WMW Full Length Rack for 4th Gen T4R's!!

[Whitson Metalworks]

I am happy to finally have pictures to show the many interested (and hopefully still interested) folks who have inquired about a 4th Gen version of my full length rack! Many thanks to member [MENTION=91540]sjoefl01[/MENTION] for being gracious enough to lend his 04' for a weekend of measuring and jig building. I was able to tack up a rack and take a few pictures before Joe had to pick his ride up. I will update this thread with finished photos as the photos are NOT of the finished product. The rack will include an expanded metal (mesh) floor as do my 3rd Gen racks, as well as mounting hardware. Until I find a reasonable powdercoater in my area I'll continue to offer the racks in bare steel only.

Some specs; Size is 43"x84" and 3-1/2" in height. Weight will be right around 75lb, 100% steel construction, fully welded, ZERO assembly required. I'll be offering a full length floor option, a removable sunroof insert option, and the standard version (shown-minus the floor). Pricing will be $645 for the standard version, +50 for full length mesh flooring, +95 for removable insert.


Happy to answer any questions and thanks for looking!



update, heres a finished rack. with the mounts being the way they have to be, i was able to weld on a few tie down points for increased functionality.

 

[gaterose]

Looks great! Where were you with this price and proximity two years ago when I ordered my Gobi?!

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

Looks great! Where were you with this price and proximity two years ago when I ordered my Gobi?!

Thank you and no kidding! Almost every rack I sell goes to the west coast, even have a couple in Canada, shipping is a breeze for folks in the southeast.

 

[V8Man]

Great job. Sorry I couldn't help you with top off my totaled 03 Sport. The one in the picture looks just like the one I replaced it with.

 

[LOSTR4]

Very nice!

 

[sjoefl01]

It was a pleasure to meet you. It's nice to see a young fella workin his butt off to make it in a small business. The racks are beautiful. You have quite a talent there. I'm sure you will do well.

If anybody is thinking about getting a roof rack this is the one to get. It is a handmade work of art. I am hoping to get one so I can make my kids ride on the roof while my wife and I neck in the car.

 

[HokieRunner]

Wow! Looks amazing!

 

[deedst4r]

Looks awesome! Can't wait to get mine!

 

[AleksV]

That looks really good. Do you remember how much shipping would be to Canada?

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

Both times the customer had it shipped to a US address then drove in to get it. Shipping straight through into Canada via freight carrier I feel would be quite costly. That said, shipping to Washington state wad around 180, not cheap, but still a great cross-country rate for something this size.

 

[BOSMECH]

That is fricking great work you did.
How much ????????????

 

[gaterose]

That is fricking great work you did.
How much ????????????

here

...Pricing will be $650 for the standard version, +50 for full length mesh flooring, +100 for removable insert...

 

[Red]

That looks really good. Do you remember how much shipping would be to Canada?

One of the CT4WD members here in Calgary has this rack on his 3rd Gen. He had it delivered to a storage place in Montana near the border I believe and then he drove down and brokered it through customs himself.

Apparently that's the cheapest way to get any of the heavy items from the states, such as bumpers, racks and that sort of thing.

Wish we had a local fabricator in western canada....

 

[BlackWorksInc]

That looks awesome! Couple questions, is it possible to have the brackets shorter so its tucked closer against the sheetmetal? Also, is the mesh welded on or screwed on?

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

BlackWorks, the brackets are about as tight as they can comfortably be. As they sit, the center of the rack is about 3/8-7/16" from the roof. This is to allow for a little room for flex which will happen when heavier loads get bouncing on a rough road or trail. However, if you want one tucked in even tighter I'm game. Also, the mesh is welded in to eliminate any noise from it bouncing.

 

[EdmundGTP]

Just a thought.. Would it be worthwhile to consider making this a two piece unit, that has provisions for either bolting or welding the two halves together just above the passenger door area? Surely a 2 piece design would probably cut down on shipping expenses if you could fit the entire package within a 48 x 48 x 10 inch volume. A pair of 1/4 or 3/8 fasteners on either side holding each half together should be more than adequate for maintaining strength.

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

I've pondered the possibility of two-piece design many times but with that I wouldnt have a way of maintaining the curve built into the entire rack and possibly lose some of the strength and rigidity I can get with a one piece design. Plus, even a 48x48x10 size is highway robbery with any ground carrier and would likely still need to be shipped freight, or greyhound (yikes!). Shipping one of these in the southeast is around 80 bucks and obviously the west coast is the most expensive zone for me. Trust me, if there was a cheaper way, i'd have found it by now but with fuel prices the way they are its just the nature of the beast. Some of my third gen customers have split shipping with nearby members as I can ship two racks for only a little more than one, others have used a freight account through their workplace to get a lower rate, I'm happy to work it either way.

 

[EdmundGTP]

I think the easiest way to do a two piece and maintain the right geometry would be to simply build a single piece unit, then just section it and add flanges of some sort.

The idea of ordering in pairs (or more) and reducing shipping costs that way is pretty good.

Awesome looking unit either way, and it's definitely going on my "to buy" list!

 

[momo.75]

That rack looks great! That is a true talent for sure. I wish you were closer to Birmingham. I would love to talk to you about a project.

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

We're nearly neighbors as far as I'm concerned lol. Curious what your project is now, pm if you like.