KneeCaps build thread/DIY/Vehicle story/Lots of Pics

[DesertCanyons]

Weight and Cost of DIY rack

Nice work on the rack [MENTION=115941]KneeCaps[/MENTION] I see someone recently copied your design and posted picks.

Any idea what it weighs and how much the total cost was?

I think you said your costs were $550 before buying the expanded metal flooring. And you thought the floor was going to cost $220, but then you found it for less, right? Did you add in costs for fairing plastic, paint, truck bed liner paint, rubber gaskets etc ? I just want to compare costs to a Baja or Gobi rack.

Did you ever weigh it before mounting it on top? I can see it's a semi-permanent fixture now, but if you know the weight that would be great.
TIA
Dave

 

[Apex Overland]

Did you weigh your rack when it was done? If so, what is the weight?

I just finished mine, and man! it weighs near 150lbs with the expanded sheet metal floor. I was expecting 70-80lbs

When I ordered the tubing they sent me 4 gauges thicker essentially doubling my expected weight, and then would not exchange it. So I went ahead with it but am kinda pisssed.

Well at least it's stronger! Haha. The weight I don't know. I know my wife was the one who helped me lift it on the roof and she's weighs 115lbs haha. But my guess would be about 100lbs give or take a little. I know I could pick it up above my head when I was carrying it, and that's my guess

Nice work on the rack [MENTION=115941]KneeCaps[/MENTION] I see someone recently copied your design and posted picks.

Any idea what it weighs and how much the total cost was?

I think you said your costs were $550 before buying the expanded metal flooring. And you thought the floor was going to cost $220, but then you found it for less, right? Did you add in costs for fairing plastic, paint, truck bed liner paint, rubber gaskets etc ? I just want to compare costs to a Baja or Gobi rack.

Did you ever weigh it before mounting it on top? I can see it's a semi-permanent fixture now, but if you know the weight that would be great.
TIA
Dave

The weight I have no clue, around 100lbs.
As far as cost goes, $550 total cost was for everything roughly, the expanded metal floor they quoted me wrong, $220 was for thicker material than I wanted, it's about $100 for what I want if I remember correctly.

I still haven't decided if I want to build a new flat rack and sell this one or put a floor in this one and keep it. Both ways I have to take it off, when I do I'll try to weigh it.
Got a new job and it's keeping me very busy lately.

Also kicking around the idea of starting a side company making racks and such for toyotas. But that's just in the day dreaming stage now haha

 

[Apex Overland]

Well the rack is off my truck now, back to the factory bars that are plasti dipped black.

Why you ask? Trying to sell it locally on CL so I can fund another build but a flat rack this time. CL SCUM is really testing my patience though with the stupid questions and the low balls.

But I did pick it the rack over my head then picked my wife up over my head. Wife weighs 110-115. The rack is close to that. Haha hope that helps some of you.

But it's sitting currently in my back yard on jack stands with fresh bed liner on it.

 

[mc813]

How's the bedliner held up? I just picked my rack up last night, and I'm looking to spray it tonight w/ primer, tomorrow with bed liner coating. Not sure if there's any special application techniques and/or one brand that's better than another.

 

[yotaflame]

Well the rack is off my truck now, back to the factory bars that are plasti dipped black.

Why you ask? Trying to sell it locally on CL so I can fund another build but a flat rack this time. CL SCUM is really testing my patience though with the stupid questions and the low balls.

But I did pick it the rack over my head then picked my wife up over my head. Wife weighs 110-115. The rack is close to that. Haha hope that helps some of you.

But it's sitting currently in my back yard on jack stands with fresh bed liner on it.

Maybe I'll pay you to build a flat rack for me too.

 

[Apex Overland]

How's the bedliner held up? I just picked my rack up last night, and I'm looking to spray it tonight w/ primer, tomorrow with bed liner coating. Not sure if there's any special application techniques and/or one brand that's better than another.

It's held up pretty good. I have a few gouges/nicks from sharp edges like tables and chairs. Then spot where one of my straps slipped and the buckle dug in. But other than that I'm happy, just have to watch how stuff is thrown up there if it has a sharp edge. Is it line-x or rhino liner, no, but it's also not 350 to coat he rack.

I don't think you have to prime it if you read the can. I did to be safe, then scuffed it down, then bed linered it.

Maybe I'll pay you to build a flat rack for me too.

When I do this next one, if I like it, I'll make up a jig and bust a few out.

 

[mc813]

Thanks, ended up spraying my first coat tonight and man that stuff doesn't go very far!

 

[Apex Overland]

Thanks, ended up spraying my first coat tonight and man that stuff doesn't go very far!

Haha yeah, I think I used 4 cans, then two more the next day for a "grit" coat. When I recoated it the other day I hit the trouble spots then barly had enough for a light coat on top of everything. Ended up going and getting another can and used half of it just to get the spots I missed. Make sure to let it dry good, it takes a few days to get dry, no matter what the directions say.

Nice thing about that stuff is it blends really well.

 

[Apex Overland]

Thanks, ended up spraying my first coat tonight and man that stuff doesn't go very far!

Got any pics of your build?

 

[Dirty Brigade]

Nice build.

 

[mc813]

Got any pics of your build?

Don't know the first thing about welding, so I outsourced to a local fabricator. We're going to go back and add some feet to it, since it's too much of a PITA to get on/off fitting snugly between the rails using t-nuts.

 

[Apex Overland]

Don't know the first thing about welding, so I outsourced to a local fabricator. We're going to go back and add some feet to it, since it's too much of a PITA to get on/off fitting snugly between the rails using t-nuts.

They did a good job. That should look good on your truck when you are done.

 

[Apex Overland]

Selling the rack

Ok, selling the rack. Need it gone so I can build a flat rack before overland expo and can mount my RTT. Yes I can put a RTT on this one ,but want a flat rack.

Had a buyer interested in it a few weeks ago but they stopped answered PM's.

$600 no less. Located at 27455, but I'm willing to drive a hour to meet/deliver it. And can help bolt it up.

If it doesn't sell in the next few weeks, its going back on my truck and I'll just use it forever!!!thanks everyone for the great complements on it, and hope to do another great rack build.

 

[Mike135802]

Do you have a mesh floor installed on the rack? I saw you talking about it but never saw any pictures.

Also could you please provide the height from the top of your vehicle to the top of the rack (I am guessing based on the measurements you provided it is ~6-6.5"). I am interested in it but need to make sure it will clear my garage door otherwise my wife might kill me.

 

[Apex Overland]

decided to keep the rack, big changes coming soon!

 

[Apex Overland]

its been awhile, since ive posted on the build. We have taken a few trips to Uwharrie, a couple camping trips, and a trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
I took the rack off the truck for a few weeks and tried to sell it to build a flat rack. Between the craigslist scum offering me half of asking price, not showing up to buy it, and mostly me just missing the rack on the top, I decided to just keep it.
Got rid of the Terra Grapplers and put on some KO2's. Nothing wrong with the Terras, just getting a little low on tread and wanted something a little more aggressive in looks and performance. I had KO's on my tundra and loved them, plus the side walls look killer!
Bought a RTT from a buddy in the local FJ group who owns Outbreak Expedition. Great tent, great price, great company. I highly suggest looking the company up and doing business with them. we had to mount the tent opening off the back when I picked it up(that will explain the picture of it hanging off the back), due to time constraints when we were mounting it(I had places to be and people waiting on me to get there).

NOW FOR THE PICTURES!!!!








wife loves the mountains...


you know you are doing something right when all around you on the gps is green...

 

[Apex Overland]

more...






we hit a few side roads that were gravel, no major off-roading

 

[Apex Overland]

The new tire and tent set up!!!







This is it mounted opening off the back, worked great besides the hatch couldn't open, roll down back glass saved the day!




the only way i could get the tent off to mess with it I could think of required a ATV, come-a-long, climbing rope, snatch block, tree, and some skillful knots. when your by yourself, you've got to do what you've got to do!





lowered it down on to the trailer




had to cut off a little from each side when i turned the beams sideways. That way they didn't stick out too much.





support beams turned 90deg, you can see the middle holes where they mounted.

 

[Apex Overland]

sealed those up with rubber grommets and some RTV





Finished project. ill have some more pictures after the camping trip this weekend.

 

[Apex Overland]

also took the best Terra grappler and put it as my spare. finally have a full sized spare, long road trips always made me nervous for that reason.