I'm wondering if anyone has made or bought a roll bar (or cage) combination lumber rack, specifically for a pickup but a 4runner would be neat too.

I'm sure it can be done, but I've never seen anything. I want to make my own, I'm really looking for ideas and to talk about design/safety considerations.

I think it would be cool to have a something functional for carrying lumber and yet add to the safety of the vehicle as well. Furthermore, I've thought about developing a removeable headache rack and canopy. By removeable canopy I mean some flat panels that could easily be attached to the roll bar/ladder rack assembly, but also be removed when desired. Possibly even made out of heavy canvas.

I would very much appreciate some advice and suggestions, or comments, positive or negative to my idea. Bring 'em on. Thanks.

 

 

Sort of, for the bed portion that's okay. I would think to carry long lumber, or even 2x4s there would have to be some extension over the cab portion of the truck. It would even be nice to be able to carry 4x8 sheet goods.

Nonetheless, thanks for the input Rocket.

 

[QUOTE=I think it would be cool to have a something functional for carrying lumber and yet add to the safety of the vehicle as well. I would very much appreciate some advice and suggestions, or comments, positive or negative to my idea. Bring 'em on. Thanks.[/QUOTE]

I've been thinking about doing something very similar down the road. I was considering getting a used lumber rack from the parts trader and customizing it to suit my needs. Unlike yourself, I prefer the non-cab-over style. Seen too many shaking while on the freeway. I was planning on cutting the cab-over part off and then fabricating new bracing all around and adding a side-ladder to access the top. Should still be abel to carry a 4x8' sheet. Just my 2 cents.
AG

 

Freejake3, I know what you mean by the shakey state of many of these lumber racks when it comes to the part that goes over the cab. I wanted to maintain the cab over part because I sometimes have the need to carry some long non sheet products and they don't have the ability to be stable in and of themselves. Take for example a long piece of trim or perhaps a box of vinyl siding, they would be too long and end up damaging the top of the cap. Also, because it would be a roll bar too, the structure itself would extend to the frame of the vehicle, thus giving a lot more rigidity to the overall structure of the rack. I'm hoping this will take away any wobbling away from the over cab portion.

Haven't thought about the ladder idea, but that's an interesting concept. Are you talking about maybe a mini ladder that would go from the sliders to the rack? That would be super strong, but I'm curious how that would look. Thanks for the input.

 

I see you point on the need for the cab over especially when you're carrying 20' sticks of 2x4. The ladder idea would be killer? Ever seen the old Land Rover design. You'd just have to keep it as low profile yet strong as hell.

 

Ah, okay, gotcha on the ladder design. I think that would work better for a 4runner than a pickup.

I'm really stuck on the side panels that would close in on the sides, and essentially make a kind of canopy out of the rack. I'd like to make the panels removeable, yet secure your stuff inside. I think I've settled on have the very top be waterproof canvas with buttons to hold it down. Just as I have long items to carry, I occasionally have the need to carry something taller than the heighth of the cab. This has been a sore spot in the canopies I've owned when it comes to carrying something tall, like a refrigerator for example.