Why are roof baskets so expensive?

I love the look of roof baskets with the front light mounts and having the option to toss some cargo up there would be really handy from time to time but I can't justify the $600+ (most of the ones I really like are closer to a grand) since I'm not doing any serious camping. Is the cost on these because they are a lot harder to produce than they look or is it just that this is what people are willing to pay? It seems like a pretty easy project for a fabricator to me, but maybe they would charge even more?

 

Lots of bends, lots of welds, paint/powdercoat costs, and quality metal isn't cheap.

 

I like expensive stuff also, but my Yakima Load Warrior worked great. The MOAB better still. Load Warrior is only a few hundred (http://www.amazon.com/Yakima-Load-Warrior-Gear-Basket/dp/B002IAMM0Q) and has an available extension which allows you to mount it to the OEM Tacoma roof rack crossbars and still be at around $400.

 

^^^ Exactly.

All that stuff adds up.

You also have to factor in marketing costs, website fees, packaging, the cut that the credit card companies take, and last but surely not least, the giant chunk that the government takes.

 

Aftermarket is tough... As with all fabrication, it is just as fast to build three as it is one. Materials, labor, equipment, a shop, and the LIABILITY of someone installing it wrong and hurting the truck or worse it comes off and hurts a third party. Finally you go through all this, build someone the basket or whatever that they want, then they start picking it apart or decide that they don't want it at all.
Do I sound like a small business man to you? This is why I close up my doors and work for others. Cool stuff like this is made by me for me...

 

I dunno. I'm kinda indifferent to the baskets. I like the Prinsu low profile full length racks for shell and the cab. Pretty much the same price, but way more options as to how strap things down.

Baskets on top of the cab be looking like this