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.

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:

yeah man, thats exactly what i needed to know. i think i'll go with the first option. it sounds a little stronger and a lot more cosmetic

thanks bruddah:grin:

Why not go with an aftermarket rack like this..

 

 

Can be had cheaply on ebay

you've got a nice rack! all joking aside, that is just way too small for my wants/needs. not a bad idea though, but half the fun in subaru modification is in the fabrication. plus i don't like to deal w/e-bay any more than i have to

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

right on, now that makes more sense

Get a hold of Tony, "Soobme" he recently started making them for soobs. Brian, "Junkie" just got one and all the photos/details I have seen are impressive.

yakima and thule are two rack mgfrs

 

yakima uses round tubes

 

thule uses rectangular

 

quite adaptable and cheap, as was mentioned

 

 

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

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

badass, i'm gonna hafta get in touch with him and discuss him building me a rack. i'd hafta have him ship it though, that might cost me. i'll see if it's economical

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

thats $30 for just shipping right. how much do you think he wants for one?

I'll let him set his prices. Not sure if I got a deal or if he's gonna sell them for what I paid as well.

 

Speaking of the rack, needs another coat of paint. Be right back with pix

 

-Brian

I can set U up with a nice rack, shiping shouldn't be to bad either. Shoot me an E-mail with your zip. and I can get U a price + shiping.