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DIY prinsu style shell rack

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by paranoid56, Nov 23, 2017.

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  1. Nov 23, 2017 at 10:05 AM
    #1
    paranoid56

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    paranoid56 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    So I needed a rack to match my front Prinsu rack but didnt want the huge wait time nor the price.
    I picked up some alu bar stock (they didn't have anything thinner at the time) and ripped ti down on my table saw.
    Alu cuts very well with a carbide blade. I cut it down to 3" you could save this step by just buying 3" alu lol.
    IMG_0210.jpg

    once cut, i marked out the holes to mount the cross pieces. the hole space is 1" and 1" down from the top edge to match up the front rack. I also rounded the ends.
    I used a center punch to make sure the drill bit didnt wonder.
    IMG_0211.jpg

    IMG_0212 (1).jpg

    then the final holes.
    IMG_0213.jpg

    got the cross bars from https://www.tnutz.com/?s=prinsu&post_type=product they come pre cut and tapped for a great price. I got the silver to save some money as i would just paint them.
    IMG_0233.jpg

    then just bolt it up
    IMG_0236.jpg

    to mount it to my shell, I made up some quick brackets from 1.5" square tubing with angle cuts on each end.

    then all done. uses the same hardware as the prinsu rack.
    IMG_0235.jpg
     
    paranoid56, Nov 23, 2017
    #1
    grambo911, fish.eggs, Area51Runner and 117 others like this.
  2. Nov 23, 2017 at 10:07 AM
    #2
    BuddyS

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    BuddyS Well-Known Member

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    Nice job! Looks great.
     
    BuddyS, Nov 23, 2017
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  3. Nov 23, 2017 at 10:40 AM
    #3
    buyobuyo

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    buyobuyo Read The Fucking Manual

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    A thing or two...
    Very nice. Did you use the 47" or 51" bars?
     
    buyobuyo, Nov 23, 2017
    #3
  4. Nov 23, 2017 at 10:57 AM
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    paranoid56

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    paranoid56 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    47" for the second gen trucks
     
    paranoid56, Nov 23, 2017
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  5. Nov 23, 2017 at 10:59 AM
    #5
    TACOVRD

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    TACOVRD I Identify As A Prius

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    Workin' on it....
    Awesome!!!
     
    TACOVRD, Nov 23, 2017
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  6. Nov 23, 2017 at 11:28 AM
    #6
    Corny Taco

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    Corny Taco The Sauce

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    -33 inch Nitto Ridge Grapplers -18 inch fuel kranks -Bilstein 5100s -OME normal duty dakars -Toytec/Eibach coils -Magnaflow off-road pro exhaust -Prinsu roof rack -nfab rock guards -EBay Faux Trd Pro Grille -Custom basshead audio build in progress
    Great write up! Kinda want to try this myself with the cab rack. How much do you think you spent total on materials?
     
    Corny Taco, Nov 23, 2017
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  7. Nov 23, 2017 at 2:09 PM
    #7
    paranoid56

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    paranoid56 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    under $200
     
    paranoid56, Nov 23, 2017
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  8. Nov 23, 2017 at 2:11 PM
    #8
    fatfurious2

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    fatfurious2 IG: great_white_taco

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    fatfurious2, Nov 23, 2017
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  9. Nov 23, 2017 at 2:12 PM
    #9
    EatSleepTacos

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    EatSleepTacos Well-Known Member

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    Saw this earlier. Probably gonna go this route when I decide I want a rack on the shell again. The unistrut just didn't work out for me.
     
    EatSleepTacos, Nov 23, 2017
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    ready6delta and fatfurious2[QUOTED] like this.
  10. Nov 23, 2017 at 2:14 PM
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    fatfurious2

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    fatfurious2 IG: great_white_taco

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    also note how he did the mounting feet. I really like that L track stuff, but just dont have a use for it
     
    fatfurious2, Nov 23, 2017
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  11. Nov 23, 2017 at 2:15 PM
    #11
    EatSleepTacos

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    EatSleepTacos Well-Known Member

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    I saw that too, and really like it. I'm just gonna drill straight into the cap though. The few other similar caps to mine with the reinforced roof were able to do that, which is nice.
     
    EatSleepTacos, Nov 23, 2017
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  12. Nov 23, 2017 at 2:52 PM
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    HoustonFive

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    HoustonFive Well-Known Member

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    Looks good mate
     
    HoustonFive, Nov 23, 2017
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  13. Nov 23, 2017 at 6:16 PM
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    Sub_Par

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    Sub_Par Well-Known Member

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    You can also buy the mounting feet direct from Prinsu (CBI). Little expensive though at 30 a piece. @paranoid56 you should make up some brackets that are similar to the prinsu ones so we can DIY some racks.
     
    Sub_Par, Nov 23, 2017
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  14. Nov 23, 2017 at 9:57 PM
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    paranoid56

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    paranoid56 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    which mounting feet? mine seem overkill as it is lol
     
    paranoid56, Nov 23, 2017
    #14
  15. Nov 24, 2017 at 7:34 AM
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    demo243

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    demo243 Well-Known Member

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    Nice work

    Looking at doing something similar. I've got a mid height cap so the actual roof line is shorter and I don't need a full rack, really just want 3 crossbars as low as possible and I like the tslots for mounting accessories.

    Just trying to figure out how I want to do the feet with out paying $30 each for the prinsu feet.

    Thinking about taking a peice of 1/2 aluminum bar stock and doing some counter sunk holes
     
    demo243, Nov 24, 2017
    #15
  16. Nov 24, 2017 at 7:38 AM
    #16
    paranoid56

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    paranoid56 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    the mounting feet are the easy part, like you said you can use bar stock, or just some simple L brackets. I figured the height i needed to match the front rack and made quick brackets for that, around 10 bucks in material if that.
     
    paranoid56, Nov 24, 2017
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  17. Nov 24, 2017 at 7:40 AM
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    robbievo

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    robbievo Well-Known Member

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    Nice! Wish I had the know how/tools to do this myself as well. I want the front Prinsu rack, but not really in the budget atm.
     
    robbievo, Nov 24, 2017
    #17
  18. Nov 24, 2017 at 7:41 AM
    #18
    EatSleepTacos

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    EatSleepTacos Well-Known Member

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    I see how you mounted the feet to the cap, but how'd you attach the rack to the feet?
     
    EatSleepTacos, Nov 24, 2017
    #18
  19. Nov 24, 2017 at 7:42 AM
    #19
    EatSleepTacos

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    EatSleepTacos Well-Known Member

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    All you'd really need is a drill and an angle grinder. You can pick one up from harbor freight for $30!
     
    EatSleepTacos, Nov 24, 2017
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  20. Nov 24, 2017 at 7:42 AM
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    Redsyota

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    Redsyota Well-Known Member

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    Some of the things...
    Nice!
     
    Redsyota, Nov 24, 2017
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