I don't post much here. Maybe not at all. I can't remember. I usually just search for info, and try not to ask questions that have been answered 100 times.

A few years ago, I bought skid plates a user fabricated (awesome, btw), and now I have an idea for a custom product to offer.

I just bought a cheap universal roof rack (3rd gen 4Runner). It's 1" tube, and nice enough, but it clamps to the crossbars, which I don't like.

Tomorrow, I'm going to talk to a fabricator about getting some hardware made to mount the rack using the mounting points in the gutter for the crossbars and ribs, so the rack would sit just barely above the roof.

I'll post more details when the design is done, and I know the cost, but conceptually, would any of you be interested in custom mounting hardware for universal tube racks?

I'm not looking to make money, so much as recover some of the design/prototype/production costs, so I don't expect this to be a high-dollar item. Maybe in the $50 range.

 

I made a set of my own years ago once i saw that my new rack would sit atop the bars with clamps.
No way....!
I used the rack mount points and then drilled holes through the rack tube for mounting bolts.
The offset and mounting block was 1x2 rect tubing with plastic plugs in the end. I just tapped the steel for the bolts

 

Yeah, I came up with something using conduit hangers. I figured a lot of people came up with their own solutions. I'm happy enough with this, but if enough people wanted a polished solution, I'd have something made.