110 Roof rack

[Dockstrada]

after lots of looking I have not found a rack that I like so I decided to draw up my own, But before i start to make it I would like some forum input .
Its still not a finished drawing but you get the idea .

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/1243.jpg

[Judo]

Q. What are you planning to put on your roof rack? I can think of some very different designs, depending on what it will be used for...

[PhilipA]

Judo, did you know that BajaRack now make a 110 rack, which we have in stock.
I have had a welder in Wollongong actually ring us when a friend wanted a rack as he could not do one as good for the money.

Here is a link to a photo which is not the best but the best we have at the moment.

Land Rover Defender Roof Rack - basket and cage (http://www.bajarack.com.au/bajarack-equipment/roof-racks/land-rover-series/defender/roof-rack-for-land-rover-defender)

BTW, Bajarack told us last week that they now have designed one for 110 dual cab also.
Regards Philip A

[EchiDna]

a couple of things on the design...

1, did you want it flat all the way to the front of the vehicle? or sloping down with the roofline over the front seats?
2, Assuming your rego plate is in the stock position, the ladder will block it and potentially make you unroadworthy...
3, you will want to consider integrating mounts for whatever it is you want to put on it - i.e. spare wheel, auxiliary lights, roof top tent, awning etc.

[Judo]

Judo, did you know that BajaRack now make a 110 rack, which we have in stock.
I have had a welder in Wollongong actually ring us when a friend wanted a rack as he could not do one as good for the money.

Here is a link to a photo which is not the best but the best we have at the moment.

Land Rover Defender Roof Rack - basket and cage (http://www.bajarack.com.au/bajarack-equipment/roof-racks/land-rover-series/defender/roof-rack-for-land-rover-defender)

BTW, Bajarack told us last week that they now have designed one for 110 dual cab also.
Regards Philip A
I did not know that, but I also don't own a 110 and I already have a roof rack for my Disco. ;) ;) Dockstrada might be interested though!! :angel:

[Judo]

Q. What are you planning to put on your roof rack? I can think of some very different designs, depending on what it will be used for...



3, you will want to consider integrating mounts for whatever it is you want to put on it - i.e. spare wheel, auxiliary lights, roof top tent, awning etc.

Exactly. One thing I've considered adding to mine is a gas bottle holder. They are a royal PITA to tie down if you want it outside the vehicle, but would be cheap and easy to make a nice mount/container for it to go with the roof rack...

[flagg]

Judo, did you know that BajaRack now make a 110 rack, which we have in stock.
I have had a welder in Wollongong actually ring us when a friend wanted a rack as he could not do one as good for the money.

Here is a link to a photo which is not the best but the best we have at the moment.

Land Rover Defender Roof Rack - basket and cage (http://www.bajarack.com.au/bajarack-equipment/roof-racks/land-rover-series/defender/roof-rack-for-land-rover-defender)

BTW, Bajarack told us last week that they now have designed one for 110 dual cab also.
Regards Philip A

Looks like a nice rack! You should sign up as a vendor and post it in the varanda - I'm sure there would be a lot of interest.

[AndrewGJones]

The sides are not strong enough, you need beefy side rails or you will bow the sides of the defenders roof out.

How do I know this? Some gallah has done it to my county. that and walk over the front sloping section of roof. couldn't work out what was going on, until I put 2 and 2 together after seeing the marks from a roof rack.

the rack needs to have structural integrity within itself, not rely on the roof to stop it spreading under load, rough conditions.

that's my $1500 opinion*..


*guessed cost of getting this roof straight:censored:

[Michael2]

I designed this and had it made by someone who can weld alloy. I had read that a single weight distribution rail along the gutter restricted flex on LWB vehicles and contributed to roof cracking. Hence I designed it with wide feet to distribute the weight. The legs are made from a flat piece of alloy and the way it's bent and gusseted supports the frame very well. It can take the weight of several adults without bending.

Cost was under $700, but if I wanted another made it would be over $1,000 now.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/1242.jpg

[AndrewGJones]

nice rack :p

[Dockstrada]

I tend to draw things when they come to mind and then go back later and tidy them up .
I haven’t really done a stress analysis on it yet as its not finished , I’m using 30x6 flat for the rails and 32dia ally tube 3mm wall for the frame , I’m confident it will take the load .

All I need it for is to hang a self supporting side awing off no rope or pegs which still on the drawing board, and some light stuff up there, like a kayak.
I have lots of ideas but little time to get them started. I have 3 projects on the go at the moment and that doesn’t include the Defender. So who know when it’ll get done.

[juddy]

You may have or not looked at our Patriot racks.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/1235.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/1236.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/1237.jpg

[DEFENDERZOOK]

hey guys......a little idea for carrying 9kg gas cylinders........

i put it in a milk crate first.......this makes it a lot easier to tie down......and as a bonus....you can use the milk crate as a chair.......or table.....or to keep your fridge off the ground.....or a foot rest.....etc.....etc......etc......

[Michael2]

I used to wedge the gas bottle in the back corner of the Defender, against the fridge cabinet, the side and the back, then pad around it with a couple of rugs or rolled up tarps to keep it secure.

THEN one one trip I found it upsidedown, neatly in the same hole it had been sitting in! It had flown up over a bump, flipped 180deg and landed straight back in.

After that I made a bracket for it. One half of the bracket clamps to the gas bottle, then this mates with the other half and clamps onto the back ladder. The two slip into eachother and then are tightened with a wingnut. The bracket also had a small arm that goes to the capping just beneath the back window. There I've drilled out a rivet and put in a s/s bolt. The bracket also secures to this bolt with a wingnut to triangulate the weight distribution.

It was suggested that it might not be very robust, but it has endured the Bungles Road and the Tanami corrugations without cracks, bends, or loosening.

[Didge]

I can't understand why anyone would want a rack that slopes down with the shape of the front section of roof. Surely it makes fixing items to it a PITA. What useful purpose does it serve? Dockstrada, I'd also get a price on square or rectangular section as it might be cheaper to weld, although the round section is easier for tying off ropes. I have the full length rack with 30 x 6 full length gutter rails and was told by someone that its best for distributing load and less likely fall apart over continuous corrugations. Given that we've got rigid ladder frames in our chassis', are we supposed to have any flex up at body level? In any case my full length steel rack still flexes diagonally:)

[Judo]

Agreed on the slope section! It LOOKS better, but I can't see how it's practical.

The quickest way for me to show you mine is to give you a link to the whole album of creating.... (no facebook account needed).

Roof Rack 101 | Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/media/set/'set=a.10150411793065269.418612.505640268&l=199705c46c&type=1)

It gets used for camping and weekends away, so not every weekend, but when we use it, we put quite a lot of weight on it and so far so good. I'm very happy with it and if/when I have to build another one, there's only 1 thing I would MAYBE change. That's the size of the mesh. The mesh holes make it hard to loop ropes around. (Or I need smaller fingers). I still manage every time, but it would be easier if the holes were a bit bigger.