Flat roof rack options

[lazyLfarm]

Looking for a flat roof rack for my bj74. Now I have a soft top so I’m not using the FRP top during the summer. I’m putting a RTT up there.

So I have steel rain gutters on the sides above the front doors like any standard car. The only other rain gutters are above the rear doors so 90 degrees off of the front doors.
That means I cant just run a couple of rails.

So I have some rain gutter feet, enough to mount a couple on each side and the back. The only way I can think making this work is with a flat rack to attach all the feet to and have good distribution.

I would love to be able to afford a gamviti but that’s not happening. Ive seen the arb classic for not a bad price but I’m not sure that will work with the Eezi-awn mount or the feet.

Need to be around 48 wide by 65-75” long.

Any other suggestions?

 

[lazyLfarm]

rig in question because everyone likes photos.

The gutter mounts I have are basically these

This is the bottom of the tent. If anyone has any other ideas for mounting the tent.

I’m fine with arms but I’m not sure how strong I could make bars the would have to “T” into the front crossbars of that makes sense.

 

[Inukshuk]

Paging @nakman !

 

[Telly]

Yes, Gamiviti racks are the Cadillac. I was in the same boat as you a couple years ago and bought a discounted Rhino Rack from a member. It's a flat rack and I bolted down my hard shell RTT to the rack. The whole setup is only about 7" off the roof. However, if I had the funds, I would have bought a Gamiviti rack. Much easier to mount accessories to Tim's rack, like an awning, and could have removed the RTT with quick disconnects in lieu of bolting the RTT on my current setup.

 

[nakman]

wow sweet looking truck! and I'd be happy to help you solve this, send over a PM or email sales@gamiviti.com if you want to explore further. It's all itemized, so you can try to use the feet you have, skip powder coat and paint it yourself, etc. to save cost. Could keep it all flat or do a raised rail in front for style points... put 2 mounts over the front doors, then double up the bars to span that gap over the back seat until it bolts to the back, so it won't flex. The tent will bolt to the cross bars with simple bolts/backing plates.

something like this..

 

[lazyLfarm]

wow sweet looking truck! and I'd be happy to help you solve this, send over a PM or email sales@gamiviti.com if you want to explore further. It's all itemized, so you can try to use the feet you have, skip powder coat and paint it yourself, etc. to save cost. Could keep it all flat or do a raised rail in front for style points... put 2 mounts over the front doors, then double up the bars to span that gap over the back seat until it bolts to the back, so it won't flex. The tent will bolt to the cross bars with simple bolts/backing plates.

something like this..

For sure I will reach out. Yes your rack was #1 for sure .

That flat rack with the raised front is pretty cool. Not sure if that will fit with the tent I have but I may not be keeping that tent.

Who knows it’s all up in the air. The plan is to take my spare FRP top and make a poptop, but I still would like a flat rack for my soft top and regular FRP.


Here’s the beginning of my spare top.

 

[Corbet]

You could always find some used Thule/Yakima rain gutter mounts and standard cross bars for cheap. They would work fine for RTT and you could cut the bars to length if you wanted.

Tim’s rack would be way cooler and more versatile.

 

[lazyLfarm]

You could always find some used Thule/Yakima rain gutter mounts and standard cross bars for cheap. They would work fine for RTT and you could cut the bars to length if you wanted.

Tim’s rack would be way cooler and more versatile.

I have some Thule bars and accessories but the problem is there are only gutters up front, none on the back that are parallel.

Not my rig but you can see I would have to “T” the ones from the rear and I couldn’t figure out away to make it strong enough.


The green is where my rain gutters are.

 

[Corbet]

OK, was not familiar with how those tops work. You need one from Tim.