This video shows how I was able to install a utility rack on my truck's camper shell. There is no need to pay hundreds of dollars for a rack and have a dealer install it. I was able to do it for under $40.00 and you can too!!
Bought my camper without the rack because of cost and I didn't think I cared for it. I now want rack and this is exactly the help I wanted to see! Thanks for the awesome diy
Found a complete and perfect factory rack with cross bars off of a 97 4Runner. Mounted them to my shell and they look amazing and stock. Factory Toyota parts for my Tacoma for $35!!! Stoked!!!
Thanks for the video, I mounted one from a salvage yard on my topper for about $30 all in. It was hard for me to find one that wasn't too long, I have a crew cab with the 5.5' bed and the longest that would fit the topper was 60", most racks are 64" and longer. I was able to find one on a 2003 Windstar that was 60" and worked great.
Awesome idea. WIll be heading to the pick and pull next week. We just picked up a free canoe and were wanting a rack for it. Thanks for taking the time to post your video. This is what make youtube awesome.
Another interesting idea, is these crosz bars also give a nice external mounting location for a lift point for when you are wanting to remove the shell.
Right on Justo! I have been thinking about this myself, I have a Ford Ranger Canopy that I am replacing the side and front slider windows with side opening units plus a front slider that opens into the canopy so you can clean both the canopy and rear cab windows. I found a damaged canopy that I got free off of craigslist! I plan to add on a roof rack just as you have. I also plan to insulate and reline the interior of the canopy.
I like your thinking Justo. Nice build. Good on ya! The minivan tracks are really similar to Kayak rails which will accept 1/4"-20 T bolts and oval nuts even some carriage bolts with wide heads. So if you can remove the end cap to interchange parts there might actually be ready to use parts on the shelf at your local hardware store for any add on items like lights, camera mounts, etc. There are a lot of DIY videos for making Kayak attachments that might come in useful, got to be cheaper than buying factory Thule and Yakima parts from the dealer. Of course you can always cut and machine metal stock into anchor nuts. I would have used Bondo spray undercoat black instead of Plastidip, but that's me. For a super bond in addition to, or instead of, bolts you can use 3M VHB tape to bond anything permanently to roof. They are a industry standard for mounting solar panels to RVs, without bolts or screws. I really like that the rack makes for good sling attachment to hoist off the shell if need be.
I want to add the rail and cross bars to my wifes subaru forester.New costs over $300.00 and the headliner and all the internal trims are supposed to come off. After seeing your vid. I have decided to go with what you have.The profile is much lower without the additional tower arms you installed.I never liked the oem style anyway.Thankyou for showing me how easy it is to take salvage parts and making them look new.I plan on doing this next month before camping season starts.
Great video keep them coming I had no idea how these worked and I had a idea About mounting the alum backing plate I don’t think it’s overkill at all more is better you don’t want to hall a kyack or anything else and have it kill someone
Yes, I called Yakima about getting the towers and bars to add to the wide body gutters already on the canopy of my $850 truck and they seriously quoted me half the price of the running driving truck for 4 towers and 2 bars. I’ll check the salvage yard next I’m in town.
I don't know why I never thought about a pick n pull! I was going to make my own and go crazy enough to have it hold a child's quad, but this works better for basic storage.
Looks SHARP!! Thank you for sharing as I need something for ours to haul our camping gear. Our 5 great pyreenes take up the bed and no way I could afford anything pre-made that would fit over the topper. Any idea how much weight it holds? Thanks again! ~Honey
Going to do this but I am going to buy 4 rail's. The 2 extra rails are going to be mounted inside ensted of using the flat stock as backing. This will allow to mount things like lights and other stuff inside against the roof.
This is great stuff. Thank you. I have a question. Can a metal cargo basket be installed on the rails directly? Meaning without the cross bars. My camper has the rails but not the cross bars.
just heads up...those roof rackbtowers that the bar slides into and sits in ,, those are so cheap and weak metal...they will litterly peal ...i had my 2 front ones crack from wind hitting it on a trip...i was lucky my whole frott of my roof rack system didnt peal back and blow off the top of the truck...i have photoes to prove it
Your "bonus" rack stands and crossbars are from a Thule Tracker II system, missing the push locks and covers. This is the same setup that is on a Leer Topper I recently bought. www.leer.com/?d=19&dt=120
I had this rack for years. I never had any weight issues. Kayaks, lumber, luggage. I think it would hold anything that a factory tack would. Hope this info helps.
yea! tulhe is junk...you got off lucky...i fell for it...the lockable tower ones are complete junk and "should not be allowed" to be sold or installed,,,very weak , very cheaply made and very dangerious with high rick of your entire rack system flying off...your solid bolt in adjustable toweres look fine...
