Roof Rack Design and Fabrication Weekend 5-6 Progress ;)

Looks great! I didn’t realize you were in Castle Rock. I might need to make the short drive...

 

Nice modularity. Have you tested it at highway speeds for wind noise?

 

Any idea on cost?

 

This thing is rad and more importantly (for me) looks to sit lower than the Prinsu. Do you have plans for a rack that will fit an access cab? I've already drilled holes in my roof, so no worries there.

In for a rack and accessories if you do decide to make one for the many access cab owners who have extremely limited options in this market space.

 

Hit about 90mph on the way home last night and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. I've planned a really good road trip for the weekend to get up and out in Westcliffe to put this through it's paces so I will be able to report back with any updates on that. So far, so good. What I did notice is that the current shovel made a little racket when I went over some speed drums last night but it's not the one I made the bracket for so I think I have to wait until I load what it was designed for.

 

Looking great thus far - now that youre all mounted up - will you comment on wind noise? I was under the impression that having the windscreen hug the windshield line would help with volume where the current screen is set with what looks like a good bit of distance?

 

I have to get my hands on the access cab to measure but absolutely we do. Gotta take care of all Yotas brother! A company in our complex has two of them for work trucks and they said I could keep it weekend after next for measurement. The mount brackets would be the exact same and ours have a float groove in them to allow the rack to go up and down +/- 1.25" of travel (for things like adding the handles and not having them bang against the cab).

 

Sweet. I’m suprised no noise with the smaller surface area and exposed cutouts in the front. Without a fairimg and 2 pelicans mine was howling. Are you planning any front facing lighting?

 

Incredible! Thanks for the quick response. Really looking forward to having this as an option and giving it a spin. With garage heights at an all time premium, removing the Prinsu for something lower has been top of mind for some time now.

 

Looks like some BD lights would fit those cutouts

 

He mentions having cutouts for 10" BD SO lights in that page 4 post. Should look killer!

 

When I finished last night I have about a 10 mile drive home down the interstate. At highway speeds I didn't hear anything out of the ordinary. I have alway though my tires were a little louder than I wanted them to be and I think I'm pretty used to that sound I'd say if it is making any noise at all, it's covered by the normal sounds of being 5" higher with big tires on it. I would be very interested in testing on a stock height, stock tire configuration. I think that would be the only fair assessment of any added noise. A couple of weeks ago when I was building the subwoofer enclosure I had that drivers side back panel out....holy shit those things kill a lot of noise. I didn't realize it until it was out.

 

Doh, you’re right. I thought they were slotted tie down points like the sides. Should fit that space well.

 

That would also be a nice feature. Looking at the sides, I think there may be cut outs for that purpose. Overall, this rack seems much more purpose built than the Prinsu. I see a friendly rivalry in the works! Healthy competition does spur innovation, right?

 

The first one was expensive. I've bitten into projects like this before for other vehicles but with the Toyota there was this thing in the back of my mind about all the stuff we do with these trucks. Those thoughts made every decision cost more money. "I think 3/16 aluminums would be fine....but .250" is just that much stronger".....stuff like that. 316 SS hardware, powder coating even the spacers that go between the rack and the roof. Powder coating the bars instead of ordering them anodized for just that little extra layer of protection. These things mattered to me. I don't think there is any way that we keep the rack as it sits and come to market with the price points that we are all used to. I'm hesitant to quote a price at this time because I pieced this one together basically at retail where in production we will be buying 1500 fasteners instead of 45, etc....what I will say is that I will get this on the market at a price that is more than affordable compared to what it is, how it looks and how low it sits to the roof. My goal is to hit under $1000 and I think that is achievable.

 

The slots on the side are canted back at 45 degrees and cut for bungees and ratchet straps. I didn't design any lighting provisions into the sides and I tell you why. Last week when you and I were talking about powder coat and I saw your rack....the way you do the lighting.....I would rather.....sending PM.

 

The mount points for the s8 lights are offset (vertically) .625" off center. The angle of the deflector is 45 degrees. Mounting the lights in this configuration keeps them behind the screen (protection) and allows them to angle down to contradict the 45 degree angle and shine out in front of the truck in just about the same alignment as the high beam headlights. It doesn't require a spacer (will be included) to set them back the extra space needed to make this work.

 

Yes! Come and we get lunch, talk Yotas and other associated man shit.

 

Refreshing to hear the thought process that went into this. I can tell you that I have purchased multiple products I thought we be "good enough" at a reasonable price point only to replace them shortly after with a product that was actually "good enough and then some" at a much higher price point. Point is, if you demonstrate the features, methodical thought process, and value of those features, Tacoma owners will pay for it.

 

Damn I love your rack (no homo)