I'm getting a shell for my ex-cab Taco, and I'm wanting to throw some racks on there so I can haul my surfboards around. My needs are as basic as you can get, I just need some bars on risers on top of the shell. I don't need tracks or anything, just something I can bolt down with some silicon and forget about forever. They don't need to carry much weight, maybe #50 at the very most.

So, what's the cheapest/easiest way to go?

 

well most rack like thule and yakima start round 200 for a full set up. proline makes some afordable ones just as strong as the two said brands

http://www.a1-autoracks.com/proline-...ter-racks.html

or you know how to weld you could just fab up your own and just bolt it to the camper shell and use some silcone to seal the bolt holes, that would be the cheapest way i think, and just put some pcv pipe foam over the cross bars and your good for surfboards and kayaks.

 

This way is also good, because you can build it to your specs. I'll be building my own, because I hate how tall most aftermarket ones as they mount way far off the roof.

 

Nice. I found a bolt-on solution:



Its designed for gutterless cars, but it looks like I should just be able to drill the feet and bolt it right on. It even already has all the straps and padding I need to put my surfboards on. Best of all, it was only $69!

 

where did you find this rack at for only $69 bucks?

 

www.surfboardracks.com of course!

They're a "network site" of www.saltwaterdreams.com and I've dealt with them before. Great service and quick shipping. I'd looked everywhere for that particular rack, and I've never seen them for less than like $90 plus shipping. They also have a gutter-mount rack for the same price. Pretty good deal considering they come with all the straps and pads and stuff.

 

Yakima's are about the best I've seen... get two sets of their "landing pads"
(2 to a box, 4 required)[set 06 is for caps I think] bolt them to the cap roof then when you don't need the rack it comes off and you save some gas.

Thule's version called TK13 mount system... on looking at them this may be a superior version since it includes a ring on the inside which may provide an attachment point for clothes hanging and so forth inside the cap which the Yakima's do not, also the Thule's seem to be a bit moe resonably priced.

I'm going to be switching to a set of one of them soon, probably the Thules now I've seen them.

 

we have the thule version on my dads ford they work great but realy pricey. and i dont think the cross bars make much wind resistance though

 

i had a rack on my shell that doubled for boards, etc.
those look nice for $69!
i also have gutter mount yakimas bars and use those on a 'gutter' equipped 510

use big washers on the inside w/lotsa silicone!
the ex drove under a tree branch and bent the rack w/o pulling it from the shell, due to the big washers inside.

 

I don't know about the Thule/Yakimas but the cross bars I have now are a similar size to what they sell and they make a whole heap of difference. When I put them on two weeks after I bought the truck [the dealer had taken them off and left them in the bed] I could actually feel the difference, and it cut about 5kms+ off my fuel range to boot [I checked it... same trips...same average wx and temp, same vehicle load except for racks installed, same running till dead on the road side then jerrycan to get to station]...
Using about 63L/504kms +/- I'll update once I get the darn things off...

 

i have a 92 pickup extracab with caper shell. i was thinking about just buying a surco safari rack for a 4runner and just straight bolting it on to the shell. and not buying a railing system. has anyone done this before?? would this cause the shell to cave in when weight applied? i do know that you wouldnt be able to put alot on it. please pics for anyone with a shell and a rack and basket setup.

 

You just need to check the literature that came with the cap (if you have it) or check the mfg.'s web site... The average I've seen seems to be about 300lbs. max for a rack load but you should check that out...