General Fabrication

The few vehicles i have had roof racks on (IE thule, yakima) i have never had a noise issue i say this because i feel that is your best option, then mount your light between the racks. it is the best way to attach something on a vehicle without a gutter or track on the roof line edge. and specially not drilling into the roof. does it have a track?

 

VVV The rest of it is somewhere among the BS.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-builds/159436-frankenstein-build-lt-expo-trail-rig-bs-135.html#post6225158

 

nothing wrong with a roof rack though..i mean..i didn't notice any of the "wind noise" you speak of..i did notice power loss and mpg loss haha

Not sure how your gonna make a mount like that without drilling on a reg cab..Dbl cab would be easy..

 

Only way i can think of doing this without drilling and using some sort of clamp..is mounting it on the doors..otherwise you have no really way to clamp it..

OR

magnets..but..idk about that..

 

what if you had two bars..that went across the roof..using clamp force to hold in place in the doors..but where super low to the roof..then just had mounts sticking up where you wanted the LED bars..make sense?

 

i think if you just used some like..1-1.5'' strap that .125'' think or maybe a bit more..did some super fancey bending so it fit good in the door jams and had a clamping mechanism..then more fancy bending..i bet you could get it pretty damn close to the roof..

That would also leave you the option for mount a LED facing forwards and backwards if you wanted..

 

yea..same idea..but not NEAR that high.

If you get creative..you could make it like super close to the roof..many a rubber pad about 1/8'' thick under contacting the roof..so it would be maybe 1/2'' tall or 9/16''..if you can get it shaped right..the clamp part will work itself out.

But really..not other way to clamp..thats the only place you have to clamp..

 

What about an adhesive mount?

 

well those mounts won't work just by themselves..they need the one on the other side to have something to pull against..

You can't just use two of those on a door with an LED bar in betwen it..thats where my idea for the slim metal straps across comes in..wouldn't need side mounds.

 

I don't know how different 2nd gens are, but there's a lip/gutter for the door seal on mine. Screw it to that, put the door seal over it and you're gtg. Don't have to worry about holes directly into the cab

 

Well, after some debate and thinking, and some pressure from a TW member....COUGH...blackdawg....COUGH, I have decided to do some serious research on building custom stuff for my truck, and depending on how they come out, for others as my time permits. So first step is learning how to do it all, and the correct tools for the job.

I know how tube bending works, and the purposes of things such as the die, and locks. I know the principals of springback and all, but I still have to learn how to calculate out this stuff depending on material type, wall thickness, etc. (I am sure I have left stuff out as well) So the first question I have is this: Considering this will be a HOBBY, and not a full-time job, what are everyone's recommendations on benders? I am thinking right now I will have a max budget of $350 to $400, but if enough people know of some decent benders for less, I am more than willing to hear your input. I will also later be looking into, and asking about notchers, but lets take one step at a time. I will check back tomorrow. I need to get some sleep.




Damn you Blackdawg.....lmao

 

haha!!

Hey..you will LOVE it. And thank me later haha you'll have a blast.

 

Anything on the roof will create noise. Especially a light bar.

But what if you used a 3x2 or 2x2 or a small single row light and built a bracket for the factory roof rack to mount it to? There should be a small threaded hole about midway along the ditch molding that would work.

 

My bad. I thought you had rack.

 

Yeah? I have actually been looking at the JD2 Model 32 for $395 direct from JD Squared. I bet I could find it for less if I shopped around. I gotta smit, I would like more than just a product name. Can you two tell me WHY you are recommending the Model 3? Who here uses it?

 

The JD2 model 32 is probably the most used hobby manual tube bender on the market. It gets the job done for the money. There is really not much to say about it its a manual bender they are all pretty similar. The first thing I would do is ass the swagoffroad air over hydro kit to it and make your life easier. You can find a used one for pety cheap if you look around.

 

I have the JD2 M32. It's easy to set up and use, has quality parts and machining, easily upgradable, and beefy as F@^K!



My bumper was my first project with it



Only thing that sucks is the price of the bender sounds great but then you pay through the nose for the die sets.

 

^^^ so darn true!! Speaking of dies, anyone have a 1.25" die I can toss 2 bends through? I'm needing to throw a bend in my tie rods and can't afford a new die just for that.

 

Im about 800+ hundred into the JD2-M3 three dies. still very worth it and it holds it resale if well kept. cheaper brands are junk