4runner roof load limit?

[akraven]

Anybody had any experience mounting a roof rack on a fiberglass 4 runner roof? Just curious what it might hold with damage. Not looking to carry a spare axel or anything. akraven

[Toughguy]

Anybody had any experience mounting a roof rack on a fiberglass 4 runner roof? Just curious what it might hold with damage. Not looking to carry a spare axel or anything. akraven

http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/Fresh%20paint%201.jpg
http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/fresh%20paint%202.jpg

Homemade from 1" electrical conduit. There are four feet and two side plates with a total of 12 1/4" stainless bolts holding it on. I used 1/4" live rubber between the roof surface and the feet/plates for cushioning and used tapered washers on the inside of the roof to distribute the load from the bolts. I can get you better pics if you want.

Anyways, I can carry several full size spares and several 5 gallon gas cans without any problem whatsoever. I even used the rack as an anchor point to prevent my truck from going over while playing in the rocks. Interestingly enough, I believe it could carry a complete spare axle!

Toughguy :cool:

[toy4x4runner]

I had a NWOR tubular rack on my '86 that I then cut to fit a 3/4" piece of plywood and hauled everything from camping gear for SCORE races, to 6 family suitcases and Christmas gifts across country, all the way up to a QuadSport on it :eek: . That's right, on a trip from Texas to California, with a new car (for my Mom) on a tow dolly behind, I had nowhere to put my Suzuki - and I was NOT going to Pismo without my four wheeler! That was one hell of a pull for the little 22RE :puke:, but we made it

I haven't transferred it over to my current '89 yet, but plan to since it is a great mount for antennas, lights, etc.

[MaverickToy81]

This is kinda off topic, still has to do w/ roof racks...Sorry bout the Hi-jack...Anyone know who sells a roof rack to fit on the cab of a pickup? Toughguy, your rack looks really good (haha, I said you got a nice rack :cool: ), I like the way you got it set up, but, you might wanna fix ur fuel door on ur Runner, lol. I like the look of a rack on the top of a pickup cab, plus its a nice way to store your shiznit up and out of the way where its not gonna get all nasty in the back of your bed. I kinda miss my canopy topper I had when i got my truck. It was nice for campin in and didnt look half bad on the old longbed. Eh, I think I will go softsided w/ rollup sides and a full roof rack...

Ian

End post jacking.

[akraven]

Thanks for all the replies. Its alot stronger than I was giving it credit for. I like the look of the one you built Toughguy. As for you Toy4runner I gotta ask how in the world did even get the Quadsport up there!!!!!!! That seems like a story in itself! akraven

[Toughguy]

you might wanna fix ur fuel door on ur Runner, lol.
Ian

End post jacking.

Hehe. That pic was taken the day after I painted it. It wasn`t all back together yet. This next pic was taken about 6 hours after the two I already posted.

http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/are%20these%20mine.jpg

As you can see, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the fuel door!
:Rockonman

Toughguy :cool:

[Toughguy]

Thanks for all the replies. Its alot stronger than I was giving it credit for. I like the look of the one you built Toughguy. As for you Toy4runner I gotta ask how in the world did even get the Quadsport up there!!!!!!! That seems like a story in itself! akraven

I just thought about this but I`ve seen pics of 4Runners that have rolled and the fiberglass roof took it alot better than the steel forward section!

Toughguy :cool:

[akraven]

I knew there was a reason I was thinking about that cage kit (or buying a tube bender) :) akraven

[toy4x4runner]

Mav.... I think I saw a rack like toughguy's just to fit pickup roofs from ConFerr a while back. Don't know if they still make them

akraven... i drove the Quadsport over back streets to the local Suzi dealer, and had him use the forklift to get it up on top. I'm still trying to find an old pic of that adventure to scan and post. When we got to CA, I had the Sand Center at Oceano Dunes do the same thing to take it off :Rockonman

[akraven]

Hey Toughguy
Any chance I can take you up on your offer of better pistures of your rack? Did you use the "heavy" or "standard" conduit? Welded together?
Thanks for any help you can offer. Akraven

[Toughguy]

Hey Toughguy
Any chance I can take you up on your offer of better pistures of your rack? Did you use the "heavy" or "standard" conduit? Welded together?
Thanks for any help you can offer. Akraven

Yeah no prob. I`ll take some pics tomorow when it`s light out and post them up for you.

I used regular 1" electrical conduit. It was easy to bend and cheap to buy. The only drawback was the galvanised coating. Welding it made me sick because I didn`t have enough ventilation! :Freak: After I made it I discovered a place that sells 1" tubing without the coating for use in putting up temporary garages/shelters that would have been perfect.

The top and bottom hoops are each made from two pieces of conduit butt welded together. The joiners between them were cut to length and I crimped the ends together in a vise. I originaly wanted to notch the ends to have a nice finish but I just didn`t have the right tools at the time. After I crimped the ends, I drilled two holes in the crimp and used them for more weld surface to hold everything together solidly. I made the side plates as well as the feet on the bottoms of the legs from 1/4 inch steel checkerplate. 1/4" stainless steel hardware holds everything to the fiberglass roof. A picture is worth a thousand words so I`ll just post the pics tomorow and answer any questions afterwards.

Toughguy :cool:

[akraven]

Well I am glad you lived through welding the galvanized. Thanks for the extra info. I will have to check around for the non-galvanized stuff. I will look forward to the pictures. Akraven

[Toughguy]

Well I am glad you lived through welding the galvanized. Thanks for the extra info. I will have to check around for the non-galvanized stuff. I will look forward to the pictures. Akraven

Sorry about the wait. Here are the pics I promised.

http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/roofrack1.JPG
http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/roofrack2.JPG
http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/roofrack3.JPG
http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/roofrack4.JPG
http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/roofrack5.JPG
http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/roofrack6.JPG
http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/roofrack7.JPG

[Toughguy]

And the rest....

http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/roofrack8.JPG
http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/roofrack10.JPG
http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/roofrack11.JPG
http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/roofrack13.JPG
http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/roofrack14.JPG
http://www.personainternet.com/sdennie/toughguy/truck/roofrack15.JPG

Toughguy :cool:

[akraven]

Thanks for the great set of pics! I really like the way your rack came out. Like they say a pic is worth a thousand words.It doesnt look like you have had any leakage problems inside. By the looks of the area you live you must see some rainy times. Great work Toughguy and thanks again for the pics! akraven (in rainy alaska)

[Toughguy]

Thanks for the great set of pics! I really like the way your rack came out. Like they say a pic is worth a thousand words.It doesnt look like you have had any leakage problems inside. By the looks of the area you live you must see some rainy times. Great work Toughguy and thanks again for the pics! akraven (in rainy alaska)

No leaks yet. I used 1/4" rubber between all the surfaces and that seems to have sealed pretty good. If it starts to leak in the future I can use silicone sealant around the bolts.

Toughguy :cool: