ERMB's D-I-Y Rack System Build

that will still be enough. If you have a vice you'll get the best bend with the less effort to roll it over on it's side. I had to improvise a vice using two C Clamps and a block of maple hardwood. I just sandwiched the metal between the block and the edge of a workshop table and bent as far as I could and used the mallet to persuade it the rest of the way. The bend is straight and at a good 90* I think.

 

I'll think about it. I'm at lowes looking for that stupid channel now. Can't find it anywhere. Lol

 

The sheet metal? in my lowes it's by the section where they cut glass.

I'm off to go pick up the kids and bring them to their afternoon activities. Ill log back on around 4 to see what's transpired. In the mean time I'm going to use my hour waiting in the parking lot to try to wire up a new fog light harness and a switch.

 

I don't like strangers.
Only when they are on the other side of a key board

 

And Home Depot has all I need

 

So whatchya picking for materials, front rack, cap rack or both?

 

I was going to try and make a full roof rack. But the curve of the roof and some of my plans were shattered when I got to the hardware store. I'm pissed and frustrated so I'll get back at it tomorrow maybe. Lol

 

Ut-oh....well we'll stay tuned to see what happens

 

alright time to re think my strategy... so the problem i ran into at home depot was... i realized mine won't have the tracks like yours do. and when i mount the corner pieces all together, it takes up the holes, and lives nothing to mount to the truck. back to the drawing boards

 

Why would you not have the tracks? Are you planning to use a different material for the crossmembers?

 

i meant tracks as in what is already mounted on the top of your cab.

so i think i figured it out... I'm going to use pipe to create the spacers. put them into the mounting holes (not cutting the tops parallel with the rack. Then using an L shaped bracket, bolt it through the base of the "L", through the spacer, and into the holes. then, drill a hole in the side of the "L" shape bracket, and feed a bolt through that, into the side of the rack frame.... is the understandable? I'm trying to draw something up

 

Yeah...., I'm an art teacher so anything visual helps to explain a lot for me.

 

@Patch92 if I'm seeing it right, that should work. Might want to put two holes through the L bracket to make it more stable.

On a different note, I just measured my cap and to make the cross bars level and not touch the top of the cap, I need half inch spacers. Is there any issue you guys see to keeping the rack real close to the topper? Or should I give it an inch or so?

 

Lol... I did the best I can.

 

The spacer stays at the angle it's supposed to be at. The "L" bracket is at an angle matching the spacer. And the rack bolts to the "L", with a tiny bit of room above the base of the bracket.

 

Not at all what I pictured, but that would help with the angle for sure. You could use a U bracket or two L brackets to make it more stable/stronger

 

U bracket..... genius. that way it will bolt through and through. Ill use a U, and push two bolts through it

 

Bingo bongo

Or one long one to squeeze it all together

 

Btw @Patch92 I'm going to steal your idea if you don't mind

 

now just to be sure, the bolt pattern on the roof holes is 6m right?