Custom Roof Basket Build Thread

looking forward to see how this looks when done! How are you planning on mounting it to the roof? For those of you who already have baskets/racks how have you mounted?

Great Job!!

 

looking good, when are you going into mass production

 

Subscribed

 

x2

 

As far as the lights themselves go, I'm in for the cheap route right now. I just went and got some cheapo 6" driving lights from Pepboys until I can afford better ones. I plan on running the wires through the existing single hole in the channels on the roof. I'll put a grommit in the hole, run the wires through, then seal it up with some RTV silicone. I'm also going to use a heavy duty weatherproof plug so that I can disconnect the lights/rack from the roof.

Thanks! On the double cabs, there are existing tapped holes in the channels on the roof, under the ditch molding. I don't think they are on access cabs since there's no OEM roof rack option for them. You could always use Yakima cross bars or something similar, then just mound the basket to those.

Thanks for the compliments! And for the mounting I'm working on building some crossbars that will utilize the existing holes in the roof to mount. Then, I'm going to get some small u-bolts and use them to attach the basket to the crossbars. I didn't want to use the OEM plastic rack because of the low load capacity. Steel will be much stronger

 

This is awesome! I'm glad I found this and btw if you do decide to fab some up I would be willing to pay 300-350 for the basket especially if it just mounts into the spots on my double cab channels.

Great work and subscribed!

 

I went by the steel yard and picked up some expanded metal in hopes of laying it down as a floor. I wanted to use it incase there were smaller items I wanted to throw in the rack. I went and got 2 scrap sheets because they were cheaper and cut them to fit. Once I test fit it in the floor, I realized I didn't like how it looks. It's way too busy and not to mention a lot heavier (adds 10-15lbs easy). It would be a pain to paint correctly and weld on. So I'm going to scratch that idea and leave the floor as it is.

Here's a picture for comparison. Let me know what yall think.

 

i agree , dont like the expanded steel. looks awsome otherwise.
Would love to see in detail how it gets mounted to the roof. I know we have some kind of track up there, but have not seen how to use it correctly. your making us all jealous!

 

Here's the one I just finished. 1" conduit.

 

How about some 1/16" or 1/8" Aluminum Diamond plate? It'd be light weight and look nice.

 

Nice. How heavy did it wind up being? And what did you do for paint?

Well the rest of the rack is steel so welding the aluminum on wouldn't work. And I'm not a huge fan of diamond plate.

 

Looking good

 

Thanks man! I hope you got a big bag of popcorn. This thing is taking some time!

 

It's not as hard as you might think. Buy you a cheaper mig welder that you can use flux core or gas with and start practicing. It won't take you long to get the hang of it. Read a few books and watch a few videos. You'll be welding in no time. If you like welding and get where you can do it buy you a better welder. I've got a Lincoln 130 110v portable welder I found mine at a pawn shop that had only been used a few times talked them down to $200 on it. I can't do the big stuff with mine but so far it has done all I wanted.

Murph

 

tooblue

rack is looking great...Can't wait to see the finished product. Keep up the good work!

Murph​

 

Thats why you weld tabs to the rack and bolt on the D-plate.

 

30-40lbs

 

A little update:
I finally finished the basket. I cleaned up as best I could all the welds and then painted it. I used Rustoleum auto primer (2 coats) and then finished it with Rustoleum black Hammered finish (3 coats). I'm not too sure how long the paint job will last but when it goes to crap, I'll have it powdercoated.

The basket has 4 driving lights on the front and 2 driving lights on the rear.

 

Very nice! Please take photos of how run the wiring for the lights.

 

Looks good man. Can't wait to see it mounted.