ERMB's D-I-Y Rack System Build

has anyone on here used the unistrut to make tracks for the shell? I'm about to trade my bed rack for a shell with no tracks. if you didn't use unistrut, what did you use?
also, anyone here with a topper using an RTT? I'm slightly concerned about the weight on a fiberglass topper. looking at an ARE Z series. I've seen tons of people doing it, but also dont want to crack my shell...

 

@12thmanhawkfan has onever on his and @PHTaco had one on his as well...I think. I don't have one, but if I did I'd put it up there and not think twice about it. I have struts on the interior of the cap as well which I think would help too.

 

I have put my RTT on mine several times without issue. My shell has a reinforced roof, so I can't tell you it would be fine without. Unistrut would be fine for the track, but IMO the Yakima or similar track system makes for a cleaner install. There are pics of mine somewhere in this thread.

 

what did you use to keep the wire on the windshield?

 

My local Home Depot had the rubber ones in the bolts and nuts section

 

So a buddy of mine bought a Front Runner rack for his 100 series Land Cruiser and swears he has less wind noise with the rack than without. I pulled my front rack off a few months ago because I just couldn't deal with the noise anymore. After hearing his story, I ordered a wind deflector from Front Runner, and it is 100% better. I had to weld a little more unistrut to my front bar to make it work, but I'm stoked with the result.

 

sub'd nice design

 

Explain to me why someone would buy a prinzu rack when they can do this for under $200? Not hating, I'm just curious.

 

no clue... I am honestly extremely happy with both my cab and topper rack that i made. looks similar to a prinsu. if i had a few hundred bucks laying around i would have bought a prinsu, just to keep everything clean. thats my only issue with my rack, its not perfect, the edges are a little rough, and some of the bolts arent perfectly aligned... good enough for me? yes. im happy with it regardless, just wish it was a little cleaner. then again, i could redo it all and still come out cheaper than a prinsu. lol

 

because EAF or something like that ..

 

This thread inspired me to make my bedbars from unistrut for my RTT

 

Figured out that led pod bases snugly fit into the channel of the unistrut

 

Not sure about Prinsu, but Frontrunner has tons of ready made brackets for attaching awnings, storage boxes, RTT's, shovels, axes, etc. I'm glad I built my own, but it does require a little more work to fab the attachments versus buying them online. It's also the cheaper option as you pointed out, but it's not for everyone.

 

Hi, everybody is making some sweet racks in this thread, but I was curious as to how people were mounting them to the roof of the cab? Is there threaded holes or do you have to drill? And what is everyone using for brackets for mounting?

 

Hell yeah thank you!

 

How much did that reflector run you?

 

Think it was $40.

 

Looks great! i'm starting to build mine today and planning on putting my rtt on it. the thule bars just sit too high. can you explain how you mounted it to the factory tracks? what did you use?

thanks in advance

 

How are folks accounting for the left-to-right, front-to-back curvature of the cab and cap when mounting?

I guess it's not a problem if you only have four mounting points. But if you have six mounting points, you need to have some room for adjustment. Otherwise, you end up with an arched rack and stressed mounts once everything is buttoned up.

Something like these would work, but I'm not about to pay $57 a pair for them.

Smittybilt makes something similar for a lot less, but it looks pretty delicate in comparison to me. Can get a set of 6 for around $120.

 

anyone know the average weight of one of these?

EDIT* looking for the average weight of the camper rack not the cab rack..