Attaching a Rola roof rack?

[Blute]

Hey folks,

I bought a new Rola rack w/ extension, and like others, I would like to attach it to my roof in a way that it sits lower and can hold more weight. I also want to be able to remove it easily so that I can attach it to my 4th Gen runner when I need to, or just to store it in the garage when I'm not using it.

Been doing lots of searching, and I really like how Kregg used UniStrut mounts for his: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/67236-rola-roof-rackers-2.html#post574895

My question is, using a mounting method similar to Kregg's, can anyone think of another way to attach the rack to the UniStrut besides drilling holes into the rack? I really don't want any new holes in the rack, in order to avoid potential rusting problems. I could seal the holes, but every time I remove the rack to put it on the other runner, it would become open again. I wonder if I could use some type of metal clamp, strap, hose clamp etc. to attach it to the UniStrut. Any ideas?

 

[ARC]

Hey folks,

I bought a new Rola rack w/ extension, and like others, I would like to attach it to my roof in a way that it sits lower and can hold more weight. I also want to be able to remove it easily so that I can attach it to my 4th Gen runner when I need to, or just to store it in the garage when I'm not using it.

Been doing lots of searching, and I really like how Kregg used UniStrut mounts for his: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/67236-rola-roof-rackers-2.html#post574895

My question is, using a mounting method similar to Kregg's, can anyone think of another way to attach the rack to the UniStrut besides drilling holes into the rack? I really don't want any new holes in the rack, in order to avoid potential rusting problems. I could seal the holes, but every time I remove the rack to put it on the other runner, it would become open again. I wonder if I could use some type of metal clamp, strap, hose clamp etc. to attach it to the UniStrut. Any ideas?

I am sure we can come up with something, BUT I have no idea how these mount from the factory since I don't have one. Does any one have pics of the stock mounting hardware/location?

 

[Blute]

The rack is intended to mount to the vehicle's stock crossbars as shown below. I would like to remove the stock crossbars and use the Unistrut like Kregg, but without drilling holes in the Rola rack.

 

[Jaketino]

Can you steal a picture of the unistrut set up? I made some low profile mounts for mine but don't know if they would fit your situation.

 

[EraSevera]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/66978-roof-rola-basket-custom-mounts.html

 

[Blute]

Can you steal a picture of the unistrut set up? I made some low profile mounts for mine but don't know if they would fit your situation.

Here's some pics of Kregg's setup. I just want to see if there is a way to secure the rack to those mounts, without drilling holes through the rack.

 

[Blute]

And another:

 

[Jaketino]

Oh! Yeah let me take some shots of mine so that you can make some. My set up should solve your problem.

 

[1blink]

U bolts

 

[Jaketino]

Used angled aluminum and the u bolts that came with the rack. Pretty easy actually.

 

[JohnMc]

I did the Unistrut method on my Rola rack install as well.

Nice and low and sleek looking.

 

[Blute]

Used angled aluminum and the u bolts that came with the rack. Pretty easy actually.

That looks great, simple and clean. Similar to a design from another thread linked to above. Good idea to use aluminum - no rust! How wide is that angle aluminum, 1"? How much clearance does that give you at the center of your roof? Also, what hardware are you using to attach the angle to the vehicle rails?

I still like the idea of using Unistrut and having the side tubing of the rack rest right on the Unistrut, that way the weight of the rack is directly above the vehicle's rails. That would seem to be the strongest method. I wonder if I could just attach a piece of angle to the Unistrut, then use U-bolts to connect to the angle (same as you), but still have the rack supported by the Unistrut, if that makes sense?

 

[Blute]

I did the Unistrut method on my Rola rack install as well.

Nice and low and sleek looking.

How did you attach to the Unistrut?

 

[Jaketino]

That looks great, simple and clean. Similar to a design from another thread linked to above. Good idea to use aluminum - no rust! How wide is that angle aluminum, 1"? How much clearance does that give you at the center of your roof? Also, what hardware are you using to attach the angle to the vehicle rails?

I still like the idea of using Unistrut and having the side tubing of the rack rest right on the Unistrut, that way the weight of the rack is directly above the vehicle's rails. That would seem to be the strongest method. I wonder if I could just attach a piece of angle to the Unistrut, then use U-bolts to connect to the angle (same as you), but still have the rack supported by the Unistrut, if that makes sense?

I believe I got a 10 ft long piece of 1 1/4" angled aluminum, then I cut them down to fit the U bolt that came with the rack and attached them together with some short bolts (cant remember the size, maybe M8?) then I used the same bolts to go into the sliders on the rails. not too hard to take off but no one is gonna try to steal it.

 

[JohnMc]

How did you attach to the Unistrut?

I cut the unistrut into 4 ~4" sections (I think, it matches the pattern of holes in the unistrut). Drilled holes on one side of the 'C' shape to bolt them into the roof rails, drilled holes on the other side to bolt the rack to it. I drilled holes in the rack and bolted it directly.

The rack is ever so slightly too wide for this to fit 100% perfectly though. I also get the impression that the roof rails are slightly closer together at the rear, since I had the slight issue with width on that end.

The rack sits directly on the top of the C, the bottom of the C is directly bolted to the rail. It's very stout, you can grab the rack and shake the whole car around a bunch and the rack never budges.

If I was going to really load the rack down with a bunch of stuff, I could add a couple of more mounts in the middle of the rack, I just did 4 in the corners.

 

[Blute]

I cut the unistrut into 4 ~4" sections (I think, it matches the pattern of holes in the unistrut). Drilled holes on one side of the 'C' shape to bolt them into the roof rails, drilled holes on the other side to bolt the rack to it. I drilled holes in the rack and bolted it directly.

The rack is ever so slightly too wide for this to fit 100% perfectly though. I also get the impression that the roof rails are slightly closer together at the rear, since I had the slight issue with width on that end.

The rack sits directly on the top of the C, the bottom of the C is directly bolted to the rail. It's very stout, you can grab the rack and shake the whole car around a bunch and the rack never budges.

If I was going to really load the rack down with a bunch of stuff, I could add a couple of more mounts in the middle of the rack, I just did 4 in the corners.

Thanks for the info! Sounds nice and stout. I just wish there was some type of method/connector that would allow me to easily secure the rack to the Unistrut without having to drill holes in the rack. Still searching for the "ideal" solution...

 

[Blute]

U bolts

Ya, I've been looking at U-bolts, but having trouble seeing how you would orient them for this type of setup, without using any other hardware other than the Unistrut...

I wonder if you could turn the U-bolt sideways, and thread it through the hole in the Unistrut, and around the rack? Not sure which side of the rack you would put the nuts though.

 

[Blute]

I cut the unistrut into 4 ~4" sections (I think, it matches the pattern of holes in the unistrut). Drilled holes on one side of the 'C' shape to bolt them into the roof rails, drilled holes on the other side to bolt the rack to it. I drilled holes in the rack and bolted it directly.

The rack is ever so slightly too wide for this to fit 100% perfectly though. I also get the impression that the roof rails are slightly closer together at the rear, since I had the slight issue with width on that end.

The rack sits directly on the top of the C, the bottom of the C is directly bolted to the rail. It's very stout, you can grab the rack and shake the whole car around a bunch and the rack never budges.

If I was going to really load the rack down with a bunch of stuff, I could add a couple of more mounts in the middle of the rack, I just did 4 in the corners.

[MENTION=71960]JohnMc[/MENTION]: Another question for you- How tricky was it to bolt the Unistrut to the roof rails on the vehicle? What did you use for bolts and for slider nuts in the rails? How hard was it to get a ratchet or wrench in that Unistrut channel to tighten it up?

 

[JohnMc]

Here are a few pics I just took:

Rack sits nice and low:

I painted the unistrut sections black:

I'm using the same square stainless steel nuts that fit into the rails that the stock cross bars used to hold them in place. I just took one by Home Depot and got some matching stainless steel bolts. They have to be pretty short, though, otherwise they'll bottom out on the rail before tightening down on the unistrut.

It's fiddly and tedious to tighten it all down - but a regular box end wrench will fit in there still.

 

[GhostRing]

It does involve a little welding, but here was my take: