DIY prinsu style shell rack

I am mounting mine this evening (paint drying), should be ready for a "batch" tomorrow. Meaning I could likely ship June 11.

 

I’m in!
Already ordered my crossbars and have my SmittyBilt mounting feet. Just waiting on these side plates of yours!

 

For those mounting the smittybilt brackets a few points that I found out:

1- 1/4-20 carriage bolts will not fit in the crossbar slots (at least not the ones I got), the steel were ok, but not the SS ones.
2- Getting M6 carriage bolts in metric at a store (even industrial hardware places) is not easy, needs to be ordered and I am too eager to install it. Also, seems I could not get M6 x 20, only 25mm and that's a little long IMO. So I decided to use 18 of my expensive drop-in t-nuts to mount it.
3- The hardware to assemble the smittybilt is black (nice) but like not stainless (bad). I am looking at replacing it, but anyway I think the smittybilt bracket is expensive (I have an adjustable design in mind)

Will keep everyone posted tonight

 

make sure you validate the smittybilt can mount to the crossbar and your rails. so you don't spend trips and time searching for correct hardware

How long do you want the sides? Mine are 66" (on a long bed ARE cap). That will allow me to prepare the design.

 

I think 60 would work for a short bed but I don’t know if it should be shorter? Is yours shorter than the cap on your longbed?

 

see this picture:


there is space on each end. Sp yes 60 with a short bed would be fine.

Do you want 6 or 7 bars (prinsu has 6 for the short bed but I can make it 7 with shorter spacing)

 

@EatSleepTacos - how long are the side plates on your short bed rack?

 

I have a long bed Floyd.

 

In for a set of 66" - same setup as yours

 

I just measured the top of my SnugTop Short bed cap. 60" is way too long. The length shouldn't be more than 54 or 55"

I would prefer 54", 1/4" plate
Six crossbars (I ordered 7- plan on using the 7th rear vertical in your design)


I looked at the Prinsu website, no dimensions given for rack length.

 

I would be ok with 6 since you can add more in the slots or space them out for more. I won’t load it up like most so I don’t need the extra bars.

 

ok for 6 evenly spread (2 ends + 4 in between)

 

That’s fine with me.

 

Damn. I just ordered the Tnuts Crossbars yesterday and I just got UPS shipping notice for delivery tomorrow.

 

Where did you find the model for this?

 

I bought it.

I got the CAD only yesterday, I need to check if it's usable or not (the green one was .obj, not much use and not to scale), if it is, then it will help a lot with a perfect roofline design.

 

Mine shipped super quick too this time.I think last time it took nearly two weeks.

 

I think they sell a ton because they stock them, even in their Canadian warehouse(s)

 

gotcha let me know if it is. I'd be interested in buying as well if so.

 

willing to split my cost and share the files.