Maybe I could use my "new" welder, which I have not tried before... first project! Got the welder, got the gas, the wire, the autodarkening helmet, the desire, hopefully the weather...
I need a roof rack on my small van, so was thinking of making one (steel rectangular hollow section 50mm x 25mm x 2mm side rails maybe 2.2m long, circular hollow section 21.3 x 3mm cross rails to make width inside side rails 1.25m), since second-hand ones seem unobtainable and new ones are "£Ouch!".
Make up some brackets to be screwed to the roof mounting points and screwed or welded to the side rails, knock a nut into each cross rail end and weld it there, drill the side members and weld in tube (anti-crush measure), bolt cross members to side members, knock in plastic tube inserts to each end of side rails. Paint it? Would such cross rails be up to the job?
I see the one shown at Combo Full Length Roof Rack has some sort of rubber foot at each side, at the back. I can't see mounting points there on my vvan. How does that work, do they just sit there? Possibly I could drill a hole at the back and add a support or bolt something like a rubber foot onto the side rail.
Any thoughts on this, design or otherwise, most welcome!
I need a roof rack on my small van, so was thinking of making one (steel rectangular hollow section 50mm x 25mm x 2mm side rails maybe 2.2m long, circular hollow section 21.3 x 3mm cross rails to make width inside side rails 1.25m), since second-hand ones seem unobtainable and new ones are "£Ouch!".
Make up some brackets to be screwed to the roof mounting points and screwed or welded to the side rails, knock a nut into each cross rail end and weld it there, drill the side members and weld in tube (anti-crush measure), bolt cross members to side members, knock in plastic tube inserts to each end of side rails. Paint it? Would such cross rails be up to the job?
I see the one shown at Combo Full Length Roof Rack has some sort of rubber foot at each side, at the back. I can't see mounting points there on my vvan. How does that work, do they just sit there? Possibly I could drill a hole at the back and add a support or bolt something like a rubber foot onto the side rail.
Any thoughts on this, design or otherwise, most welcome!