Poor Man's Bed Rack

So, I've been looking for a solution to keep the bed storage of my DBSB fully open, while allowing for some storage above the bed. The Warrior Products Bed Rack looked like the perfect solution to me, but it does not come cheap:



So, I decided to make my own. I picked up 2 generic bed bars from a forum member for $100 (although AVID Off Road offers a similar style bar design for $100/ea), and added a MAXHAUL roof basket to them for $70. I'm using hose clamps for the mounting. The basket is very secure, but I realized that you can get black clamps from Amazon after the fact, so I will likely be swapping them out for black ones. Final product:



Because the basket is open, visibility is still good out of the rear window. Ultimately, I will mount a few items (like recovery boards and a Hi-Lift) and will probably add a waterproof cargo bag like this for another $50:

$43 Waterproof Car Roof Top Cargo Carrier Bag with 8 Heavy-Duty Straps and Buckles | Weatherproof Luggage Roofbag for Rooftop Racks | Car Topper Bag for Sedan, SUV, Vans & More (15 Cubic Feet)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07LB6WTF6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thoughts, comments, potential issues?

 

I love the janky DIY of it however I would get rid of the clamps and drill/bolt the basket in. You can get some rubber washers to help with vibrations between the rack and bed bars. The clamps will likely work but I would be cautious about the lateral Gs

 

Good thought. I like that idea.

 

Hose clamps are for hoses. I understand saving money but geez sometimes you'd think that on a new vehicle you wouldn't want to mount "driveway engineered" stuff out for the whole world to see. A 20 yo truck? Sure, have at it. Not on a new truck.
For example, i know that garbage bags and a blue tarp will keep my luggage dry but it looks like shit so I spent $1200 on a nice tri fold bed cover. They both do the exact same thing though.

 

Ok, well it’s a mounting clamp. It has a yield strength. It’s not duct tape.

 

Looks good man!! We better ask the guy above for approval on all our mods before we do them.

 

Looks good, have thought about the same type of solution. I would bolt it however.

 

Yep. Step above duct tape lol.
I'm getting kinda old (56) but I will never ever forget what he told me close to 40 years ago. I had an old truck that was beat up with a million miles, but I kept it perfectly clean and was proud of it. I decided to put a 4x4 decal on the back. I couldn't afford to buy the sticker, had some tape and I made my own.
My dad saw it and said "Looks like shit son." People will appreciate earnest hard work that looks bad but nobody appreciates cheap ass work just to be cheap.
I never forgot that. So now I save up lol.

 

Don't ask if you don't want to hear opinions. Just keep it to yourself.

 

The same could be said about your statement. Just keep it to yourself. You simply could of stated use something other than hose clamps. Simple. As someone else did.

 

This is a forum. No one went up to the OP and gave him their opinion. He came to the public and asked for opinions, good, bad or otherwise

 

In

Lol read his post. He asked for thoughts and opinions. If he hadn't asked I would have just passed on commenting.

 

I added that dude to my ignore list a long time ago.

 

It’s all good. I appreciate all the feedback. That’s why I posted it.

 

I like it. If it fits you needs, then good. There’s always room for improvement on everyone’s setup mine included. Some the suggestions def make sense. I like what you did, some of the stuff out there is rediculus in price so good for you making what you want.

 

Updated with bolts and rubber washers between metal contact points and at the top to keep water out:

 

[QUOTE="awynne56”][/QUOTE]

Tires are 265/70/17 Wildpeaks. Stock lift. Sliders are Relations Race Wheels V2.

 

OP, why'd you mount the basket sideways?

 

Agreed. Hose clamps be trippin. U-bolts at the very least