offroadordnance

I started buiding this rack with a cheap HF kinker and 1" black pipe from Lowes. Since I never notched and welded tube before, it was a good project to practice.

offroadordnance

At first the rack was pretty plain and I still needed a bit more practice welding notched tube. The unit was still a little light and a few more pounds would not make removing it too difficult for the GF. A top rail was added to keep gear from shifting and provides addittional lash points.

offroadordnance

Comparing pictures of the first design to the second, I wished I did'nt have those tools laying around in the pic. Actually, I hated them laying around in the Jeep and clanging around in their tool bag. Usually when I needed the toolbag it was under piles of other gear and a pain to retrieve. Something had to be done with those tools.

offroadordnance

Added a little tool foam from Sears to keep things in their place and quiet. Now when the back of the Jeep is stuffed with gear, I can access tools no problem. I sprayed everything with Rustoleum truck bed liner out of the can. My problem now is anything dirty, sandy, muddy , wet, will fall into the tool tray and collect. No bueno. I needed to find a suitable top.

offroadordnance

It tool me a while mulling over what to put on the rack. One day while driving and pondering, I went passed a truck bed liner spraying place and saw it. A whole mountain of plastic bed liners next to the dumpster, so dove I did.



And with a little saw work I ended up with this

offroadordnance

The panel I cut was the middle of a tail gate panel. The cut was made and the two pieces were notched so they over lapped and interlocked to prevent dirt and water from falling through. Temporarily the two are joined with black wire ties. Black ties are also used to secure the top to the tube frame. I don't know of anybody local that can weld HDPE, but when I find someone, the two halves will have the seam welded. Probably a place that welds plastic water tanks, IDK.


Fortunately for me it had drink holders built in which I took advantage of immediately

offroadordnance

With things progressing nicely I now had a heavy dangerous projectile. Padding was added to the top rail near the rear passenger's heads. I chose foam pipe insulation to cover the tube and the GF stitched an almost mil spec panel for it. The canvas wraps around and attaches to itself with velcro. Straps and Molle webbing were added to secure the panel to the frame and allow gear to be hung from it. The gear faces the rear of the seat and cannot be seen or snagged upon from the rear hatch.

Also in pic is my HF kinker pouting under bench because everyone else is having all the fun lately.

offroadordnance

I failed to mention in the middle of building this, I ran across a handy little floor mat with raised sides at Pepboys. It fits PERFECT between the rack feet. The bottom is lined with velco so it doesnt slip around. The inside is rubberized so most gear doesnt slide around as well. I'd venture to say it could hold a quart of liquid and prevent soiling the Jeep's carpet. The panels on the rack were a bad idea when I was still in the mulling stage.

caged

that looks great. good job

offroadordnance

I finished this rack a few months ago. I can report that it has held up to much abuse and has proved practical on many occassion. It's been on a few camping trips, hauled bags of black cow from the nursery, hauled steel for other weldings projects, wet dive gear, scuba tanks, bloody speared fish, etc. It's super easy to clean, I just pull the bottom may out a bit, sweep the debris from top into the mat, pull the mat and shake it out. The only pic I have of it installed is a bit dorky. We were looking for heavy stuff laying around to attach and see if the velcro panel GF sewed up would unravel.

Lyferxb9s

That's pretty awesome!

XJMichael

Looks good man!

JerrytheJeep

Got any pics of it installed from the rear? That thing looks frigging sweet!

offroadordnance

This is the only image I have from the rear. Right now it's packed with gear and "stuff" for another project.

BKohs

great idea. and it looks really good.