Custom DIY Roof Rack Video/Photos - STOCK RACK IS JUNK

[DCameraMan]

Hey guys. I'm in the middle of building a roof top tent right now (will post that another time) and found that the stock 4runner sport rack rails mount to the vehicle with plastic.

People mentioned in other threads that the T4r Sport model has aluminum throughout and it's just a plastic cover.. well no... it's all plastic :wow2: .. Horrible for heavy weight. It's amazing what people post without actually knowing :frusty:. I was ready to fab stronger cross bars with the belief it'd be mounted all to metal..

Anyway.. Here's my rack build! Super sturdy, love it :biggrin2:. Let me know what you think!

Steel, nuts/bolts/washers, powder coat: about $250

Here is the youtube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie4li7Rir7c

 

[DZNUTS]

I can dig it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[hobosapien]

Not half bad! Very minimalist.

 

[DCameraMan]

Not half bad! Very minimalist.

I wanted to mimic the design of the stock rack. and the did just that! and is super strong! Easy design, easy to make! Glad you liked it

 

[TowMeOut]

Hmmm....video link doesn't seem to work, but that could easily be operator error ;-)

Did you price the project out in aluminum?? I'm curious if you could lighten it up and still be almost as strong.

 

[AuSeeker]

Great job!
I agree that aluminum would be a better choice, plenty strong and I believe that lighter would be better up top thus allowing more
cargo weight without adding to it being top heavy. IMHO.

Video link is not correct.

 

[DCameraMan]

Hmmm....video link doesn't seem to work, but that could easily be operator error ;-)

Did you price the project out in aluminum?? I'm curious if you could lighten it up and still be almost as strong.

Ah! Thanks for letting me know. That was totally my fault! Fixed the link. I didn't price aluminum cause I don't have a welder for it (dad doesn't have a welder for it)... Though it'd have been a nice thought

 

[DCameraMan]

Great job!
I agree that aluminum would be a better choice, plenty strong and I believe that lighter would be better up top thus allowing more
cargo weight without adding to it binge top heavy. IMHO.

Video link is not correct.

I could only agree as well. But worked with we had. It was a cheap solution that we could build strong and at home. Not sure what it'd have cost to take it somewhere to weld aluminum