Homemade Roof Rack 6.5' x 4.5'
#17
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Location: Marshfield, Me
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 6-cyl, 4.0 liter
You sketchup design is awesome, i'm trying to work with sketchup and its pissing me off. I don't even know where to begin.
#22
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Location: Herriman, UT
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Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Thanks for all the positive comments! I haven't been on the forum for a while. College and work have taken over my life...
Here is a little update of things that I've found that I wish I would have changed when I built it.
1. Use thicker metal for the base
2. Run a square tube down the middle of the base from front to back to help support and distribute the weight more evenly.
3. Gusset the gutter mounts where they mount to the base of the rack.
Somehow after a couple months the part where the gutter mounts mount to the base sheared right off. I think it was a cin reaction. One sheared and then more stress was put on the others and I almost lost the whole thing driving home. To fix it I had to get some 1/4" thick angle iron to patch the parts in the base. Then I made new gutter mounts out of 1/4" steel bar and added gusetts to hopefully lesson the stress a the four mounting points on the base. While I was at that I decided to help strengthen the cross bars because the weight of the spare tire the bars were starting to bend because of how wide the rack is. So I put to 1" wide by 1/4" thick steel bars going from front to back under the cross bars. That solved the bending cross bars.
So if you're going to make this rack, those 3 suggestions I mentioned earlier will save you a lot of hassle.
Thanks again for all the positive comments. I'm glad so many people like it.
Here is a little update of things that I've found that I wish I would have changed when I built it.
1. Use thicker metal for the base
2. Run a square tube down the middle of the base from front to back to help support and distribute the weight more evenly.
3. Gusset the gutter mounts where they mount to the base of the rack.
Somehow after a couple months the part where the gutter mounts mount to the base sheared right off. I think it was a cin reaction. One sheared and then more stress was put on the others and I almost lost the whole thing driving home. To fix it I had to get some 1/4" thick angle iron to patch the parts in the base. Then I made new gutter mounts out of 1/4" steel bar and added gusetts to hopefully lesson the stress a the four mounting points on the base. While I was at that I decided to help strengthen the cross bars because the weight of the spare tire the bars were starting to bend because of how wide the rack is. So I put to 1" wide by 1/4" thick steel bars going from front to back under the cross bars. That solved the bending cross bars.
So if you're going to make this rack, those 3 suggestions I mentioned earlier will save you a lot of hassle.
Thanks again for all the positive comments. I'm glad so many people like it.
#23
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Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
#24
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Year: 1996
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#25
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Very nice man! I like how it's bigger than most of what you normally see. I was thinking of making mine out of tubbing but after seeing this defiantly going square!!!
#27
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Location: Poconos PA
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Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 DUHHHH!
And what kind of welder did you use i have a harbor freight flux-corded welder it should be able to weld that stuff no problem right?
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