Factory ARB Roof Rack MOD (to create basket / cage design)

[kekecarioca]

Here is a simple mod to ther ARB factory roof rack for those looking at crating a basket like design :
- I used 1010 1" black extruded aluminum and corner brackets. bars were (5) @ 33" and (2) 2 35". perfect fit.

https://www.tnutz.com/product/ex-1010-black/

- The rest is hardware store stuff: bolts, bracket & washers.

I might add another set of L-brackets in the middle. I do not plan on carrying much weight there but I occasionally need a few bags of mulch and now i can just throw them up there.
The closest gap to the roof if 3mm or so and pushing down on the bar it does not flex enough to touch.

NOTE: I realized when installing it this morning that the factory rack is NOT square as it appears. It flares out aprox. 2" towards the front of the vehicle. (see first picture).

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[Twisted]

I hope I'm wrong but it looks like any weight at all in that will result in contact with the roof. The L brackets look like a weak link.

 

[kekecarioca]

I hope I'm wrong but it looks like any weight at all in that will result in contact with the roof. The L brackets look like a weak link.

I was hoping to find better brackets out there, but these seem to be good for now. The are actually a lot more rigid than they look. i will also add another set. I put my upper body weight on it and it did good. The 1" extruded aluminum is quite rigid as well.
I don't plan on holding much weight up there anyways. Anything heavy will span across the whole factory rack anyways, like lumber, etc. (already done that)
Also adding a washer or 2 will raise the "basket" bottom a few mm.

 

[E.T.]

Here is a simple mod to ther ARB factory roof rack for those looking at crating a basket like design :
- I used 1010 1" black extruded aluminum and corner brackets. bars were (5) @ 33" and (2) 2 35". perfect fit.

https://www.tnutz.com/product/ex-1010-black/

- The rest is hardware store stuff: bolts, bracket & washers.

I might add another set of L-brackets in the middle. I do not plan on carrying much weight there but I occasionally need a few bags of mulch and now i can just throw them up there.
The closest gap to the roof if 3mm or so and pushing down on the bar it does not flex enough to touch.

NOTE: I realized when installing it this morning that the factory rack is NOT square as it appears. It flares out aprox. 2" towards the front of the vehicle. (see first picture).

This is a great idea. How's the modified ARB roof rack cage / basket been working out for you?

 

[kekecarioca]

This is a great idea. How's the modified ARB roof rack cage / basket been working out for you?

So far so good! I only used it for throwing bags of mulch (2-3) on short trips. Also the "L" brackets have been useful to secure bungies to for carrying some lumber trim and pvc pipe.
I also checked the other day and nothing is loose so far despite not using Loctite. ( I know)
The rack currently sits a 2-3mm above the roof on it's lowest point. I might add a washer to raise it an extra mm approx..

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