xjtrailrider
05-31-2010, 08:20 PM
This is my first mod to the beast. I wanted to run my Yakima round bars on the factory rails but Yakima does not offer a set-up that will work without drilling holes. I had a set of Yakima Rail Rider towers so I decided to make my own mounts. Now I can carry the canoe and/or both kayaks or the bikes on top.
First I made the upper and lower plates to mount the towers to and to squeeze into the factory rails.
I took a 1/8"x1-1/2"x48" piece of flt bar aluminum and cut it into (8) 6" long pieces. I then drilled the holes in all 8 plates at the same time. I picked up some SS hardware at NorthWest Hardware and assembled the mounts/rack. Here are some pics;
The plates and the nylon spacers that keep you from over-tightening the bolts.
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/P1020323.jpg
The towers mounted to the plates.
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/P1020322.jpg
This is what the mounts will look like assembled.
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/P1020324.jpg
This is what they look like mounted to the factory rails.
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/P1020325.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/P1020327.jpg
Here is the rack mounted to the Commander.
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/P1020332.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/P1020331.jpg
Here it is loaded up and headed to the river yesterday. We floated 12 miles of the James (Alpine to Glasgow). The rack did great on the highway.
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/rack.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/rack2.jpg
First I made the upper and lower plates to mount the towers to and to squeeze into the factory rails.
I took a 1/8"x1-1/2"x48" piece of flt bar aluminum and cut it into (8) 6" long pieces. I then drilled the holes in all 8 plates at the same time. I picked up some SS hardware at NorthWest Hardware and assembled the mounts/rack. Here are some pics;
The plates and the nylon spacers that keep you from over-tightening the bolts.
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/P1020323.jpg
The towers mounted to the plates.
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/P1020322.jpg
This is what the mounts will look like assembled.
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/P1020324.jpg
This is what they look like mounted to the factory rails.
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/P1020325.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/P1020327.jpg
Here is the rack mounted to the Commander.
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/P1020332.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/P1020331.jpg
Here it is loaded up and headed to the river yesterday. We floated 12 miles of the James (Alpine to Glasgow). The rack did great on the highway.
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/rack.jpg
http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp266/xjtrailrider/roof%20rack/rack2.jpg