DIY SUV Roof Rack Cross Bars

Materials used:
(2) 1" x 6' 14 gauge steel perforated square tube
5/16" Grade 5 bolts and eye bolts.
Black spray paint (I should have used a spray on truck bed liner for the tubes)
Tools used
Angle grinder with cutoff wheel and flap sanding wheel.
File
1/2" wrench and socket.
Thanks for watching.
-Daniel

[@grazstarr]

I don't know why but I sat through this whole vid and found it really relaxing (and informative) to watch. Cheers!

[@joeblow1942]

Nice job, dude. It’s nice to see that I’m not the only one that still makes stuff.

[@martykong3592]

:) OMG! Genius! THANKS SO MUCH for sharing! Will go get some square tubing :) ALL the BEST ! ! ! !

[@BubbleSow]

You just saved me from drilling holes in my side rails. Im using the same kinda bar. Cheers!

[@pullbackbaby]

I did this. I used paint. I cut out thick rubber strips to cushion between the square channel and the aluminum roof rails. It is solid. Thank you! Great idea.

[@swart121]

do you have any wind noise i used a solid bar and have loads of wind noise it rattels my roof to bits

[@deepsouthNZ]

Absolutely brilliant mate great job

[@RustyGlovebox]

That is a great idea and not hard to do. Thanks for sharing

[@elkpointtoolco849]

Thanks! Got it done just in time for the canoe's maiden voyage tomorrow.

[@hudsonriverlee]

Hell yes !, totally doable. My guess, probably stronger than what you could purchase pre made.

[@remmyerickson4779]

I have been trying to come up with ideas and I love this! I might try just using a u-bolt instead. Thank you for the ideas!

[@rob_v_nj]

F-ing genius... i have been looking at all of the junk aftermarket ones. This looks great.

[@231rocks]

Great idea and i drive the same exact car. Thanks for the video

[@mucio714]

Great video, I will do this on my car!

[@elkpointtoolco849]

Thanks! Hope it goes well for you.

[@mheib9904]

Great job man ! Bet you got a great manicure filing down those short pieces on the sander.

[@Afterimage_Rush]

Awesome Job!!!!!!!❤❤❤

[@ayhankudu]

awesome job men , try track bed liner spray instead paint

[@customchoppers8824]

Thank you for this video you just saved me a ton of money

[@uibsen]

Great video

[@brianyrigoyen2659]

One thing you can always give a try instead of paint is trying to spray on flexseal I did that on the top of a tough box that I have that I used to keep in the back of my truck and I would load plenty of stuff on top of it that stuff has lasted for years never got scraped off didn’t crack in the sun and was even fine in the winters and I’m in Colorado so we have drastic weather and the surface won’t be so rough that it all scrape up your canoe

[@zbow1974]

smooth finish spray on bed liner is what i used

[@enochpowelghost]

A simple practical idea to solve a problem.

[@mikelundrigan2285]

Thanks for this idea! I might make a version out of aluminum that would be quite similar as strut is wicked expensive where I am!

[@tomrum42]

Put some bike inner tube over the cross bars. It will save the finish on both the cross bars and the trim on your canoe.

[@998vick]

thx. I will do it soon. great ideea

[@user-gj8mn4ce8d]

Beauty!

[@saryanto-2781]

you can put the house holder-rubber on the edge of bar...it's nice

[@pbaylis1]

You could probably beef up the strength by nesting the next size down perforated tubing into the 1" tubing

[@eddiepates]

Genius!!!

[@elkpointtoolco849]

I don't know about that, but thank you.

[@MVL5802]

Damage to the vehicle roof rails from the clamps? Could probably use some neoprene gaskets. But otherwise very practical and on the budget.

[@zbow1974]

i bought a silicone cooking mat "2 pack" from amazon and cut some strips wrapped the rail installed the bars and said good day to the job lol

[@zbow1974]

get a 2 pack of silicone cooking mats from amazon and cut some strips and wrap the roof rack if your worried about damage from the diy cross bars, wont get any scratches that way, use a smooth finish spray on bed liner to paint everything for a much tougher and long lasting finish

[@MrMedicAdnan]

I can only imagine the wind noise thru all those holes on the express way, at least the deer will stay clear hahah.. Good idea thou, I would have used a solid piece and drilled holes only where I need to.

[@swart121]

i used a solid tube and makes noise like a steam train on jet fuel i dont think square is the way to go but round should work better i guess

[@dhanushkapalugamuwa]

Best idea

[@robertgwinn8406]

Nice

[@DerickAguinaldo]

I might do this for my subaru crosstrek. Right now I have a Thule roof rack and honestly, it's too heavy. This is a much lighter (and cheaper) solution.

[@hudsonriverlee]

Try etching type primer , or vinyl dipping.

[@marco48134]

How did the bars hold up against rust? Did you have to repaint them eventually?

[@white98cherokee]

Put the bars thro pool noodles would work great.

[@stephaniestone873]

Wrap the pool noodle in black duct tape

[@mcknz75]

Nice job. What do think the weight capacity is? I had to listen to the video muted so if you said it I didn't hear it. I'm looking to DIY beefier load bars for my old Land Cruiser instead of paying hundreds of dollars for a Yakima/Thule setup since I'll only use it about 10 days per year.

[@javedakbar7962]

SUPER

[@warblur]

Very good! How is the wind noise?

[@licker1997]

Will it work , for a kayak j mount?

[@jerseycowboy1]

Maybe some rhino liner or bed liner coating.

[@krisparson7070]

What’s the most weight wise you’ve had on it

[@eldelacolon1a]

Does anyone know if u bolts would work as well?

[@mikelundrigan2285]

Maybe use truck bed liner instead of paint! Should hold up better!

[@goldenyrs2516]

Did you try spray on bed liner?

[@benwoodard6851]

Doesn't this hum and whistle over 40mph

[@andytaylor1466]

Try spraying with spray in bed liner. that should hold up to a little more abuse.

[@elkpointtoolco849]

I thought the same thing...If I had to do it over again, I would!

[@user-gj8mn4ce8d]

Where do you buy the tubing? Does Home Depot carry it? Also, how much for two lengths?

[@thomasdixonjr9940]

Menards (.) com

[@auroraistracy]

I need to do something like this for my Jeep Patriot to carry my Kayak. I am debating square vs round tubing. What is your opinion?

[@elkpointtoolco849]

I liked the idea of square tubing for a more secure connection to the roof rack...more contact surface. I think either one would work well as long as it was clamped down securely.

[@swart121]

@@elkpointtoolco849 rather round i used square tube and the wind noise are so bad i almost took it off

[@raymndstannski3947]

how about wrapping the channel with HD grade electrical water tape?

[@pullbackbaby]

Pushing it through clear tubing might work too

[@Jimmie1988ful]

Nice pipe size pls

[@DirtyK1911]

What's the weight capacity?

[@kirklefevrejr.603]

Take it back down to metal and go to Home Depot and pick up some clean metal primer spray that on the whole thing first and then do your black and no rust will come

[@theodorenicholas2945]

primer and sand

[@elkpointtoolco849]

Very true...and one of my most commonly skipped steps! I also think the black spray paint was a poor choice overall for the environment the rails would be in. I have some spray-on truck bed liner I will use when work slows down enough for me to fix these up right.

[@Fuckyougoogle4life]

Maybe use enamel spray paint or plastic dip. I’m definitely going to do this rack thanks for sharing

[@shehansurvival4971]

Rough it up with sandpaper first???

[@edtimper2032]

Go Hawkeyes

[@elkpointtoolco849]

Defense looked good yesterday!

[@scottiemanners]

Made mine from unistrut