[dave07]

I was just wondering if anyone has made roof racks for their soft top or fibre glass top vitara. You can buy the calmini one but has any one made their own?

[Fatzook]

dave07 wrote:

I was just wondering if anyone has made roof racks for their soft top or fibre glass top vitara. You can buy the calmini one but has any one made their own?

CJ had one made. Its a bit low rent IMO ( finish and structure) but he says its pretty strong.

[HarryHoudini]

I stopped a Sierra on the Gold Coast a few Months ago to enquire on his roof rack,he had a Glass top and a Holden VN/VP Wagon factory black rack just bolted on. Ok for light loads apparently so i got one off a wrecker for $50 and just working up the courage to bore holes in the Fibreglass canopy to fit it.

[Poita]

I looked at getting one made, but it was going to work out more expensive than the Calmini one, so i just bought that. It's strong and well made.
I am welding some mesh to the floor of the basket this week hopefully so that will make it even stronger again.
Bunnings has galvanised reinforcing mesh in the garden section, 75x50mm squares at 4mm diameter for $44. It's 2x1.2m so plenty big enough. Will get the lot re-powder coated once it's all welded up.

Only annoying thing was as it's American all the nuts/bots were imperial and I only have metric tools!

[Marked]

like this one?
outdoors

[Fatzook]

Marked wrote:

like this one?
outdoors

Thats the one. It looks to be made by the same 'fabricator' as the-ninja-kid's barwork on his SV420.

For $450 its not bad value, but most of the welds have been ground back smooth. A poor welder makes a great grinder

[atari4x4]

^^^ i've seen hills hoists with lower profiles than that.

[Fatzook]

atari4x4 wrote:

^^^ i've seen hills hoists with lower profiles than that.

Yeah it could have been a little lower. But spending the time doing that would drive the price up.

[Poita]

Cheaper than the Calmini, but from what I could see the Calmini seemed a bit better built, sat lower and included a basket with 4 spotlight mounts.

[Fatzook]

Poita wrote:

Cheaper than the Calmini, but from what I could see the Calmini seemed a bit better built, sat lower and included a basket with 4 spotlight mounts.

Bingo

[skyman]

Quote:

A poor welder makes a great grinder

Ain't that the fruggin truth. (As Sky wipes the grinder dust from his face, and shakes metal out of his hair and ears) armsup

Looking at the options, couldn't one be adapted from another vehicle, or a generic one be used? If I could not weld, I think I would rather fabricate one from materials I could rivet or screw than use the one pictured above.

[Microwire]

Disclaimer: Not the best idea and I wouldn't do it but....

If you just made a short one that you could bolt to the top of the windscreen and then above the B pillar that could work but you couldn't carry much more than a body, 2 at the absolute most.