Awning Mounting to OEM rails/rack 99 Limited

[Baughb]

I tried to find an answer through the threads but never found the specific answers so,

99 Limited with an OEM roof rack and rails.

I want to attach a 6.5' x 8' awning (TuffStuff) to the racks without spending $250-$1000 for aftermarket rails... unless I have to.

1). Would it be safe to mount custom made brackets that fit into the roof rack channel on just 1 side of the truck to attach the awning? The intent would be to remove the 2 large cross bars if necessary and/or replace them with the smaller, OEM cross bars for cross roof support. Is that enough support?

Or:

2). Drill holes in main crossbars and bolt mounting bracket to them.

Or:

3) Buy Universal Rack Bars from Sherpa? They should fit my stock channels according to the website, and they provide cross channels for mounting.
I could probably get these made locally for about the same price ($250 pr.) but I do like to support the smaller businesses.

Option 1 would be my preferred if it is safely engineered.

I have never had need for the rack and really, how much support does an awning need while traveling? While stopped, I'm not going to deploy it if it is too windy.

Thanks in advance for your replies and suggestions.

 

[T4RTRDSFBay]

What I did was with the OEM crossbars I removed the rubber strip that runs the length of it. It slides off. In that same channel, I slid in T-screws (it came with my awning, fit perfectly). I then attached L brackets to those t-screws with nylon threaded nuts. Then L-bracket to awning.

Wish I had pictures, but its relatively simple and did not move at all.

 

[Baughb]

What I did was with the OEM crossbars I removed the rubber strip that runs the length of it. It slides off. In that same channel, I slid in T-screws (it came with my awning, fit perfectly). I then attached L brackets to those t-screws with nylon threaded nuts. Then L-bracket to awning.

Wish I had pictures, but its relatively simple and did not move at all.

Keoni,

Oh. My. Gosh. I owe you a few beers.

I just went out there and lifted the rubber strip and there they are!!

Thank you for saving me so much grief and money. Over the last few months, no one had ever said that the OEM crossbars had c-channels in them already.


All the best to you!

Bob

 

[Nat D]

What I did was with the OEM crossbars I removed the rubber strip that runs the length of it. It slides off. In that same channel, I slid in T-screws (it came with my awning, fit perfectly). I then attached L brackets to those t-screws with nylon threaded nuts. Then L-bracket to awning.

Wish I had pictures, but its relatively simple and did not move at all.

I'm actually tying to do this same thing right now. How did you get bolts to slide onto the track? For me the track is closed the entire run of the cross bars. I have a 99 limited too.

 

[Baughb]

OEM Rails

I'm actually tying to do this same thing right now. How did you get bolts to slide onto the track? For me the track is closed the entire run of the cross bars. I have a 99 limited too.

I removed the crossbars and took the end caps off in order to get the heads of the bolts to slide into the c-channel. And used a needle nosed pliers to hold them up to start the nuts on them. The rubber covers slides right out (wd40)

I trimmed the rubber to cover the remaining c channel

Bob

 

[Pj Benn]

Photos of awning mounted to factory rack please

 

[_brent]

Any pics?

 

[Baughb]

Awning attached to OEM roof rack

Photos of awning mounted to factory rack please

Here are some pictures. Has been working great since May of 20.

 

[shadow247]

Here are some pictures. Has been working great since May of 20.

Looks awesome! I have been wondering how to attach one of these without making some ridiculous brackets! Do you have a side shot showing how it looks from far away?

 

[pyrate]

I’d like to try this but maybe with a hinge so the awning lays flat when not in use. Not 100% sure though. Still looking for the awning and then I’ll know.

 

[Baughb]

Lay flat awning?

I’d like to try this but maybe with a hinge so the awning lays flat when not in use. Not 100% sure though. Still looking for the awning and then I’ll know.

Not quite sure why you might choose to do that, but I can say that having it at the current angle has not effected my gas mileage at all and I can take it to a car wash and it continues to survive.