By Slider on Monday, March 05, 2001 - 04:20 pm: Edit

I'm curious to hear of the failures and successes of any customizations of roof racks. Ladders too, seems like the genuine LR ladders are whimpy, and the way they mount to the door skin seems silly. If you really use and abuse your roof top storage, there should be some alternatives here? Beefy Hannible racks are overbuilt, but I like that...this is the sort of strength I'm talking about...too bad thier esthetics suck, even when they're painted.

By Ron on Monday, March 05, 2001 - 04:25 pm: Edit

Never had any problem w/ the LR adventure rack. Made by safety devices so it is tough. I beat the p*** out of it. Only a few scratches. I have built a hi-lift mount for it and i will make a shovel mount soon. I have had tons of stuff up there (there is a large box with my 110 hood in it now). Had a roof off my 88 up there before. Looking at a roof top tent too.

Ron

By ho on Monday, March 05, 2001 - 04:41 pm: Edit

yes, agree that the ladders are on the weak side.
but i think as long as you are careful with it, it more than serves the purpose.

i mostly use the spare tire to step on.

as for the LR adventurer racks, those are about the strongest ones you'll find.

By nadim on Monday, March 05, 2001 - 04:52 pm: Edit

Custom made rack, with 1 inch square tubing, very heavy, but had 11 guys up there once, and a huge proffessional TV camera, watching a rallye in 1999...
i have even winched from it once, when the disco was about to say hello to the mud from the side windows!
unfortunately, it is very heavy, so now it is off...new design next time, will make it less tall, and lighter, and will have soime sort of integral roll cage!
see pictures under picture gallery, nadim samara

By Disco Mike on Monday, March 05, 2001 - 10:05 pm: Edit

After much research I went with Brownchurch of London (imported by Rovers North). Nice looking and very strong , I've had 400+ lbs. on it in the Sierra mountains. It has a thick hard vinyl coating, not paint. If you are going to put a lot on your rack you should change to HD springs and Bilstein shocks. Bilstein is not the best off road but WOW what a difference with a full roof rack. You can't have it all and Bilstein out performs Ironman, Rancho, OME etc. for mountain road handling with a full rack. If you want maximum flex put less on your rack and go with a different shock. Brownchurch makes tents, showers and all kinds of stuff to add to the rack. I've added sand ladder holders, shovel and pick, limb risers and Hella lights.

By chrisvonc on Tuesday, March 06, 2001 - 08:25 am: Edit

Lets see if this message gets through..
I made flooring for my rack to increase the effective use of it. I get more use out of it now than I think I would have if I didnt add the flooring.

By Jake on Tuesday, March 06, 2001 - 09:19 am: Edit

I have a Brownchurch, it looks good and is made quite well. I recently took it off and put a floor in it ala the Disco web tech article. Brownchurch has boocoup accessories for the rack including tents and such. A good high-capacity rack

By Joshua Bova (Jbova) on Tuesday, March 06, 2001 - 09:29 am: Edit

The Kaymar Racks seem pretty hard core, they are flat bottom, and are about the biggest I have seen. They are rated to hold more than you should put up there anyway. The only problem is one that I am trying to get around now. The only dealer I can find in the US is in CA. I am in NJ. The rack doesn't collapse for shipping. Acme-Outfitters quoted me a little over $300 to ship it. The rack is a great deal if you can pick it up. A full size rack is $472 they have a mesh flooring option for another $35 I have found cheaper shipping companies, but it is still cost prohibitive. If you can get to them it is a great deal.

-josh

By joey on Tuesday, March 06, 2001 - 10:36 am: Edit

Which company sells the Kaymar Rack? Where in CA? Does the $472 price tag include all mounting accessories?

By Joshua Bova (Jbova) on Tuesday, March 06, 2001 - 11:14 am: Edit

Acme-outfitters

They are primarily a Land Cruiser shop but they import the Kaymar racks for Discos too. The racks are one piece, all the gutter mounts are attached. It is the best deal I have seen on a rack, the thing really looks great. Their website is listed in the resources section under vendors. Go to the site, click the Kaymar image, click roof racks and then click pricing. On the bottom of the price list, they have the disco racks and ladders. They don't have much in the way of pictures, but the description sounds good.

-josh

By joey on Tuesday, March 06, 2001 - 11:52 am: Edit

found the site after posting message, but I sure would like to see more pictures. acme outfitter's store is about 34 miles from where I live!

josh, do you anyone who actually owns one?

-joey

By Ray on Tuesday, March 06, 2001 - 06:29 pm: Edit

Joey, do you have their phone number? What is their address. I live in Ca but where are they located. Thanks

By joey on Tuesday, March 06, 2001 - 10:00 pm: Edit

Ray, here's the address:

Acme Outfitters
23000 Cricket Hill rd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
408.996.9651

By Ray on Wednesday, March 07, 2001 - 10:40 am: Edit

Thanks Joey

By wes on Wednesday, March 07, 2001 - 11:42 am: Edit

Other than the tech article regarding the roof rack flooring, what else can be used for flooring? Looking in the photo gallery, Ho has a white colored type of flooring, Ho, if your out there, what did you use and how?

By Slider on Wednesday, March 07, 2001 - 08:52 pm: Edit

I work with manufacturers on a daily basis. I have an idea... that you can get punched (and ribbed)aluminum walkway (scaffold) sheets (usually used on building rooftops to access AC equipment) you can mount this up on your rack as a walkway and/or mounting point, and possibly make a quick release system, that in an emergency, they could be used as traction/sand plates also... They might whistle in the wind, but if someone sends me a roof rack, I'll do all the neccessary testing...ha, ha, ha

What do you think of that...??
Maybe I'll start mnufacturing the system??

By wes on Wednesday, March 07, 2001 - 10:34 pm: Edit

Slider, where are you located?

By slider on Wednesday, March 07, 2001 - 11:44 pm: Edit

I'm here in western/central CT...

By wes on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 01:45 am: Edit

damn...too far. thanks anyways

By Tom Proctor on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 09:18 am: Edit

Slider,

Can that stuff hold a oad *between* the rack frame rails? Will it sag, dent, tear?

I've given thought to something like this, but I just don't feel that it would be better than marine ply for my needs.

I'm in NJ by the way.

Tom Proctor
96 Disco

By Diesel on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 09:40 am: Edit

The material on Ho's roof rack is aluminum. I have done the same thing to my factory rack. I bought a 4'x8' sheet of 1/8" aluminum, cut it, drilled it, and bolted it to the roof rack. I used 2"x1/4" carriage bolts with Nylon lock nuts. The rack space is now extremely useful, with no worries of stepping through the rack rails onto the roof. The wind noise has been reduced significantly (i.e. the radio doesn't have to be turned up as loud.)

By wes on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 10:27 am: Edit

Diesel, got any close up pictures? thanks.

By Diesel on Thursday, March 08, 2001 - 01:26 pm: Edit

The aluminum floor is a recent addition to the truck so all my pictures are still on the roll of film. I am planning on finishing the role shortly, and will send an entire gallery to Ho. I just have to find time to scan all of them. I can give you some ideas based on what I have done. Email me.