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Bob53
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Location: Fallbrook, CA & Bahia de los Angeles
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Roof Rack
Looking for a good roof rack to mount to my 4x4 Suburban. Can any of you recommend a particular brand that are built well and durable?
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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MMc
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Look at Baja Rack.they seem very well built. My rack is 20 plus years old and the guys that made them are gone.
http://www.bajarack.com/racks
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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Maderita
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I'm assuming that you are not asking about the typical Yakima / Thule crossbar type surfboard/bicycle/kayak type racks. ??
Are you asking about a full rack with a bottom and sides which can handle cargo? The popular heavy duty rack, 1970's - 1990's, was Con-Ferr, with the
distinctive round "porthole" cutouts at the corners. The racks were strong, with the best gutter clamp on the market. Gone out of business many years
ago. Another company claims similar designs and equal or better quality.
http://www.diamondrax.com/#!roof-racks/cfvg
Custom Road in Spring Valley, CA can probably size a rack to your vehicle.
Another option is to get a heavy duty ladder/lumber rack. I had a KargoMAster on a Ford E-350 extended van. Valley Camper Sales in Escondido, CA sold
and installed it. Make your own floor with a sheet of plywood.
http://www.kargomaster.com/products/commercial-van-equipment...
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MMc
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If Diamond is as good as they say, go with them. I still use my Con-fer rack.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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chuckie
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Those Con-Fer racks are Da Bomb....Dunno where you would find one tho..
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Bob53
Senior Nomad
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Location: Fallbrook, CA & Bahia de los Angeles
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Quote: Originally posted by Maderita  | I'm assuming that you are not asking about the typical Yakima / Thule crossbar type surfboard/bicycle/kayak type racks. ??
Are you asking about a full rack with a bottom and sides which can handle cargo? The popular heavy duty rack, 1970's - 1990's, was Con-Ferr, with the
distinctive round "porthole" cutouts at the corners. The racks were strong, with the best gutter clamp on the market. Gone out of business many years
ago. Another company claims similar designs and equal or better quality.
http://www.diamondrax.com/#!roof-racks/cfvg
Custom Road in Spring Valley, CA can probably size a rack to your vehicle.
Another option is to get a heavy duty ladder/lumber rack. I had a KargoMAster on a Ford E-350 extended van. Valley Camper Sales in Escondido, CA sold
and installed it. Make your own floor with a sheet of plywood.
http://www.kargomaster.com/products/commercial-van-equipment...
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Yes, I'm looking for a full rack with bottom and sides. I have track rails that run front to back that are mounted to the roof. That's where I would
like it to mount. I'll check out your suggestions. Thx!
[Edited on 8-4-2015 by Bob53]
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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Ken Bondy
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I can't say enough good things about my Con-Ferr rack.
carpe diem!
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John M
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Location: California High Desert
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Custom made
I had a fabrication shop make a full rack for my Tacoma bed. Small, one of a kind jobs is not their specialty, but the owner is an avid off-roader and
he liked the idea of making it. You can't rush a shop like that, as production jobs that make the money come first. I ended up paying something like
$300 and it fits perfectly and is exactly what I wanted.
I suppose that more of an off-road fabrication shop would be a good start for shopping it.
John M
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Bob53
Senior Nomad
Posts: 661
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| Quote: Originally posted by Maderita |
Are you asking about a full rack with a bottom and sides which can handle cargo? The popular heavy duty rack, 1970's - 1990's, was Con-Ferr, with the
distinctive round "porthole" cutouts at the corners. The racks were strong, with the best gutter clamp on the market. Gone out of business many years
ago. Another company claims similar designs and equal or better quality.
http://www.diamondrax.com/#!roof-racks/cfvg
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I decided to go with the Con-Ferr style rack made by Diamondrax. Very nice and helpful staff. I went with a 54" wide by 84" long and 6" tall rack.
Should add plenty of cargo space and look good on top of my Suburban. Rack should be done in 2 or 3 weeks. I'll post pics after I mount it.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
[Edited on 8-18-2015 by Bob53]
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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woody with a view
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...lemme tell ya alls a story 'bout a man named Jed......
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Bob53
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E I E I O. Oh wait a minute...wrong song.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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woody with a view
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they're gonna confuse you with those trucks restocking the segundas!
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Maderita
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Curious, does it come with a floor?
Way back in the 80s, I welded expanded sheet metal to my Con-Ferr rack to make a floor.
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Bob53
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Not a solid floor but cross members with slats welded in between.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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chuckie
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Use expanded metal...works great!
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woody with a view
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what chuckie said!
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MMc
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Expanded steel is good but noisy. I went with wood but it is heavy.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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Bob53
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I own and operate a sheet metal fab shop so I am very familiar with expanded metals. It's not very strong and bends very easily but is great for some
applications. I really don't feel I will need any flooring on this rack because the welded in slats are positioned fairly close together. If in the
future there comes a time where I do carry something up top that requires some flooring I will probably just lay down a small piece of plywood.
The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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MMc
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Bob, it seems you have it under control, did you receive the rack yet and how does it look?
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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BFS
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custom
I have had these guys in AZ make me a few racks over the years and they are the bomb. Strong, light, and made to order, any size. They ship via
Greyhound:
BlackOut rack
blackout@npgcable.com
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