DIY PITCHED VAN ROOF RACKS FOR SOLAR / ROOF RACK FOR A VAN WITH FIBERGLASS HIGH TOP

[@sassyclass2555]

Thank you for this. Im getting my 2001 dodge ram van high top done and am now ready for my solar. Was just sitting here thinking how am i going to do this and looking up racks and rails and poof your video.... perfect!

[@crusherjones6809]

This is next level, and yet you made it terrifically accessible! Can't wait to get that PDF.

[@DIYosefine]

Thank you! :) They have worked out really well for me, so happy that I can share with fellow ‘bubble-top’ van owners. :)

[@jeffroelofs6909]

Awesome video. I wish I could weld also. Love it when Tora talks ! This video popped up in my Saturday morning 90's EDM playlist. 🌞

[@DIYosefine]

Haha, that’s a very random place for this video to appear. KZbin works in mysterious ways! Hope you’re doing well Jeff! Tora seems ambivalent to being a KZbin star, so I’m happy she humors me with a bit of commentary. :P Hugs.

[@Sophia8983]

I love the voiceover of the dog

[@DIYosefine]

Hehe, it’s what she sounds like in my head, that’s for sure. :P

[@jameslamb7300]

Great Idea! I noticed that the black plastic bumper covers on your van a grayed out. The simple solution is to use a heat gun to remove the water trapped in the molecules. They will look like new, just like your van. (Waves)

[@DIYosefine]

Yes, I spend a lot of time in places with stark sunshine, dries out all the plastic parts. Thanks for the tip. :)

[@deanomutch6175]

Just started watching your videos Josephine and honestly the ideas you come up with are amazing 😁. I'm from Scotland and got a '95 GMC Vandura with the conversion that I'm currently restoring here, so I'd love to follow a similar idea with your roof rack and solar panels if I decide to eventually go off grid 😂.

[@DIYosefine]

Thank you Deano! Happy you like them. :) have fun with your Vandura. Adventures await!!! :D

[@deanomutch6175]

@@DIYosefine Thanks a lot Josephine, can't wait to get her back on the road 😁 All the best for yourself and please keep uploading 😃

[@DIYosefine]

I hope to get time for more videos, have taken on way to much work over the last year. It’s ok though, everything has its time.

[@sierracharlie3807]

Hi - These are Awesome! Nice job in the design. I need a set of these for my van! Ordered your plans just now. Thanks for the great information and custom roof rack idea. You've got great practical ideas and lots of keen insight. I'm a fan! -SC

[@DIYosefine]

Thank you ever so much, once again. I looked at your van on KZbin, the shape of the fiberglass does indeed look very similar, it wouldn’t surprise me if there was one manufacturer of them that several brands of vehicles purchased them from for conversion vans. I appreciate you. 🙏

[@steveleonard5206]

Thank you for the video. We recently purchased a 1990 Leisure Travel Van and want to work on renovations to bring back the camper van functionality. The option of building a rack on the roof to accommodate solar & maybe a deck is certainly something to consider as we wait for spring to start the majority of the work.

[@DIYosefine]

Thank you for watching! And good luck with your building adventure, it’s a fun project. If you’re planning a deck up top and your van has the same gutters as mine I would put loads of gutter mounts all around to distribute and support the weight. To solar is rather light in comparison to a deck, but a deck sounds super nice. :)

[@freeyourmind44]

Where are you⁉️ 3 years ago was the last video we have from you❗️You are inspiring and you just, do it❗️I recently bought a '99 GMC Savana Conversion Van. I will be converting it to "Off Grid". And, I found your YT Channel as i search the YTs for help. Girl, give me more... Even if it's just you and Tora, livin' the van life. Again I ask, where are you❓️ I hope you are well.❤ Pleaze advise...😊

[@calebphelps1836]

Beautiful job

[@DIYosefine]

Thank you Caleb! Much appreciated. :)

[@terajarvie4368]

I love everything about this and believe my roof is the same as yours! I believe this just solved everything I was concerned with! Thank you! I'm looking forward to getting this done! Your van is beautiful and your thinking outside the box is refreshing! Definitely following you now! Thank you for sharing this! 🙂

[@DIYosefine]

Thank you for watching and this absolutely wonderful comment on the video and my van. I’m so happy that it’s falling into the right hands of people who have use for it. Makes me so happy. Best of luck with your van!!! Big hugs. :)

[@terajarvie4368]

@@DIYosefine Thanks for your sweet response! Was just looking for another source for the gutter mounts. Amazon is saying they don't know when it will be in stock again! 😔 I'm sure I will find them on a good site though or something very similar that will work. So far nothing comes close to being better than your idea. Still looking forward to this. I will try and share it with you when it gets done! Plus always tell people about where to fine it, because I'm sure I will also get questions! Lots of hugs and safe travels to you! 💖

[@terajarvie4368]

And I did just found some on there, says 5 left in stock! Yay!

[@DIYosefine]

@@terajarvie4368 So happy you found them (sorry for late response, didn't get notified that you had answered until now). Yeah, I had to find a new link compared to when i bought them too, but seem like there are several outlets that sell them, don't know if they are different people making them or the same one selling through different outlets. Happy you found some though! :)

[@TDubsKid]

hey a good trick for the rust showing up is spray a little wool wax or fluid film on

[@DIYosefine]

Cool! Thanks for the tip! :) Can wool wax or fluid film be painted over as well? I haven’t seen any rust reappear through the paint after using the rust treatment stuff I used in this video, but always good to have alternatives should it happen.

[@TDubsKid]

@@DIYosefine also thanks for the rack idea, i'm waiting for a fiberglass topper to show up in the junk yard for my van and will be making custom racks similar to yours

[@DIYosefine]

Awesome. My racks have truly worked out great, have not budged since the day I put them on. Good luck on the bubble top hunt.

[@mair815]

Genius! Thank you.

[@DIYosefine]

Most welcome! Have fun making racks! :)

[@nikiwhitbread9341]

Looking good! Van is awesome. Glad you’re happy 😊

[@DIYosefine]

Aawww, thanks Niki. Hope you’re doing well!? Big hugs. 🤗

[@ronniec8038]

Very nice roof racks. Great design. A remote control wench mounted on the roof rack would load and unload things for you. They are remote or hand held control, most of them. The welder could set it up for you. He's good as you said.

[@DIYosefine]

Thank you Ronnie. I'm definitely very happy with how they turned out and how they've held up. Thanks for the tip about the winch, that sounds like a good option if I ever end up getting a paddle board. :)

[@tommyo321]

Awesome thanks! Great job. I will be buying the PDF when I fund a welder!

[@DIYosefine]

Awesome. Good luck welder hunting, hope you find a good one (this should not be a hard job for most welders). :)

[@henryf5464]

a flower of a woman. You make me smile.

[@DIYosefine]

Thank you soooo much Henry. I appreciate it. :) hugs.

[@Vanrchy]

Great idea thank u 🙏🏿

[@DIYosefine]

Thank you!

[@skapunkoialternativeliving6522]

Thank you for your information though I can i'm d I y myself I can make my own but I found them on amazon or ebay i'm gonna buy them myself and make them jus thank you for the information I love it cost me nothing to make well it's gonna cost me

[@VanIife]

Genius

[@DIYosefine]

I have my moments. ☺️

[@FindingMyMuse]

Love it! 🤩🤩🤩

[@DIYosefine]

🤗

[@nicholassutherland6771]

What was the total cost of your awesome roof racks?

[@DIYosefine]

I believe the grips were $50-60 and I think I paid my welder about $280-300 or something to put it together (that was definitely a good deal I’d say, someone else might have charged me more) and then I spent another $30 on paint. So roughly $350-400

[@DIYosefine]

Saying that, my welder also spent time figuring out all the angles and how to best put the rack together, as I had only done a rough sketch of how I wanted it at that point. So I reckon I paid a bit for the extra time it took to do that.

[@Rwelliott2]

Clean

[@DIYosefine]

Thank ya! :)

[@rayelance6086]

Nevada or California location????

[@DIYosefine]

Cali in this particular video.

[@freeyourmind44]

Where did you go⁉️

[@DIYosefine]

I took a job that’s kept me too busy to make KZbin videos. There’s always a possibility I may return though. Still living in the van! :)