth. I just wanted your opinions on the matter. I love working with wood and my step dad is a carpenter so we could make something pretty cool(he didn't help me with the bumper)
Let me know what you think.
Here is a wood floor we put in after patching all the rust in the back:
The floor is pretty scratched up now but it works great.
I would paint the rack black and use as light of materials as I could. I am trying to figure out a clamp that would work to secure it to the rails or rain gutter.
This may be too much trouble than it is worth. I just wanted your opinions on the matter. I love working with wood and my step dad is a carpenter so we could make something pretty cool(he didn't help me with the bumper)
Let me know what you think.
Here is a wood floor we put in after patching all the rust in the back:
The floor is pretty scratched up now but it works great.
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#8
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Year: 96
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 IL6
Depends on the load, but for what it's worth: People who know how to build wooden boats would know how to make a roof rack... I am not one of them.
Steaming little strips of strong wood (oak?), bending them, fastening correctly, and making it water-resistant.
Steaming little strips of strong wood (oak?), bending them, fastening correctly, and making it water-resistant.
#10
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Year: 99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
if you want to cut cost you can use 7/8" electrical conduit. It will still look a little ghetto unless you have a welder but here is a cheap roof rack i made a long time ago for my jeep. It cost around 50.00 to make it, then took it off once i realized that it only got hung up on trees when leaned over on the trails...then sold it for 100.00
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if you don't have a welder you can buy the connectors where you buy the conduit...however, that will look like crap. Just find someone with a little 110 volt welder and go at it. I didn't have a conduit bender when i did mine so i mitered the corners. I like the rounded look better on the pics below mine. that actually looks like something you would pay good money for.
Even with that said, I took mine off becuase
1) it didnt help me get over any obsticals
2) it got hung up on trees alot
My wants/needs have changed quite a bit since i first got into this. but to each thier own.
Even with that said, I took mine off becuase
1) it didnt help me get over any obsticals
2) it got hung up on trees alot
My wants/needs have changed quite a bit since i first got into this. but to each thier own.
#15
i made mine out of EMT (electrical conduit). i used 1" conduit and galv. fence top rail. i had all these materials layin around my house.
the 1" slid inside of the top rail. worked better than i thought. i used 1" ubolts to atach it to my existing rack. its super strong. i can shake the %#@ out of the jeep.
if you would like some more info on how i did it let me know. ill give you more detailed instuctions and a materials list.
for the money you cant beat it.
i have a few pics in my album
good luck
the 1" slid inside of the top rail. worked better than i thought. i used 1" ubolts to atach it to my existing rack. its super strong. i can shake the %#@ out of the jeep.
if you would like some more info on how i did it let me know. ill give you more detailed instuctions and a materials list.
for the money you cant beat it.
i have a few pics in my album
good luck