building a custom roof basket

[morbidsanity]

so on top of my 4runner i have thule j kayak racks, on the other side i plan on makeing a custom roof basket my mesurments are 28" by 57" and the front i am planning like a 45 so i can make a custom wind diverter out of some black plexi glass, the basket im gonna make out of 3/4 copper pipe, dont have a welder but i have a torch so yeah.....but om gonna also make a mount on the side to hold a hi-lift and the rear a small shovel!


ive seen on here a few custom racks anyone make one out of copper? who on here has made custom racks?

 

[4x4mike]

I'd buy a HF 90 Amp flux core welder instead. Actually I did just that for my first welder. With a coupon they are around $80 and are fine for something like a roof basket. Copper is expensive, soft and probably not going to work in the long run. The soldered joints might also crack with road vibrations. Just my two cents.

 

[zooroadbaja]

better off using threaded gas pipe or pvc. But for the price i dont see it being much more finding someone to build you what you want.

 

[Diesel_Dog]

Homemade roof rack something like this might work if you don't have a welder.

 

[Socco]

I would strongly recommend against using copper pipe for making a basket, for the following reasons:
1- Copper is $$$. For the cost of the pipe, you could by a cheap basket and modify it however you like.
2- If you hang a Hi Lift on it and beat around in the bush, it will likely break as it is thin, soft and can work-harden.
3- Will likely get ripped off by some junkie looking for scrap metal.

 

[CV's 4runner]

Sounds sweet! Make sure to post some build pics and pics of the finished product.

 

[morbidsanity]

I would strongly recommend against using copper pipe for making a basket, for the following reasons:
1- Copper is $$$. For the cost of the pipe, you could by a cheap basket and modify it however you like.
2- If you hang a Hi Lift on it and beat around in the bush, it will likely break as it is thin, soft and can work-harden.
3- Will likely get ripped off by some junkie looking for scrap metal.

yeah i know copper cost alot of money but it is what it is, + i have a tone of left over parts from a jobsite....ive looked for a rough size basket and they done make them in rectangles only square....and i do plan to paint it some kind of textured/hammered paint and a black....and i figure if i really dont like it its always scrappable!

 

[drabbits]

I think you'll be the first to make a roof rack out of copper, here's my 2 cents.
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO! j/k
that was my first reaction.
So you got all this material and want to make use of it, go for it. Don't think you should hang anything on the outsides, road vibrations cause hardened steel parts to shear, copper won't have a chance. How you mounting this to your roof?