There is a guy on youtube that built a roof rack out of PVC. It looks pretty good. I don't know if he is member on this forum but I was wondering what you guys thought of this idea. Seems like it would serve its purpose. Heres the link

 

I could see it getting pretty brittle and breaking over time, especially in colder climates. UV does horrific things to plastic.

 

But then its pvc. Could probably build a pretty good baskets for $20-$40 out of shcedule 40 black or grey. As pieces crack or break another $5 bucks to repair.

 

Thats kind of what I thought

 

Uv won't touch the plastic, it's rhino lined

 

I like it a lot. Think I will price this out this weekend.

 

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is highly susceptible to UV embrittlement, so it would have to be protected.

Problem is, I wouldn't want to put any sort of serious loading on it. Recall that Sch40 and SCh80 are pressure specifications for how much pressure the pipe can hold inside of it, and have nothing to do with structural strength.

Yeah, you can build minor structural things out of PVC (I've done lawnchairs and small tables, hocky goals, and some other low-static-load goodies,) but I'd consider the loading of a roof rack to be too variably and too dynamic for PVC to be effective. Even galvy poop pipe would be a better choice - and I don't like using it for anything structural, either. (But, at least iron is stronger than PVC - and won't embrittle with UV exposure.)

Building a custom roof rack? DoM, CREW, HREW structural tubing (in order of preference. If you go with CREW or HREW you'll want to bend it so that the seam is on the inside diameter of the bend - to minimise stress on the seam. CREW is slightly stronger due to having been work hardened when formed, and HREW has a scale that has to be pickled off - which is why it's last on the list. Seamless DoM is preferred all around, but I'll use CREW for it if I can't get DoM. If I were building a cage or other protective structure, forget it - 41xx or 43xx DoM, period. 1*)

Were I to use PVC for a roof rack, I'd be awfully leery of any loading I'd put on it, and I wouldn't be able to get as much use out of it as I'd like (for one, I'd want to be able to put "outrigger cradles" on it to stack 4x8 sheets of whatever in - makes it easier to rig them down properly.)

 

I've had great luck in the past with putting wooden dowels inside of PVC to help strengthen it. I wouldn't ever dare to put a spare tire up there, or anything that would be bouncing around.

 

I am working with a very tight budget.
so this seems like a pretty good option to me.
if i could afford it I would get the real thing, but if you are like me this probably will do fine until I can upgrade.

you could always get creative on the strengthening of the pvc. use wood inserts fill it with great stuff foam ect.

but I just think I would be a great upgrade for someone for at least a few years. and hey once you are able to upgrade to something nicer you could always hand it down to someone else.

 

i think you'll be same with it if you are just throwing a shovel some duffel bags and a tent up there.

 

Probably work out for light duty.