[HOW TO] Build a DIY Low Profile Roof Rack For $350!!!

Learn how to build you own DIY Low Profile Roof Rack for $350!!! Save up to 75% off retail prices compared to: Prinsu, Southern Style Offroad, Greenlane Offroad...etc.
This build USES FACTORY MOUNTING HOLES!!! No drilling into your vehicle. Can be made without a welder too.
Get you metal from:
fastmetals.com/
Parts links:
Extended roof rack mounting bolts
Stainless M8 1.25 x 70mm Button Head Socket Cap Bolts
amzn.to/3K56VD4
Adjustable feet for front stabilizer mounts:
amzn.to/38lR4lw
Rubber trim for wind fairing:
amzn.to/3DxWF3F
Clear trim to protect roof under wind fairing:
amzn.to/3tZwMqn
Pneumatic chamfer tool:
amzn.to/3LI1aeU
PrimeWeld Cut60 plasma cutter:
amzn.to/3EMsXua
PrimeWeld MIG180 mig welder:
amzn.to/3yCAKan

[@SFARCO]

**I added links to parts in the description**

[@ElCineHefe]

Your mounting bracket assembly is the best design I've ever seen. Excellent!

[@SFARCO]

I appreciate that! I tried to make everything streamlined but strong.

[@OMACMedicFiveZero]

I’ve been trying to think of a way to make this kind of rack for my FJ80. Absolutely stealing the adjustable feet idea. Its awesome seeing someone actually make something instead of a ‘how to bolt this shit on’ tutorial. Damn good work. Safe travels!!

[@SFARCO]

Thanks! I hope your build goes well, and I'm glad this video helped. I bet it will look sweet on your fj80.

[@isorobot]

Great idea of using the wooden brackets first and the machined brackets are they way to go, I teach engineering at the university level and try to emphasize that fasteners position other parts so the parts can carry the load, well done!

[@SFARCO]

Thanks! I appreciate hearing that. I definitely want it to be structurally sound.

[@SaltCityFab]

love the simplicity of the design and how sleek it looks. Great job. Looking forward to building my own.

[@SFARCO]

Thanks, hope it goes well for you!

[@xclusivekid123]

That’s looks really clean.. Definitrly enjoyed seeing you put this together from beginning to installation.. I’m looking to have something made for my 16 Accord to mount 2 spares on my roof.. Definitely gave me inspiration to design something to be made for me.. 💪🏼🙌🏼

[@SFARCO]

Thanks! That's awesome, and I am very curious, is this an off roading Accord?

[@charliebravo5562]

Great video thanks for spawning some ideas for my rig.

[@SFARCO]

Thanks! I hope it helps.

[@joshc4136]

Looks great! Nice step by step directions and always appreciate the price break down. I say leave the rails bare.

[@SFARCO]

Thanks! I appreciate the feedback.

[@wync2203]

very nice, it looks good!

[@SFARCO]

Thanks man, appreciate it!

[@ElCineHefe]

GREAT VIDEO!!! THANK YOU!!!

[@SFARCO]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@Swerly01]

That turned out awesome!

[@SFARCO]

Thanks!

[@dannielrolfe8079]

Awesome! Well done. I learned a ton.

[@SFARCO]

Thanks!

[@ajaydesai6525]

Excellent work and extremely useful video. I really appreciate how in detail and meticulously you have explained from beginning to end. I like to build it for my 2013 ML350 SUV conversion, because no one makes it or readily available. Thank you!

[@SFARCO]

Thanks! I'm glad it helps. I can imagine the aftermarket options being slim for that. But I bet it will look nice!

[@Debsaga]

Super cool!

[@SFARCO]

Thanks!

[@scubasmith]

Great work man. Nice job.

[@SFARCO]

Much appreciated!

[@irarrazaval6956]

Great job!

[@SFARCO]

Thank you!

[@joshuakim5905]

That is one of the cleanest diy prinsu style roof racks! I diy'd a frontrunner style using t slot too! Shipping from tnutz is expensive tho. I mounted it to the factory rails for now but found your video when looking at making new mounts/horizontal rails. I'll be ordering 1/4in aluminum flat from fast metals! Nice job!

[@SFARCO]

Thanks, I appreciate it. Yeah shipping is kind of ridiculous everywhere. Hopefully your build is going well. Fast Metals is a good choice, they seem to be very fair with pricing.

[@softscrubb]

looks great

[@SFARCO]

Thanks!

[@Kilimanjaro1267]

nice and Thank you

[@SFARCO]

Most welcome!

[@garylanders1470]

Nice build!

[@SFARCO]

Thanks!

[@photog1529]

Looks great. Definitely powder coat the crossbars. I'm doing the same for my '95 4WD Suburban and decided to go with the black anodized 80/20 crossbars. I originally had Yakima crossbars and a basket, but wanted something lower profile...my mpg is bad enough as it is.

[@SFARCO]

Thanks! Yeah, I bet your gas mileage isn't the best. Mine isn't either.

[@wisatakeluarga3912]

Good job... 👍👍👍👍👍

[@SFARCO]

Thanks!

[@DustinGorman]

I love the design, and all the m measures you took to ensure it was done right. For the crossbars, you should set them in a little lower so it's like a recessed surface. I think that would be cool. And yes, color match the cross bars.

[@SFARCO]

Thanks! I thought about recessing the crossbars but decided against it since I was planning on mounting an awning to it. This way I don't need spacers and it has a larger mounting surface.

[@asidp4s]

Great job buddy, that rack looks amazing. This will be my next diy project. Thanks for the build and material breakdown!

[@SFARCO]

Thanks! I hope this helps you on your build.

[@asidp4s]

@@SFARCO I forgot ask… what are the dimensions for those mounting spacers? I’d like to follow suit and stay away from the individual spacers. Thanks again bud!

[@SFARCO]

@@asidp4s I can't give exact dimensions because I wanted them to be extremely close fitting to add to the rigidity. So each spacer has its own dimension slightly. So if you want a really tight fit, you will need to take your own measurements. But the stock bar I started with is listed in the breakdown. I want to say they were 4.5 inches long, to slightly cover the rubber trim.

[@asidp4s]

@@SFARCO ok will do! Thanks again for the quick reply bud!

[@SFARCO]

@@asidp4s No problem!

[@Heinz76Harald]

well done, sir

[@SFARCO]

Thank you!

[@DuanDao]

really stout build, i was kicking around the idea of using delrin/nylon blocks for the spacers, you using that block of aluminum is a good idea for you case

[@SFARCO]

Yeah I wanted to make sure it was nice and strong since I am using it for a rooftop tent and awning.

[@broken8wt407]

damn good job.

[@SFARCO]

Thanks!

[@jpmsteffen]

Awesome job, looks great. I like the crossbars as is. Shameful that you didn't give credit to your assistant.

[@SFARCO]

Lol, I did ask. Some people don't want credit.

[@jamesmengel5818]

Looks great, would like crossbars powder coated (but that’s me). I definitely learned a lot, like you have a lot of great tools to make the job a ton easier 🤣! However despite the lack of tools in my arsenal I’m still planning on doing this for my 97 4Runner as my factory roof rails have now failed with just cheap cargo basket on top, didn’t even have that much weight up there🤣! Great video!

[@SFARCO]

Thanks! Yeah the right tools make it easier but this build is still completely possible with an angle grinder and a drill. Thats crazy that they failed. Best of luck with your 97, hope it goes smooth!

[@joeychagnon3427]

will be doing a modified version on my 91 S15 Jimmy. Should be easier in theory because its much more square and flat, we will see in a couple weeks when shes back from getting repainted.

[@SFARCO]

Oh, cool. I bet it will look really nice!

[@joeychagnon3427]

Thanks!@@SFARCO

[@burnsdesignco5593]

Did you ever get yours finished?

[@joeychagnon3427]

My trucks actually been getting painted and when it gets back I am V8 swapping it I will probably do it after that. :)@@burnsdesignco5593

[@y9880]

I wish i could do that type of work its amazing

[@SFARCO]

Thanks! Almost anyone can do this, you just have to get started.

[@y9880]

@@SFARCO not if you don’t have the tools or knowledge 😊

[@SFARCO]

@y9880 lol! That's how everyone starts. No tools, no knowledge. You pick a project, buy the couple tools needed for that one project, and learn. Then repeat. Soon enough, you will have a fair amount of tools and knowledge.

[@momomotorsports]

I want your Inferno 4Runner so bad!!

[@SFARCO]

Lol, you should see it now. I just lifted it and put larger tires on. And now I have a superlite rooftop tent and a eezi-awn awning. More project videos are coming!

[@Bonafide_Breed]

Need this for my GMT800

[@SFARCO]

That would look real nice!

[@DuanDao]

the angle of the roof is what I'm running into right now, luckily I'm using blocks of delrin, just need to get an angle finder so i can figure out how much to shave off the mounting blocks. Great viedo

[@SFARCO]

Thanks, sounds like you're getting close to finishing! Hope you like it.

[@SFARCO]

Or just starting, if you are using the spacers to mount your template.

[@DuanDao]

@@SFARCO i used a lot of MDF to help get things going. I’m almost there, has the day off so i put the brackets on and noticed that the angle is there. I need an angle finder to know how much of the delrin i can shave off. I don’t have a disc sander so may use my table saw to get the proper angle. Almost there. You video gave me a lot of insight as you touched on the angles

[@SFARCO]

@@DuanDao Awesome, I'm glad it helped.

[@DuanDao]

@@SFARCO you know what i just realized. My phone has a level app that i can use to find the angle of the bracket *facepalm*

[@y9880]

How much is it to buy the whole set up directly from you my guy!?

[@SFARCO]

Sorry, but I don't sell them. But it's a good starter project.

[@mauricecooper1276]

Looks awesome but I would powder coat

[@SFARCO]

Thanks! So you think it would look better with the crossbars black.

[@JuanGonzalezFlores]

Looks great! Could you share the measurements?

[@SFARCO]

Thanks. Pretty sure all the pertinent measurements are listed in the video.

[@ivan0468]

😲😲

[@gigilaroux762]

Can that aluminum hold a rooftop tent? Trying to come up with something for our 2015 Honda Pilot. Oddly no one has an aftermarket roof rack system for this model car.

[@SFARCO]

Yes it can. The reason I built the rack was for a rooftop tent and awning. It has handled both no problem.

[@chrislansaw9491]

who did you order your t-Slotted aluminum from. That looks like it didn't come from fast metal by the order in the cart?

[@SFARCO]

I got it from tnutz.com, but there are a few sites to buy from and their prices and shipping rates vary.

[@billblow5739]

Getting ready to do the same build debating between 11gauge steel and this 50/12 aluminum. Would rather go aluminum route but will be mounting a RTT. How do you feel about crossbar sturdiness

[@SFARCO]

They are very sturdy. I have a RTT and awning mounted on my rack.

[@billblow5739]

@@SFARCO hate to bug you with another question but wanting to go aluminum and having a very hard time finding any aluminum sheet with dimensions to work for side walls. Was this recent enough you may be able to include link to what cuts of metal you bought

[@billblow5739]

@@SFARCO most specifically the cross bars

[@SFARCO]

@@billblow5739 Near the end of the video when I go over the price breakdown, I go over all the materials I purchased and included screenshots of the carts. That should cover it all. The crossbars I got from tnutz.com, but there are many places with varying prices. Fastmetals.com for the rest of your aluminum.

[@woytovich]

Can you stand on it? How much weight will one of the t-slots support?

[@SFARCO]

Maybe. But I wouldn't put all my weight on just one bar. I have a rooftop tent on it and it handles that great.

[@Crt5]

Do the extruded bars make any wind noise when driving?

[@SFARCO]

No, the wind fairing keeps them nice and quiet.

[@TheDrmolle]

Can you please be more specific on how to ask for the extruded aluminum bars from Fastmetals. I getting lost in their menus.

[@SFARCO]

Are you looking for the extruded aluminum with the T slots? Because you have to source from somewhere else fast metals does not sell that.

[@SFARCO]

If you are looking for the t slot, I would check out tnutz.com.

[@WesleyEccles]

For the when deflector, why do you put the angle on the left and right versus cutting it straight, or continue in the contour down to the car?

[@SFARCO]

In order to eliminate the gap, the wind fairing needs a curve where it meets the roof. If I didn't cut the angles on the side, the wind fairing would terminate at nothing. Here, it meets up with the side rails, giving it a nice clean look.

[@WesleyEccles]

Awesome that makes sense, thanks for the quick reply! Great video.

[@SFARCO]

@WesleyEccles No problem, thanks!

[@Jeep79]

That’s masterpiece bro thx for sharing im looking for some aluminum extrusion bar like that i can not find any sugestión thx

[@SFARCO]

Thanks! Try tnutz.com

[@Crt5]

Ali express has them cheap

[@percyjackson2800]

I will be doing mine soon but I’m planing on using extruded 80/20 on the sides cause I’m not so good at fabricating and don’t have the tools. I’m not sure if I should use 2 or 3 inch sides. What’s your opinion on this?

[@SFARCO]

Unless you have height restrictions, I would go with the 3 inch for the sides. Gives you a better platform for mounting accessories.

[@franciscomojica2472]

Fucking nice roof rack

[@SFARCO]

Lol, thanks!

[@ElCineHefe]

How the heck did you wire up the lights? The wires are invisible.

[@SFARCO]

I just tucked the wire in the channel along the windshield. Fit is perfect, nice and snug. Didn't even need anything to hold it in place, and looks real clean.

[@ElCineHefe]

@@SFARCO That's freaking AWESOME! I didn't know that was possible. I'll use that too in my own builds. THANK YOU!

[@SFARCO]

@@ElCineHefe No problem!

[@KawikaDowney]

make a few and sell-em

[@SFARCO]

Lol, they would have to be more $350 to make it worth my time.