Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Back with another question!

Thinking ahead to the roof rack I want to build, what do you all think about using a roof joist to mount a unistrut roof rack system?

Bracket: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Simpson-Str ... /302794204

Unistrut: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Superstrut- ... /202714274

Essentially the bracket would be mounted like this (photo courtesy of Drenalin Adventures youtube channel):



And the unistrut would attach to these to form a bar that runs parallel to the side of the camper (as opposed to across). These brackets claim to have 1,870lb floor 'down' load strength and 2,340lb roof 'down' load strength. The purpose of these racks would be to mount things like an awning and potentially a rooftop solar shower.

Other brackets I have seen are 10x the cost or more (without the bar) so this seems like a good option for me - what do you guys think?

And the unistrut would attach to these...

And how will the strut attach to the bracket?

Tony

tony.latham wrote:And how will the strut attach to the bracket?

Bolting it together, I can draw something up if you'd like

Bolting it together...

I finally get it. You're just going to attach a piece of Uni-Strut to two of these. I assumed it would be a two-bar roof rack.

Tony

tony.latham wrote:I finally get it. You're just going to attach a piece of Uni-Strut to two of these. I assumed it would be a two-bar roof rack.

Yessir!

I am very happy with the roof racks I made. They're extruded aluminum with T slots. I made the simple brackets out of 1x2 aluminum and made a 1/4 rubber spacer to clear the trim. Work great for mounting almost anything. I don't think I spent more than $80. Mounted the brackets, measured, then ordered the extruded aluminum to length. They're rock solid.

Onajourney wrote:I am very happy with the roof racks I made. They're extruded aluminum with T slots. I made the simple brackets out of 1x2 aluminum and made a 1/4 rubber spacer to clear the trim. Work great for mounting almost anything. I don't think I spent more than $80. Mounted the brackets, measured, then ordered the extruded aluminum to length. They're rock solid.

This looks really nice!

Onajourney wrote:I am very happy with the roof racks I made. They're extruded aluminum with T slots. I made the simple brackets out of 1x2 aluminum and made a 1/4 rubber spacer to clear the trim. Work great for mounting almost anything. I don't think I spent more than $80. Mounted the brackets, measured, then ordered the extruded aluminum to length. They're rock solid.

Are those 20/20 (square) or 20/40 (rectangle) bars? Are they strong enough to put an 80 lb canoe on them?

Pmullen503 wrote:Are those 20/20 (square) or 20/40 (rectangle) bars? Are they strong enough to put an 80 lb canoe on them?

Here is what I ordered from TNUTZ. They will cut to a 1/16" I was wrong about the cost. The 2 extrusions were $60 but also $40 in shipping. They definitely can hold a canoe. I have my awning, rod holder and large Pelican gear case mounted to it.

EX-1020-BLACK - 1" x 2" BLACK Smooth T-Slotted Aluminum Extrusion
• Length (in):
60
• Fractional length:
0.688" (11/16")
• Machining for one end.:
1/4-20 x 1" deep tap $1.50
• Machining for opposite end.:
1/4-20 x 1" deep tap $1.50

Onajourney wrote:

Pmullen503 wrote:Are those 20/20 (square) or 20/40 (rectangle) bars? Are they strong enough to put an 80 lb canoe on them?

Here is what I ordered from TNUTZ. They will cut to a 1/16" I was wrong about the cost. The 2 extrusions were $60 but also $40 in shipping. They definitely can hold a canoe. I have my awning, rod holder and large Pelican gear case mounted to it.

EX-1020-BLACK - 1" x 2" BLACK Smooth T-Slotted Aluminum Extrusion
• Length (in):
60
• Fractional length:
0.688" (11/16")
• Machining for one end.:
1/4-20 x 1" deep tap $1.50
• Machining for opposite end.:
1/4-20 x 1" deep tap $1.50

Great. Looks easier and cheaper than trying to put something together from Thule or Yakima parts.

italianub wrote:

Onajourney wrote:I am very happy with the roof racks I made. They're extruded aluminum with T slots. I made the simple brackets out of 1x2 aluminum and made a 1/4 rubber spacer to clear the trim. Work great for mounting almost anything. I don't think I spent more than $80. Mounted the brackets, measured, then ordered the extruded aluminum to length. They're rock solid.

This looks really nice!

Yes It does

I used a rack meant for attaching to the gutter rails on a cargo van. The side brackets are reversed and bear on the edge of the roof, then bolted to the sides.