I had a roof rack with just one hole that started whistling at a certain speed,so I had to tape it over. I imagine yours must sound like a church organ when getting to speed? Anyway I like your construction!
I’ve had a few sets of roofbars like that! Because strut is open channel as opposed to a tube, there’s no whistling 👍 …Just wish the chunky tyres were a little quieter!
Super! thinking of making a unistrut roof rack too. What size did you use (width + height)? sorry got my answer, 41x21 and 41x41 can't find 41x21 here in the netherlands
I'm going to build one but I'm going to build it using my roof bars as the fixing point down the side I just need to figure out the correct fixing but all I can think of is some angle and then fix the unistrut to that I have a 28 nearly 29 kg single solar panel to go on its about 1.2 wide and nearly 2.4m long just fits inside the bars on width and length I'm going to be a shed boffin for a week or 2
I am planning to use this material to build a ladder rack for my pickup truck. Also, I hope to be able to hoist it up and attach it to my garage ceiling when not in use. That way I can lower it back down onto my truck when I need to haul the ladders around.
Awesome work! I was watching this for the 2nd time and noticed you used some strut nuts from the bottom (upside down). Not trying to criticize though, I just didn’t know they worked that way too. I’m going to give it a try because it would save me from having to buy the special socket that fits inside the strut rails. Thanks!
@a.barker7792 the studs are stainless and provide many more times strength than needed for the application. You’re right to point out corrosion. The stainless will accelerate corrosion in the plates, which are simply zinc plated. I do need to touch these up with some galv paint this summer.
nice job! my van does not have the holes in it for the sitting piece...do you know of what i can use to be my base pieces to then install the unistrut onto?
I made mine out of PFC (Parallel Flange Channel). You can buy different dimensions and lengths from steel stockholders either locally or online. Would have made mine longer to distribute the force a bit better, but it was what I had. Also if I was doing again, I’d probably use 6 (or 8 if a long wheelbase van), instead of 4. On the inside you need to have steel plates to stop the bolts being pulled through the roof. 5mm thick flat bar cut to the same length as the PFC would be ideal.
I love your idea, my friend, thank you very much for sharing it. God bless you.
I had a roof rack with just one hole that started whistling at a certain speed,so I had to tape it over. I imagine yours must sound like a church organ when getting to speed? Anyway I like your construction!
I’ve had a few sets of roofbars like that! Because strut is open channel as opposed to a tube, there’s no whistling 👍 …Just wish the chunky tyres were a little quieter!
Super! thinking of making a unistrut roof rack too. What size did you use (width + height)? sorry got my answer, 41x21 and 41x41 can't find 41x21 here in the netherlands
that's a really nice build one of the best I've seen. well done!
I'm going to build one but I'm going to build it using my roof bars as the fixing point down the side I just need to figure out the correct fixing but all I can think of is some angle and then fix the unistrut to that I have a 28 nearly 29 kg single solar panel to go on its about 1.2 wide and nearly 2.4m long just fits inside the bars on width and length I'm going to be a shed boffin for a week or 2
I am planning to use this material to build a ladder rack for my pickup truck. Also, I hope to be able to hoist it up and attach it to my garage ceiling when not in use. That way I can lower it back down onto my truck when I need to haul the ladders around.
Sounds interesting Greg and happy to discuss. Catch me on simplestuffyt@outlook.com
Why did you install the unistrut upside down?
I put old bike inner tubes around unistrut to make it not scratch my bikes etc . Makes it anti slip too. Check out my unistrut green house.
Awesome work! I was watching this for the 2nd time and noticed you used some strut nuts from the bottom (upside down). Not trying to criticize though, I just didn’t know they worked that way too. I’m going to give it a try because it would save me from having to buy the special socket that fits inside the strut rails. Thanks!
Yeh, works fine but you do have to lock them off with a second nut or they’ll work their way loose 👍
@simplestuff3895 how strong are the studs? Instead of using unistrut bases.
Does the galvanized to galvanized not have rust issues?
@a.barker7792 the studs are stainless and provide many more times strength than needed for the application.
You’re right to point out corrosion. The stainless will accelerate corrosion in the plates, which are simply zinc plated. I do need to touch these up with some galv paint this summer.
Nice job
Looks great. What fittings did you use for the upper side bars that are coming up at an angle?
Square washers.
nice job! my van does not have the holes in it for the sitting piece...do you know of what i can use to be my base pieces to then install the unistrut onto?
I made mine out of PFC (Parallel Flange Channel). You can buy different dimensions and lengths from steel stockholders either locally or online. Would have made mine longer to distribute the force a bit better, but it was what I had. Also if I was doing again, I’d probably use 6 (or 8 if a long wheelbase van), instead of 4. On the inside you need to have steel plates to stop the bolts being pulled through the roof. 5mm thick flat bar cut to the same length as the PFC would be ideal.
Do you think the light duty would be strong enough for the rack to mount solar panels on.
Absolutely, the weakest link in the system will always be the interface with the roof and the strength of the vehicles body.
Where did you get the mounting brackets that connect the unistrut to the roof?
Just made them up out of some structural steel I had laying around think it was 100x50 PFC.
I am sorry, what language is this dude speaking? 😢
@fedkar Scottish dude! 👍 🏴