Im not really a cheep kinda guy, but i like to think that im practical.
I decided that i wanted a roof rack, and i liked the "full size" ones then i found out that they were over 1k. In the end, I came to terms with myself that a roof rack is for one thing, so no matter what, or how it looks, if it can haul your sh#*, ones just as good as the other.
so far, I have just under $200 in my rack, and thats including lights.
The 1" tubing was $86.00, the lights (4 of them) was $111.00 thats $197.00. the expanded metal was free,,, the good thing about it is that its rubber coated,, the bad is thats a shade of orange GO VOLS lol.
heres some build pics.

 

Looks Good. Nothing wrong with saving money as long as it functions.

 

Looks good!

Just to tease a bit...you left off the price of the welder and the time to learn how to do it correctly .

 

Your right, the welder is a stick welder at work.. I would much rather use a mig with gas, but a stick is all i have access to. As far as using it correctly, im just learning with it (stick), but no matter how novice I am with it, I also have a 4" grinder that can make any less than perfect looking weld look good. I can do alot better welds with a mig, but i dont have one ATM. Im not trying to say that my hand made rack is going to look as good as a profesional , machined one, but Im just trying to say that it can be done for alot less. Iv always hated paying for a name, when I can do something myself and get the same functionality from it, and a little self gratification.
Growing up, I ran just as fast with my chuck taylors as those guys did with their $200 nikes.................
jason

 

you got me sold. it looks kick-*** on the shop floor, i'd love to see how it looks on the truck with the lights mounted.

 

It's all about doing the work yourself,not always about the price. Great job!!! Wonder how much you would get for it on ebay or some other site.

 

thanks for the replies ! hopefuly ill have it ready in a few weeks.
jason

 

my perfectly useable 4x8 plywood hauler made of 2x4 and carriage bolts was less than 20 bucks.
some guys actually said it looked good.
i called it cheep and ugly!.

oh no welds!,just holes for bolts

 

Nice work, Like to see it when it is finished. I built my trailer for the same reason, my gobi though I got for under a hundred on clist.

 

here is how im going to attach the rack to the roof. i welded these bolts to the flat metal.

they will look like this when installed minus the washer and nut,, they were just on there to hold it in place while i got a measurement

the rack has 2"X2"X 4" long square stock welded to it at six diferent places as the "legs" of the rack. the stock has holes drilled in them.. the studs will fit in the holes, then they will be attached with a washer, lock washer, and a locking bolt.
heres what im puting it on..Does anyone see a reason why this might not work?

thanks
jason