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Old 10-10-2015, 04:45 PM   #1
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Roof Rack Companies & Options?

Hey folks, I want to add a roof rack to my 2004 SMB Ford E350 Extended Body with a Voyager Fiberglass Top. I want the roof rack to 1) be a flat surface for myself and a few other people to sit on chairs to watch the sunset, have drinks, etc. 2) a place to mount some solar panels.

Right now I'm looking at a quote of $3,000 for the rack to be built by Aluminess (http://www.aluminess.com/roof-racks/) and installed by a local dealer (with lots of SMB experience).

Does anyone know of any other options/companies/pre-built racks I should look at that might be cheaper than this $3,000 price tag? Can anyone comment on how much of that $3,000 might be recoverable when I sell my SMB?



Here's the surface I'd want put on the rack:


Here's an example of the rack Aluminess could build:

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Old 10-10-2015, 07:03 PM   #2
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Re: Roof Rack Companies & Options?

Nice thing about Aluminess is it keeps the weight down where you don't want it! Not sure how you got to $3K, except through a pretty involved installation...

Rust is the other issue with steel which probably would cost less....

They do make very nice products, esp bumpers...
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Old 10-10-2015, 07:20 PM   #3
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Re: Roof Rack Companies & Options?

About $500 for a ladder to be built that could reach the top. $350 for shipping it to Oregon. Luckily no sales tax in Oregon though. +$500 for adding the expanded aluminum flooring.

So yeah after all that it added up to $3k.

Seems pretty pricey so just wondering what the other options are.

I do wonder what the weight would be. But aluminum should help keep it lower.
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Old 10-10-2015, 10:37 PM   #4
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Re: Roof Rack Companies & Options?

You could always try to find a local fab shop or off road/4WD shop that does fabrication as well. Make sure you take a look at some of their work before you dive in. Aluminess stuff is not cheap but it is nicely made and you know what you're getting, and that's worth something, because often it's not the case......
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Old 10-10-2015, 10:40 PM   #5
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Re: Roof Rack Companies & Options?

You could save some money by driving down to get the ladder no rack.
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Old 10-10-2015, 10:59 PM   #6
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Re: Roof Rack Companies & Options?

ujointoffroad aluminum roof racks viewtopic.php?f=10&t=16828 http://www.ujointoffroad.com/roofracks.html
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Old 10-11-2015, 08:09 AM   #7
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Re: Roof Rack Companies & Options?

Quote:
Originally Posted by JackTuppVan
My thoughts exactly, if shipping doesn't ruin it for you.

Quote:
Originally Posted by seanahrens
Can anyone comment on how much of that $3,000 might be recoverable when I sell my SMB?
Maybe a few hundred bucks, but nowhere near the original price.

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Old 10-11-2015, 08:44 AM   #8
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Re: Roof Rack Companies & Options?

I think parameter #1 is driving the cost. A rack capable of supporting 4 people standing or sitting in chairs is looking at 60 psi point loadings. Over all loading of close to 1,000 pounds would be a pretty serious platform on a fiberglass raised top. Would have to designed for a couple of thousand pound safety loading?
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Old 10-11-2015, 08:54 AM   #9
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Re: Roof Rack Companies & Options?

four people on a fiberglass top with a window cut out and vent cutout... weight of the rack, chairs, humans... all on a rather soft suspension... hmmmm
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Old 10-11-2015, 09:53 AM   #10
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Re: Roof Rack Companies & Options?

Isn't the last picture on the original post, a pic of Brent's SMB?

See this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10641&hilit=brent+rack


Herb

[EDIT: Brent's build thread. 12 pages, but his roof rack info is in there]
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