DIY prinsu style shell rack

Tacoma dcsb prinsu style cap rack build



Materials needed :


6-7 aluminum extrusion pieces 1x2x47 for 2nd and 3rd gen.

Black anodized - 21.70/per

Clear anodized - 16.50/per

(Plus shipping)


Aluminum flat bar - 3/16”x3”x 55”

Cost depending on your location

34.76


Bolts, washers , lock washer for attaching extrusion to flat bar


1/4x20x1 - 50 pieces 12.00

Washers -5.00

Lock washer - 5.00


Major difference in price will be mounting feet.


I found 2 sets of prinsu mounting feet for 45.00

Whatever you choose you will need mounting hardware.

yakima, Thule, or proline track nuts x15
$0.50-1.00 each.

M6x16 bolts x 15 $5.00



At least 14 total to mount the mounts to your tracks (If mounting directly to the shell skip this. You can also use carriage style bolts but this isn’t really an area you want to skimp out on.)
you’ll need the t nuts again to attached the extrusion to the mounting feet.




But a cheaper option is 1.5x1.5 aluminum square tubing.

I priced at 25.00 for a 6ft piece which is way more than you’re going to need.





Paint or powder coat is not included in this break down.




I purchased the extrusion from TNUTZ.com search for prinsu and it will bring up all the options you will need. You can add the hardware needed on their site just understand it will be stainless.


I also happened to find a discount code that was TENOFF. When I checked today that code did not work. But it is worth a shot.


If anyone sees anything I missed please let me know and I’ll update When I am near my computer and not on my phone I will add links to everything incase some of you need it.

 

honestly didn’t think about that since my prinsu feet came with mounting hardware. Will update.

 

would anyone make me one for 12 AC? ill pay

 

For my custom rack I used these strut clamps. I drilled out bolt holes in the bottom to attach to the rail on the cab. Got them at home depot where all the unistrut stuff is.

 

Mounting feet are in. Tracks are here. Sides plates are cut.... the extrusions are rescheduled for delivery tomorrow.

followed @EatSleepTacos advice and clamped both pieces together so their is uniformity in the ends. Turned out decent. I’ll probably spend another 2-3 minutes making it more perfectly round. I may not. I make prime and paint tonight and see what they look like. I’m wanting to wait until the extrusions are here so I can drill the sides. And that way there’s no bare metal anywhere. I did get a bonus. The guy that sent me the mounting feet also sent me all the bolts and hardware that comes with the prinsu racks. So I should have everything I need.

 

Got my mounts put on and the extrusions in. I should have read more on the prinsu feet. They would be perfect if my tracks were straight up and down. But my tracks lay like \____/ and unfortunately there’s not enough room to move them over without them being drilled into the reinforced section of my shell.

do the smittybilt mounts accommodate for this ?


One of my feet match perfect but the outside foot doesn’t come close to touching.

 

Yes. They’re a hinge design.

 

I went w these mounts. Height adjustable and accounts for the slope of the shell.
https://sherpaequipmentco.com/components/adjustable-track-mounting-feet

 

Thanks. I could actually build those pretty easy. Looks like some 1/4” L bracket cut and shaped then looks like some 3/16” l bolted to it.

 

Well it’s done. I think I’ll have to make a cap rack to match though.

 

Where did you get the tread step seal?

 

Anyone have any cab sides they want to sell ?

 

He said 8020.net.

https://8020.net/finishingyourframe/coverscaps.html

 

well this thread is a gem. I've been planning a rack like this in my head for years now haha. I had no idea people were making these already. I've got a first gen double cab but I think 47" cross bars and 3" x 60" bar stock for the sides should suffice. 60" will give me some extra to play with. Now I've got to figure out if I want to add a track system to mount it to or if I just want to bolt it right to the roof.

OR, if possible, utilize the Yakima rain gutter mounts i already have on my shell. If someone is aware of a mount that would work please chime in...

 

Prinsu uses gutter mounts for the land Cruiser racks. This how they do it.




I think you could also just use some thing like these and have them attach to your cross bars. The only draw back would be you may have to make the cross bars wider so the side plates clear these brackets.

 

Yeah that's kind of what I was thinking. Good point on making the cross bars wider to clear the second brackets you posted. I would prefer to keep everything from sticking out too far so I probably wont go that route.

I was doing more research last night and I think i'm just going to end up buying some tracks from Proline and going that route. My shell has a relatively flat spot on each side so I don't think I'll have an issue with mounts not being level to the bottom of the cross bars. Keeping the tracks square while I drill the holes will be fun though, ha.

I was originally going to use the 1 x 3" T-slot for the side plates with the 1 x 2" cross bars mounted to the middle slot of the side plates. But now I'm leaning toward using 3" aluminum bar stock like most in here. It will be a bit more work cutting and shaping the aluminum but would also save me some money and look better than having T-slot on the sides.

 

Yeah I would agree. The 1x3 T slot would look kinda bulky and would add a significant amount of weight. I'm building my rack now similar to how most have done it on here but I used a router to shape the side plates. Ill post up some pictures once I get it wrapped up, hopefully this weekend.

 

Hey Guys,

I came across this thread yesterday and am thinking of building a prinsu style rack. However, I'm trying to decide between steel and aluminum. Is aluminum strong enough (I figure it'd be lighter, which would help)? What do you all recommend?

Thanks!

 

alum is plenty strong enough

 

Thank you!