H3 Roof Racks

[cbetts]

What lights are you using on your boulder racks? I've wanted lights for a while but wasn't sure how helpful they would be since the rack sits so far back. Do you lose a lot of light off the roof or did you pick a certain beam pattern?

I am running basic driving lights (not fogs) on the Defender. They are sufficient for slow crawling but I would prefer something better, like Rigids. They do make the rack look better though. :giggle:

Before


After

 

[TAPDH3T]

Im running 4 Westin off road lights.. Really cheap with 3yr warranty... Would love rigid but way out if my budget lol... They sit far back on my custom rack. (just over the sunroof) but make a major difference..
Before

After

 

[MSC]

Here's one I built, Stainless frame and aluminum diamond plate.

 

[TAPDH3T]

Looks sturdy!!!

 

[Scarsman]

Thinking of getting a locally made rack made out of 3/4 inch schedule 40 steel pipe (bent, cut and welded), steel mesh bottom, is full leanth (no sun roof), is the stealth design, kevlar coating and weighs 70lb. Cost is $550. Material is my question. What is the best material to use? Will schedule 40 work? Will it hold up?

I'm sure it would work, but I think you're going to be over 70 pounds. Pipe is much heavier walled than the square or round tubing usually used.

What kind of Kevlar coating? I'm still searching for a good coating I can do myself on stuff.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk

 

[MSC]

I'm sure it would hold more than the roof will.

 

[58Bisc]

I ordered it earlier tonight. He'll start building it tomorrow and I should have it by next week. I'll ask him for you. He's going to take pictures for me of the build.

 

[Gunner_45]

Damn MSC, that's a nice looking truck.

 

[SolidusJ]

Hahahahaha ur so close!!! My salary wont pay for a gobi lol.. I went to a salvage yard and got one off a nissan xterra.... Cut it to size and made it wider to fit the body.. It holds just as much weight as any standard rack u can buy.. Lol you will see it all in my build thread!!!

Sorry I didn't see this sooner!!!! I freaking knew it was from a Nissan!!!! Post up that build thread and I really think I would like that set up!!!!

 

[SolidusJ]

View attachment 5699View attachment 5700View attachment 5701
Finally got the lights mounted!!!

Nice flag above the H3T!!! Where you get and idea like that????

 

[H3slate]

SolidusJ
Here are the pics u requested.. If u need a certain angle let me know.. Its raining like crazy right now so i jumped out there before the bottom fell out..
View attachment 5375
View attachment 5376

The rack looks good, you should have kept the basket that fits in the front. :wink:

How did you mount it to the rails? I just see bolts through the plastic. :huh:

 

[TAPDH3T]

I got that flag idea from another high speed soldier with a dang good looking T.. Im trying to find someone to machine another for my passenger side that actually faces the right way...
Interference to the rack i stretched it to get a better streamline look and had to drill through the plastic once in the back and twice through the front.. I made my own washer and lockers to attach to the rails in the middle and rear...

 

[TAPDH3T]

Solidus, I was thinking about the pricing... And was talking to my buddy who did my wiring.. He does all the electronics on our patrol units.. Depending on the lights used to be mounted i could build the same rack and mounts and have completely wired for around $500.. Unless ur like me and enjoy building it urself.. But i will try to get my thread done this weekend so u have all the specs...

 

[TAPDH3T]

H3Slate.. I had the same idea but do to the odd roof design of the Xterra SUV the basket would not fit unless i opened the sunroof and let it sit inside lol.. I kept the basket just incase i need it though lol...

 

[ReconH3]

I got that flag idea from another high speed soldier with a dang good looking T.. Im trying to find someone to machine another for my passenger side that actually faces the right way...

There is a way if you don't mind painting them and losing the chrome. On the reverse flag, remove the double sided tape on the back. Redo the double side tape on the opposite side. Paint both in the color of choice.




"Ex Umbris Venimus"

Sent from my iPhone

 

[TAPDH3T]

Interesting lol

 

[SolidusJ]

I got that flag idea from another high speed soldier with a dang good looking T.. Im trying to find someone to machine another for my passenger side that actually faces the right way...
Interference to the rack i stretched it to get a better streamline look and had to drill through the plastic once in the back and twice through the front.. I made my own washer and lockers to attach to the rails in the middle and rear...

Lol great stuff man :cheers:. I have a SMA light bar with that same lights as yours but smaller and they suck in the front, they just let me know where my hood is at night. The goal is to just mount four 4" RI LED light bars over the light pods one day. That rack is sure as hell sweet and maybe made into a basket, I think I'll look into getting one!!!!

 

[Schwarttzy]

Cool Roof Racks Guys! Some of them I really like. Some of them I really can't afford. So since I need roof rack come end of August for my trip to Burning Man, I decided to make roof rack how I want it. First and foremost it is going to be inexpensive. I want it to be low profile, sticking up only inch and quarter, because I think it would be cool if you didn't really notice that it was there and I like all of my MPGs. I have priced out the material and I'm looking at approximately being able to sells these in the four hundred range powder coated which I think is really cool.

So here is my current design... which I hope to grab the materials on Monday, unless I get called into work.

Then all you need to buy is this military style tie down webbing.

What do you guys think?

 

[ReconH3]

Then all you need to buy is this military style tie down webbing.

What do you guys think?

I had a similar idea also using webbing to tie down everything. The difference is that I was actually going to substitute the side plastic rail covers with a metal upside down "U". Then add cross bars below the profile of the "U". This would keep everything at the same height as the factory rails. I really only want it to carry some very light items like my Maxtrax polymer sand ladders, or a round auto-unfolding tent.



"Ex Umbris Venimus"

Sent from my iPhone

 

[58Bisc]

I'm sure it would work, but I think you're going to be over 70 pounds. Pipe is much heavier walled than the square or round tubing usually used.

What kind of Kevlar coating? I'm still searching for a good coating I can do myself on stuff.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk

I ended up getting my builder to use the same welded tube the size that GOBI uses instead of the sch40. As for the Kevlar coating, it was just a smooth coat bed liner. Really it was not what I wanted, at least not the way he applied it, so I sanded it down and laid on a heavy textured coating of dupi-color bed liner. So far so good. I have been walking around on it with no issues. Really like the racks you are building, they were my first choice for a clone rack. Shipping costs are a killer...

 

[W@RPIG]

Any ideas where i can find that defender. Rack ?

And also where did yall guys get yalls boulder rack it seems lime they shut down or something ?

Im wanting to buy a rack for mine but the gobi is just waay out of my price range for now
Thanks in advance

 

[alrock]

Defender racks: http://www.defenderracks.com/

Boulder (BA): they went out of business.

 

[W@RPIG]

Defender racks: http://www.defenderracks.com/

Boulder (BA): they went out of business.

Thanks for the link and info

 

[W@RPIG]

Anybody running the ARB rack on there rig ? If so post pictures just wanna see how it looks thanks

 

[W@RPIG]

Anybody with the defender rack have any problems installing it? What are the pros and cons on it thinking of going with this one i like the price tag on it