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01-28-2018, 06:38 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 4
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Where to get roof racks
Hi I'm new to the forum, I recently purchased a 99 E 350 v10 quigley, and was wondering about the best place to get a roof rack for it. I have seen the Aluminess website but not sure that I want to spend over $2000 on a rack. Are there other options out there, or do people love their Aluminess? Any info would be helpful thanks
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01-28-2018, 08:09 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: TN
Posts: 10,243
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Welcome, there are many options out there for roof racks but a majority of the ones you've probably seen are home made. If you want a good looking, complete ready to bolt up rack specifically made for your van you will be spending a lot as noted above. Aluminess, Ujoint, Weld-tec and a few others are options.
You can also go with some of the commercially made ones for ladders, etc. which look pretty good on an adventure van if configured right. Examples:
https://www.rackwarehouse.com/system...ml?gclid=Cj0KC
https://www.carid.com/kargo-master/p...oaAo1zEALw_wcB
Also, you can add center extensions to the racks from Thule, Yakima, ARB, etc.
To start you'll need rain gutter towers and crossbars from Thule or Yakima if you don't want to come up with something custom.
There is a pretty slick home made roof rack many have made from aluminum ATV truck ramps. Lots of examples of racks on Expedition Portal.
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01-28-2018, 08:22 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Posts: 2,001
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DylanRobins
Hi I'm new to the forum, I recently purchased a 99 E 350 v10 quigley, and was wondering about the best place to get a roof rack for it. I have seen the Aluminess website but not sure that I want to spend over $2000 on a rack. Are there other options out there, or do people love their Aluminess? Any info would be helpful thanks
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There are a few roof rack threads to peruse but keep in mind one reason the aluminess is expensive is that it's ...ah well aluminum. I replaced the Yakima basket setup on mine with a K9 Eezi Awn so I could use the existing holes and tracks in the roof. https://www.equipt1.com/c/roof-racks/custom-roof-racks
4runner makes a nice rack as does Ujoint. There are cheaper options for sure but how much weight to you want on your roof especially if you have a penthouse.
__________________
2005 E350 RB 6.0 PSD for extended fun
1989 Landcruiser FJ62 for local fun
2011 VW TDI Golf for hwy fun
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01-28-2018, 10:41 AM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Virginia
Posts: 43
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Smittybilt defender roof rack is available for about 1200. I plan on using northern tool ladder rack as a base and build a full length rack off of it. I should be into a full rack for less than 400
__________________
1999 e350 7.3 EB Ujoint 6" 37" tires
2002 e350 7.3 rb50 Quigley 4x4 sportsmobile
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01-28-2018, 12:11 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Corvallis, OR
Posts: 5,300
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Lots of high quality steel options out there. I have the weatherguard safari rack. It's sturdy, but heavy. I used Yakima stuff previously and needed a system that would carry more weight better.
__________________
2000 E450 dually V10 wagon
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01-28-2018, 03:27 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 256
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Hi Dylan,
Welcome to the forums.
I priced out making my own aluminum roof rack, counting what my time would be worth while welding and sourcing all the materials, the cost of an Aluminess roof rack was the better option for me.
Now that I have it, its awesome. Very well put together. I also had them add two bars that run length wise underneath for support, which I really like. -Only needed if one plans on spending a good amount of time up there like I do, otherwise one should be sufficient. The two bars (rubber) mounted to the top bar on the back are for rolling a boat up onto the rack.
Note:
Had to rap some 550 paracord around the top front bar to silence the wind turbulence noise (which was excessive), but now its not even noticeable.
Gar
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01-28-2018, 03:32 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 67
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I will be getting rain gutter towers and using steel angles plus aluminum extrusion profiles as cross bars to make the roof rack, it'll be a fraction of the cost, will still probably be $600+ worth of materials, plus a fair amount of time.
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01-31-2018, 02:29 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Atascadero, CA
Posts: 162
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I've got maybe $400 into this ATV ramp DIY build
You can read about it here
__________________
Home Built Camper Van - 2003 EB 15 Passenger, 7.3 PSD, Ujoint 6" Lift, 35x12.50x17E BFG AT KO2 , MSD High Top, Hand Made Interior
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01-31-2018, 03:56 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by luked
I've got maybe $400 into this ATV ramp DIY build
You can read about it here
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Really like your rack!
Right now I'm just using two ladder racks and a cheap Amazon basket. The racks were free and the basket cost $74 and then another $20 for stainless steel u-bolts.
__________________
2010 Ford E350 EB 6" Weldtec Lift
2017 Subaru Legacy
1990 Volvo 240GL
2x 1987 BMW 535is
1995 BMW 540i6
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01-31-2018, 09:03 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western North Carolina
Posts: 1,258
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Don't forget that Chris sells them too.
Ujointoffroad
__________________
Rob.
Current:
2001 E350 PSD w/ a bunch of stuff.
And had three other E350s...
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