my take on a nice cheap rack
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 620
Likes: 1
From: cedar rapids
Year: 99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4 ohh
Hello everyone. I built this rack out of 3/4 14 gauge square steel tube. The mounts are made of 3/16 inch flat steel. This isn't some dinky rack made of crappy emt. I'm an electrician and I don't trust that stuff to have any structural integrity or to support a load
Emt would be good for looks..... if your looking at it far enough away. Anyways this thing has held 500 pounds so far. And yes I'm going to sand blast and paint it. Comments or insults are welcome.



Emt would be good for looks..... if your looking at it far enough away. Anyways this thing has held 500 pounds so far. And yes I'm going to sand blast and paint it. Comments or insults are welcome.



Last edited by brookhart63; Jul 7, 2011 at 01:28 PM.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 620
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From: cedar rapids
Year: 99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4 ohh
Mmmm.... I mad a crapy emt rack and threw a s**t load of camping gear on it this weekend and had no problems.my 2 cents being a electrtcian i understand you work with it BUT when you make 16" or so runs and WELD it together its pretty strong.... Again my 2 cents keep home brewing guys.
Last edited by Cujo; Jul 7, 2011 at 09:44 PM.
Mmmm.... I mad a crapy emt rack and threw a s**t load of camping gear on it this weekend and had no problems.my 2 cents being a electrtcian i understand you work with it BUT when you make 16" or so runs and WELD it together its pretty strong.... Again my 2 cents keep home brewing guys.
but back on track thats a nice rack you got there
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 620
Likes: 1
From: cedar rapids
Year: 99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4 ohh
Well since there are some doubts on the strengh of this thing:

^15 65 pound landscape blocks=975 lbs.+ me (250)=1225 lbs

^Plus spare...
Side picture of blocks.

I let my work speak for itself.
Now if i see an EMT rack do that I would be impressed. I have a video to upload later of another tourture test.

^15 65 pound landscape blocks=975 lbs.+ me (250)=1225 lbs

^Plus spare...
Side picture of blocks.

I let my work speak for itself.
Now if i see an EMT rack do that I would be impressed. I have a video to upload later of another tourture test.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,460
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From: Dayton, Ohio
Year: 1992
Model: Comanche
Engine: 4.0
Haha I'm not ever going to put 1225+ lbs on my rack let alone 250 lbs..so I'm good with my jank EMT rack, but Props to you sir
But I'm surprised your rain rails didn't like rip off
But I'm surprised your rain rails didn't like rip off
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 458
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From: Gobles Michigan
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I am also a sparky and I did build my rack out of emt. I don't plan on driving around with landscape blocks on to of my jeep (that what a trailer is for) I use it for camping stuff and have no complaints about it. I have had a lot of people ask where I bought it just to be suprised when they hear that I made it. So if you feel that you need a rack that is that strong, thats great but don't dis people for building stuff the way they want it. Not everyone needs rackzilla on their jeeps. Yours looks very strong and will work well for you I'm sure. Keep on building.
nice color jeep by the way.
nice color jeep by the way.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 269
Likes: 1
From: Eastern NC
Year: 93
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 5.2
I felt the same way about emt racks. I'm planning on building a rack out of some 3/4" rigid conduit. 4'x4' since I chopped my xj. It ought to be stronger than an emt rack and I can still bend it with a conduit bender.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 620
Likes: 1
From: cedar rapids
Year: 99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4 ohh
Thanks everyone for the comments/compliments. My GF painted it today while i rotated my tires and stuff. looks much better now. Pics to come later..
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 620
Likes: 1
From: cedar rapids
Year: 99
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4 ohh
I must have missed your post. Are you talking about schedule 40 galvanized steel?




