If you could design your own 2nd gen roof rack…

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
The fabricator that did my Rotopax mount (who has many years of experience fabricating all sorts of things for offroad vehicles) said he may be available next month to work on a roof rack. This is primarily for another local guy but I may consider swapping out as well since I’m pretty sure I could sell my current.

So the question is, what criteria should we make or what improvements could be made?

I like my Gobi Ranger rack, but here are my initial thoughts on what elements to change:

A: Biggest thing is while I like the look, the dip in the front isn’t very functional. I wish the top bar at least stayed flat/level.
B: Slightly wider would be better. Especially having seen the Uptop Overland rack, I know there’s more width to be had without looking weird.
C: In the rear, the top bar is sloped forward so it could extend back at least a couple more inches (though this would limit which lights could be installed).
D: The steel floor is fantastic, but could be extended further front and back.

Here are some views of that Ranger rack. What else would you change?
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Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
Excellent question.

Flat top bar is a must.

Removable cross bars would be dope. Maybe the possibility of multiple sets so you could have different accessories ready to go?

Structural floor is a must. I want to be able to walk on the truck.

You're right about width. My only gripe about my alley lights is that they're so far behind the side of the truck that there is almost no light right next to the truck.

In my setup, I'd want mounts for all the lights up top. Forward, alley, and reverse.

Unfortunately, I have a hole in my roof for my GMRS/Ham antenna. And it sits forward of the Exoskel bar across the back. So that would limit my depth availability.

LineX coating.

Maybe that's it?
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
What about using unistrut for some of the cross bars? This would provide some flexibility with mounting gear like traction boards and hi-lift.
That would work as well but I like that my crossbars blend in. I wouldn't mind having two more of them though so I could leave a pair connected to the RTT.

The Frontrunner rack, but low profile.
I think footprint wise that's what I want, but with at least a slight raised edge. I don't like the track thing having seen it and played with it on a couple other roof racks.
 

Gen X

First Fill-Up (of many)
Supporting Member
Location
Ashburn, VA
That would work as well but I like that my crossbars blend in. I wouldn't mind having two more of them though so I could leave a pair connected to the RTT.

I was actually thinking the bottom cross bars. Should have been more detailed. If some of the bottom bars were unistrut you’d have all kinds of options. If you were planning for a full floor like yours, it would need to be installed in pieces to keep the unistrut channel open.
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
I was actually thinking the bottom cross bars. Should have been more detailed. If some of the bottom bars were unistrut you’d have all kinds of options. If you were planning for a full floor like yours, it would need to be installed in pieces to keep the unistrut channel open.
Oh I gotcha. That’s interesting.
 
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