Airmapper
First Fill-Up (of many)
- Location
- Bowling Green, KY
In my last thread I was excited about getting a welder and finally joining the world of fabrication. I can now say my first project is nearing completion.
While my primary reason for needing a welder is Bronco projects, I decided the X would get the first attention, as it would give me a chance to practice on something a little easier, clean metal and lots of welding in more comfortable positions. For the most part though the welding was much easier than I anticipated. I did make a few messes, but considering the thin walled material and some less than superb cuts I worked with, I'm fairly happy. It warped slightly, but I'm a perfectionist, so I can get anal about such things quickly.
About the first of the year, before I knew I'd get a welder even, I started to design what I wanted, and incorporated design features I liked.
Since shipping was not a consideration, I could design for full roof coverage without attachments. Basically it is a hybrid of a Dephep and a Garvin, with some unique touches that make it not exactly like either. My favorite features are I managed to keep the hardware hidden, and keep the entire rack inside the stock bars. It's much less visible from the sides, to the point you may not even notice it, it also does not obstruct the stock bars except where it has to mount.
More photos will come when I permanently install it. I did a test fit today and it was good to go. I even hopped up there and stood on it (I'm a shave over 200lbs) and it was solid, even without the fasteners fully tightened. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to take it to the powder coat shop or work on it some more. It could have more features, but at this point I don't want to detract from the clean looks. I initially planed for optional raised and extended cross bars, but have found they may be unnecessary, as my Kayak J bars will mount directly to the insert rack. If I really want more doo dads, now I know I can always design and build a version 2.0
I also haven't figured out what to do with my CB antenna. I'm not liking it very well anyway as it's always in the trees or I'm trying to get in the garage with it up, so I don't really want it on the rack. I may have to start from scratch on that.
While my primary reason for needing a welder is Bronco projects, I decided the X would get the first attention, as it would give me a chance to practice on something a little easier, clean metal and lots of welding in more comfortable positions. For the most part though the welding was much easier than I anticipated. I did make a few messes, but considering the thin walled material and some less than superb cuts I worked with, I'm fairly happy. It warped slightly, but I'm a perfectionist, so I can get anal about such things quickly.
About the first of the year, before I knew I'd get a welder even, I started to design what I wanted, and incorporated design features I liked.
Since shipping was not a consideration, I could design for full roof coverage without attachments. Basically it is a hybrid of a Dephep and a Garvin, with some unique touches that make it not exactly like either. My favorite features are I managed to keep the hardware hidden, and keep the entire rack inside the stock bars. It's much less visible from the sides, to the point you may not even notice it, it also does not obstruct the stock bars except where it has to mount.
More photos will come when I permanently install it. I did a test fit today and it was good to go. I even hopped up there and stood on it (I'm a shave over 200lbs) and it was solid, even without the fasteners fully tightened. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to take it to the powder coat shop or work on it some more. It could have more features, but at this point I don't want to detract from the clean looks. I initially planed for optional raised and extended cross bars, but have found they may be unnecessary, as my Kayak J bars will mount directly to the insert rack. If I really want more doo dads, now I know I can always design and build a version 2.0
I also haven't figured out what to do with my CB antenna. I'm not liking it very well anyway as it's always in the trees or I'm trying to get in the garage with it up, so I don't really want it on the rack. I may have to start from scratch on that.