ERMB's D-I-Y Rack System Build

Just wanted to thank op for this thread. @ERMB

Although I had ordered L trax and are to be delivered tomorrow, I decided to replace my useless cap tracks with 1in square tubing. I'm getting some end caps for it. I'll used the L Trax for another project.

 

Nice work!!

 

Awesome. Those parts you listed thats for the rack you have that covers the two rear doors?

 

All the parts from the original post document the cap rack, not sure I came up with a parts list for the over the cab rack, it was sort of piecemealed together.

 

Started on the roof rack mock up for my 100. Just playing around with some cardboard and some shapes to close off the front and back rather than just cutting it at 90* or 45* once I have a design I'll transfer it onto some aluminum sheet material for the side panels. My cross members will actually be the ones from my taco.

 

Another update on the cruiser rack!
Realized I need to raise it up from the setting I'm currently at, I thought there would be more room in the middle but it's just barley hovering above the rubber strips in the roof.
I still have the middle cross members to add and the front fairing.
So far all in, I'm at $220 and most of that is from the trail taylor brackets. L channel aluminum and unistrut I'm only at 70.

 

Looks good man!

 

I modded my KB Voodoo bed rack (2 bed rails) by replacing the bars that came with it with unistrut. The thing is super solid now. I want to transfer that idea to the roof rack, as the OP has done, although I'm still trying to figure out the most efficient way of mounting the rack to the cab. Has anyone found an easy solution to this? I want to do a full cab rack.

 

I ended up making my own posts out of copper pipe and running a long bolt through it to the rivenut. Only thing I didn't like about that was the angle it put the bolt on because of the shape of the roof. The best solution would be to use a bracket of some kind but it would have to be one made by an existing company or custom made.
I bought some heavy duty brackets from a place called Trail Tailor for my Land cruiser 100. I'm currently running my homemade rack off of that. I would bet that these would work on the Tacoma as well.
http://www.trail-tailor.com/store/p23/Adjustable_Lo-Pro_Rail_Mounts_100_Series.html

 

This looks great, thanks! Do they hold a decent load? I thought about the pipe too, but ifI imagine that you have to have your cuts near perfect to avoid and rattling.

 

I would say yes definitely, he uses these brackets for his own custom made roof racks too.

 

While not cheap, this might be the easiest way to do the cab mounts. ARB Roof Rack Fitting Kit. It would just be a simple bolt in, then bolt in your unistrut structure. You're probably still getting away with a full rack for under $300, so not bad.

http://store.arbusa.com/ARB-ROOF-RACK-FITTING-KIT-2005-ON-TOYOTA-TACOMA-3723010-P22954.aspx

 

for those of you whom added the slide rails to add a rack to their cap, did you need curved ones or flat? trying to get some for xmas. Thanks

 

Flat Yakima, thule, proline, rhino etc tracks. Some have a slight upper curve I think but the bottom is flat. There is also L track seen below in the Amazon products discussed. I used Yakima from orsdirect and it was simple to install.

 

thank you!

 

If you have a short bed only do like the 54 in tracks.

 

Perfect!

 

I just read through this entire thread, and wanted to say thanks for all the knowledge. Definitely got the gears turning on adding a rack to my cap!

 

@ERMB are you in the Ashland area? I may have seen you around. I'm in Framingham.

 

I am, although I drive a Land Cruiser now. Did you see my old Taco driving around because I did sell it back to Bernardi so its possible its still in the area.