Viability of a WM roof rack kit?

[Whitson Metalworks]

I have a customer who's talked me into setting him up a kit of sorts for a rack (4th gen). This has me curious if there are others out there who'd have interest in such a thing. Obviously, you'll need a welder, clamps, maybe a file or grinder and some basic fab skills, along with a jig, which could likely be built from some cheap 2x4's. Cost could be cut nearly in half and a kit would include all the bent, cut and notched pieces that go into the racks along with all necessary hardware. Not sure if I'd plan on including the mesh since every sheet of it is different and I cut each piece to the rack, not to set measurements. I think I'd start with the 3rd gen and see how that went first. Thoughts?

 

[GhostRing]

What's the scoop on the jig? Is it a curved structure that the tubing is forced into the arc
of the roofline? Or is the tubing pre-arched?

I like the idea - I imagine shipping them full size is quite a hassle...
I have a fairly full-service fab shop if you are looking for a 3rd gen assembly/input guinna pig :thumb:

 

[BigFishAllDay]

I would be VERY interested. :thumb:

 

[cdrewferd]

I'd be interested for sure!

 

[Doc2012]

X3.
Also more info on a jig please.

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

What's the scoop on the jig? Is it a curved structure that the tubing is forced into the arc
of the roofline? Or is the tubing pre-arched?

I like the idea - I imagine shipping them full size is quite a hassle...
I have a fairly full-service fab shop if you are looking for a 3rd gen assembly/input guinna pig :thumb:

The jig would be pretty simple, I think. It can be as simple as pegs or bolts placed inside a 2x4 frame to hold the rails in the arc, thats essentially all mine does, granted I have clamps and reference marks all over the place.

Shipping racks sucks, no two ways about it. But, the kit would still go via freight carrier so shipping will still be a sting for the west coast people. The kit, minus flooring, would be around the size of a surf board. I'm not sure how id package the flooring and think it would end up being more of a hassle than an entire rack.

 

[woodro]

i would definitely be interested !

 

[1blink]

I'd be pretty interested I think

 

[IBallEngineer]

In general 4wheelers are cheap bastids, and prefer to do it themselves anyway. This makes it affordable and still gives the end user a feeling of built not bought. I've built a lot of one off custom racks and bumpers and its not economical to that. I like this idea's appeal to the average DIYer.

PS, don't call it a kit,:frusty: that usually means I have to re-invent it, call it "some assembly required".


:tea:

 

[TCMach]

Interested!!! I think I even asked you for bends and notched pieces once before haha

 

[Brilliant]

I'd be interested in a kit price.

 

[NateMob]

I would be VERY interested. :thumb:

I'd be interested in splitting shipping costs...

 

[BenK]

Definitely interested. Subscribed! :cheers:

 

[awthorn]

If this were the case, with the money I saved i could buy a cheap welder and grinder to get the job done.

Count me interested!

Would this mean less lead time than having an "assembled" rack?

 

[MStudt]

I'd be interested as well!

 

[NHRunner]

Interested!
I'd be surprised if the smaller shipping size didn't save the customer some pocket change.

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

Lead times wouldn't be quite as bad but shipping will only be a tiny bit different in most cases. Even a full rack is below weight minimums for the freight class and it comes down to distance and the price of fuel (which is always rising). I think there would be more savings in splitting shipping with a kit than full racks, should that work out for some people. As with the racks, shipping will need to go to a business address, nothing residential (more fee$). I'll try this out with the current customer and see if pricing is where it should be, thanks for the interest guys!

 

[txbonds]

Could you create a sleeved setup so the large upper and lower railing could be broken down into smaller pieces and sell a kit without expanded mesh flooring? That way it might make it small enough to get through FedEx or UPS?

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

Could you create a sleeved setup so the large upper and lower railing could be broken down into smaller pieces and sell a kit without expanded mesh flooring? That way it might make it small enough to get through FedEx or UPS?

thats a thought for sure. the only issue with sleeves is that portion wont bend or arch like the rest of the tube. it may not be an appreciable difference though, and UPS shipping would be sweet! and yeah i'm thinking a kit would not have the mesh flooring, just no way to package that.

 

[URBAN ASSAULT]

You could do the floor in panels, rather than 1 big piece. Tack on, or even bolt to, the crossbars. I think there are 4 or 5 crossbars in your rack already. Could do 3 or 4 panels. Just a thought.
By the way, I love my WMW rack.