Factory ARB Roof Rack MOD (to create basket)

[kekecarioca]

Here is a simple mod to ther ARD 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.

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