Toyota

FJ-OLLIE

The BugEater is feeling a bit inadequate today.

__________________
...and that's all I have to say about that.

OLLIE
(K6JYB)

Capt Sensible

Roof rack... got it. In your hint picture it looks like your panels behind the back doors are painted white.

BIRDMAN

Going convertible??

FJ-OLLIE

A roof rack it is... I was combing through the web and I found a fairly unique rack. There are a few around but I have yet to see any in person. It's a Utility rack by Baja Rack. Of course it won't stay stock looking but it is fairly stock for now. I have yet to see one with lighting on it has for front tabs for lights. I have all the lights mounted on the front and sides but i am doing something different than the way I had my stock rack set up.

A had a time set up to meet up with the salesman this morning and had to have my stock rack off and change some stuff on the way my wires were routed through the roof to accommodate the new rack. Since my old rack was a large diameter tubing rack, I wanted to make it look clean and I pulled all the wiring through the tubes of the rack. The holes through the roof was under the driver's side front rack mount pad so I didn't need to use a bulkhead fitting on the roof. I was able to seal the foot of the rack and no water got in. Well, with the new rack there was no such luck. I had to lift the rack, mark all the wires, cut the wires and pull the out of the roof so I could open up the existing hole and install a bulkhead fitting. I was able to also verify that the wires were clear of the airbags. Here are some pics of that mess...







Then today I went to Ramona to get my new rack and of course I couldn't leave the shop until I at least had some of the lights mounted on it. It's a stout rack. I can walk around on it and set up there. What enticed me was the lack of the side rails and how low profile it is. The wind noise has reduced considerably and we'll see if it helps with MPG. I doubt it but I can hope. I'll post up more as I get the fabs done to the rack that I want to accomplish.

__________________
...and that's all I have to say about that.

OLLIE
(K6JYB)

FJTom

wow Ollie, your build is insane! sweet!

Capt Sensible

Is this the flat style rack that they introduced not too long ago? It can be ordered with cross bar or mesh style floor if I recall. So what are you going to do with your old rack? How hard was it to do your rack mod with the conduit pipes?

FJ-OLLIE

Yes... It is the flat style rack with no side rails.. It's just what I've been looking for. I've been looking at the Gobi Stealths but they are pricey and heavy. I also kinda was wanting something flat. The ARB's are nice but they set pretty high and I am not a fan of the look. I have been contemplating fabbing one but it's just been a time issue. When I was going through the web and came across this one I knew right away it was the one I've been looking for. The thing only ways 51 lbs and can hold up to 600 lbs staticly and 300 dynamicly.

I have a buddy here that I'm giving the old rack to. On the conduit pipes, are you talking about the new platform I put on the old rack or the conduit I ran through my roof for the new rack?

__________________
...and that's all I have to say about that.

OLLIE
(K6JYB)

Capt Sensible

Sorry, I'm talking about how you made multiple "rungs" for your rack.

FJ-OLLIE

Since all the structure on the new rack is round, I didn't have a place to mount my lip-mount Diamond K9000 motorized antenna mount up by the front PIAA's.




To remedy this issue I modified the light-bar I fabricated for my old stock rack and made a bar for my lip mount. Now all is well in radio land again. Now that that's taken care of it's time to start wiring my lights.



Antenna Lowered



Antenna Raised

__________________
...and that's all I have to say about that.

OLLIE
(K6JYB)

FJ-OLLIE

I bought some 1/2" diameter all-thread (threaded rod). Then I drilled 1/2" holes through the lower bar evenly spaced and in the same place on the driver's side and passenger side of the rack. I cut a piece of the all-thread for each of the holes hat reach clear across the rack and threaded it through. I put a nut on each side and tightened them down being careful not to collapse the rack by tightening them too much. I effectively had my sub bracing now. I bought some 1/2" diameter air hose and cut it lengthwise down one side. I opened it up and put a piece of it over each rod to cover the sharp threads and dampen any rattling. I then cut some stainless steel expanded metal to fit across the sub bracing and make a platform. I used conduit clamps to secure the expanded metal to the sub bracing.

__________________
...and that's all I have to say about that.

OLLIE
(K6JYB)