Any ideas for modifying my roof rack?

Nissan11

Nissan11

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2005
Location
Marston, NC
Does anyone have any ideas for shortening or modifying my roof rack to make room for this camper shell? I drilled holes in my roof inside the front roof rack mounts to run the wires through for my lights and I would hate to expose those holes to the elements. I would also hate to lose my lights. Any ideas?


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I can't recall if those racks were metal or not, but, if it is I would cut the rack tube to fit the front of the camper, weld, or have someone weld a tab through the now open end of the tube and bolt it through the front of the shell.
 
DemonDave said:
I can't recall if those racks were metal or not, but, if it is I would cut the rack tube to fit the front of the camper, weld, or have someone weld a tab through the now open end of the tube and bolt it through the front of the shell.
Click to expand...

Now thats a good idea. Do you think there will be much movement between the bed/shell and the roof?
 
There will be some movement, may be best to mount it in a way that will allow some movement to prevent pulling the bolts through or starting a leak on your roof. Don't know that the flex on that truck would be enough to hurt it, may be able to bolt it through an oversized hole with a large washer on either side to allow a little movement. Another option would be to cut it close to the shell like 1/2" or so away and parallel the shell with a mount plate running back down to the roof. Or cut the tube just in front of the first "C" in the lettering and just after the "B" and join them back together into a tiny light bar of sorts.
 
you could cut a sectoin of the rails out, move the rear mounts foward and use a section of tube so you could sleeve it back together
 
I would do something like this elementary paint drawing that I've attached.
 

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LMAO a that drawing. That would look good, though. I think the rack is actually a very lightweight metal, mabe alluminum. Could I use PVC with that?

Those are all good ideas. Now that Ive looked at both pictures again, I wonder if I couldnt cut the very back of the rack off, right about in the middle of the bend. Then, take the rear mount thats on the roof and re attach it in the middle of the bend. Then the mount would just about be at the same angle as the front of the camper shell. Does that make sense?
 
I appreciate all the ideas, but unfortinately I did not buy the camper. I drove out and looked at it but it is about 8" too long for my bed. I had no idea chevy made a s10 with a long bed that was a lot longer than my frontier long bed. The s10 that camper fits must have a bed that is at LEAST 6' 8". Now I am started to think about a military ammo trailer with canvas top.
 
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