Colorado Camper Van pop top question

[carringb]

FWIW - standard Rhino rack attachments are all unistrut as well. Their cross bars are just strut with a fancy coating.

[tedujam]

Originally Posted by Otter

The really nice thing about putting Unistrut rails on a CCV top is that you don’t have to have a weight-burdening rack up there. The Unistrut allows for virtually infinite attachment designs (within the space limits, of course). The Unistrut idea is perfect for solar panels: cheap connections while maintaining a low profile.

In my case, I also wanted an area for “stuff”, so I put a Yakima basket up there. You can find all kinds of sizes and shapes to fit that need and move them around at will.



Of course, if you want a full or partial platform for looks and/or function, I’d look at one of the many available 4x4 platforms like Rhino rack, etc. You might have to invent a way to attach them to the Unistrut, but it wouldn’t be hard.

Another plus for the strut... you can change your mind whenever you want without worrying about having dumped a crazy ton of money into something permanent like an Aluminess rack that you might discover later doesn’t meet your needs.
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Thanks, I'll look around. I dig the Yakima basket, but also like the basket I have on my TJ.

[tedujam]

Originally Posted by Otter

In my case, I also wanted an area for “stuff”, so I put a Yakima basket up there. You can find all kinds of sizes and shapes to fit that need and move them around at will.

Oh yeah, which model Yakima is that?

[Otter]

Originally Posted by tedujam

Oh yeah, which model Yakima is that?

It’s the Yakima Off Grid. Mine has the extension to make it longer. I really like it. It’s beefy and useful. And I can remove it whenever I want to switch things up.

https://yakima.com/products/offgrid?...211.1596478492
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[tedujam]

Originally Posted by Otter

It’s the Yakima Off Grid. Mine has the extension to make it longer. I really like it. It’s beefy and useful. And I can remove it whenever I want to switch things up.

https://yakima.com/products/offgrid?...211.1596478492
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I'll check that one out. Are you using Rhino cross bars?

[Otter]

They’re Yakima cross bars with a hybrid Unistrut connection I put together.
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[tedujam]

Originally Posted by Otter

They’re Yakima cross bars with a hybrid Unistrut connection I put together.
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I appreciate it. I'm gonna try out this Smittybilt rack. It's 70L x 50W x 6.75H (36.3lbs) compared to your 75L x 49W x 7H (83.86lbs) Yakima.

[tedujam]

Originally Posted by KDB

Rack?...or platform. Three cross bars. Works great!

Home fab? How did you attach them to the unistruts?

[tedujam]

Originally Posted by Otter

It’s the Yakima Off Grid. Mine has the extension to make it longer. I really like it. It’s beefy and useful. And I can remove it whenever I want to switch things up.

https://yakima.com/products/offgrid?...211.1596478492
.

Do you happen to have the dimensions of your CCV unistruts, like length and depth? They looks like they're about 10' long and 1 5/8" depth, but I'm not 100%. And the CCV quote just says

[Otter]

Originally Posted by tedujam

Do you happen to have the dimensions of your CCV unistruts, like length and depth?

Yep, standard 1 and 5/8 strut, 10ft long, powder coated aluminum.

Btw, I see your quote has 1 fixed panel. Another alternative - which I have - is all removable panels. It allows me to stack them up so I have standing room all the way to the back. Something to consider.