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Some questions about mounting a roof rack


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I have an 88 gl wagon and i want to put a roof rack on it. the only problem is that my particular wagon doesn't happen to have one of those little dinky cargo racks that came on some of the gl's.

 

The problem is I don't have the mounts, or taps or whatever the little things are that you bolt a rack on with. My question is how would i go about installing a rack without these pre-existing mounts.

 

Any input at all would be extremely helpful. Thanks.

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what you need to do is this.

 

question yourself?how good of job do you want to do!two options

 

1 stop by local body supply store get "nut serts" two for each corner. 8 if you only have 4 mnt points,10 if you have side ones in the middle. drill holes according to size indicated,install units and mnt unit using bolts also purchased to coincide with "nut serts".

tightening bolts makes the " nut sert" expand inside the hole and seal hole.

 

2 set rack on roof mark all holes,remove rack,drill small 1/8" or 3/16" holes at every mark.then before putting rack back on dab a spot of silicone over each hole then set rack back on use 1/4" coarse thread or bigger bolt only bout 1/2'long. tighten bolts til snug, these can strip out with a heavy arm so be careful!

 

this should work good really either way. The first is probobly a little stronger if your going to be using it alot to actually carry stuff.

before you install either way make sure you dab paint around the hole first so as to prevent premature rust from starting.

 

hope this helps out:wave:

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Its not the size that matters!

 

Seriously though, the load bars are only that close together because I have them set up that way for the spare tire. I have had all of my camping stuff, two bikes and a set of golf clubs strapped to them.. Can't find the pic tight now, but it was a ton of stuff!

 

The bars are usually farther apart .. like this

Pic_005.sized.jpg

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Guest subu luvr

yakima and thule are two rack mgfrs

 

yakima uses round tubes

 

thule uses rectangular

 

quite adaptable and cheap, as was mentioned

 

 

:)

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Yeah, Tony made me a BITCHIN rack! Here's a pic of the rack after it was assembled and welded together. :

5th_stage.jpg

I got the rack sent to me in one piece, un painted. Right now, its hanging in the garage with a coat of Herculiner (liquid bedliner) on it. I should have it finished and mounted by the end of this week.

 

-Brian

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He shipped it to my door for $30. Of course, thats from Oregon to California.

 

He has a plan to make the racks as 2 piece racks, that will be assembled upon delivery and make it easier and cheaper to ship.

 

More pictures soon. I have pix of it with its 1st coat of bedliner, but i havent gotten them on the computer yet.

 

-Brian

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