Homemade Rack for Camper Shell. Ideas?

[MrJack]

I have a toyota tacoma with a leer camper shell. I have crossbars over the cab, but they are only wide enough for one canoe. I need to be able to carry 2 canoes.

I was thinking about leaving the existing crossbars over the cab and adding something homemade over the camper shell. Any ideas? There are no rain gutters or anything else on top of the shell. Can I use 2x4's as crossbars? If so what can I attach them to? Thanks!

[jscottl67]

When I had a Dakota quad-cab, I used one of these and a receiver hitch mount for the rear. It worked pretty well with the Ocoee and cascade, and I've driven 700 miles one way with a 17' canoe on those. Not a permanent mount solution, but works when you need a bit more space.

http://store.springcreek.com/Spring-Cre ... p1491.html

[oopsiflipped]

bolt on rain gutters and your choice of gutter racks. here are a few

http://www.rackwarehouse.com/thule-542- ... tters.html

http://www.rackwarehouse.com/y8005.html

these are just the first 2 from a google search.

[sbroam]

http://picasaweb.google.com/scott.broam ... 9615378178

Those have been on two shells (on two trucks). Considering these if I ever get a new truck :

http://www.rackattack.com/product-pages ... -bolts.asp

I'm liking the idea of being able to move the bars to fit different gear (i.e. rocket box, bikes, etc).

[MrJack]

Thaks for the ideas. I am really looking for a way to use 2x4's as crossbars. My problem is that I have no rain gutters on the camper shell.

Yakima and Thule make "artificial" rain gutters that bolt on to the top of the shell so you can use their towers/crossbars.

NRS makes a great "tower" system that attaches to a vehicles rain gutter. They are cheap and are compatible with 2x4s or their cheap cross bars. The problem is that they must attach to rain gutters but dont work with the yakima/thule "artificial" raingutters.

Any way to attach 2x4 cross bars to a shell with no raingutters? I simply don't want to spent $200 +. Thanks!

[jscottl67]

Not 100% sure if they would work or not on the Thule/Yakima gutters, but you could go with the Qucik N Easy mounts and make 2x4 crossbars. http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp? ... eptid=1379

If you go that route and decide you want to go to a more conventional bar they have an adapter and tubes. Not as nice as Yakima or Thule, but I piled a few boats on there on my '71 Bronco back in the day.

If you like the idea of the suction mount/receiver hitch setup I mentioned earlier drop me a PM. I have a set I'm not using out in the garage.

[sbroam]

NRS makes a great "tower" system that attaches to a vehicles rain gutter. They are cheap and are compatible with 2x4s or their cheap cross bars. The problem is that they must attach to rain gutters but dont work with the yakima/thule "artificial" raingutters.

You mean the Quick-n-Easy's? Sure they do - a friend of mine had them on his old camper shell using the Thule or Yakima brackets, can't remember which. If you know a welder or metal fabricator you might be able to get some made cheaper.

[MrJack]

NRS makes a great "tower" system that attaches to a vehicles rain gutter. They are cheap and are compatible with 2x4s or their cheap cross bars. The problem is that they must attach to rain gutters but dont work with the yakima/thule "artificial" raingutters.

You mean the Quick-n-Easy's? Sure they do - a friend of mine had them on his old camper shell using the Thule or Yakima brackets, can't remember which. If you know a welder or metal fabricator you might be able to get some made cheaper.

This would be ideal! Unfortunately the lady at NRS that I spoke with said they were not compatible. I will call back and hopefully speak with someone else. Maybe they know something that she didn't. Anyone else have experience with compatibility between the Quick-N-Easy rack from NRS and the Yakima or Thule item that serves as an attachment for vehicles without rain gutters or existing racks. Thanks!

[jscottl67]

NRS doesn't make Quick-N-Easy, they just sell them

http://store.springcreek.com/Vehicle-Ra ... Easy-c703/

Try those folks - they should be able to set you up.

[Bill M]

Yakima also makes a side mount artificial gutter. I preferr them as you don't have leakage issues. They will mount Yakima, Thule and quick and easy's. I have hauled 6 oc's with mine on fiberglass shells with no problems. The only problem is when using Yakima attachments they are a little close to the top of the shell allowing the boat ends to hit the cab if your not careful. Quick and Esays are taller so no problem.
Attach the back as close th the rear as possible so the canoe can lean against it without touching the top. Then you can lift the back end of the boat and push it into position without lifting the whole boat(won't work with fly types as you need a continous gunnel).
Bill

[npears]

Ran artificial gutters and "quick-n-easy"s on a full size blazer. No leaks and could carry a big load-o-boats. 2x4 cross-members and stackers.

You can also build up blocks to give you clearance for rope/straps and bolt it through the cap. Seal everything up with silicon caulk and make sure you have large enough washers/wooden blocks on the inside that the bolts don't pull through the cap.