Roof Rack / Basket Mounts

[Steve #1]

I'm designing a roof rack and looking for the best method for mounting. I'll most likely buy manufactured brackets. I'm looking for something that uses the existing track, or bolts in the track using the tacks mounting bolts. I have no interest in using the OEM cross bars, and the lower profile, the better.

If anyone has any suggestions and / or detailed photos of there mounts, it would be very helpful.


>>> Just to clarify, this is form my own use, I'm not trying to reverse engineer somebody else's mounts. I just can see paying $500 - $2000 for $100 worth of materials.

[Desert Dan]

Contact Off Road Unlimited in Burbank CA.

My Defender Rack uses the existing track in the roof. I am sure you can order those mounting brackets separately. There are 3 brackets per side of the rack and it is very solid.

Here is the part # for the clamp kit DS24-6

ORU
http://www.offroadunlimited.com/ProductCart/PC/racks.asp

Rack details
http://www.offroadunlimited.com/ProductCart/PC/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=307&idproduct=1080

[Spuds]

I carry big sea kayaks on top of my H3. The OEM bars were not wide enough to fit two yaks side by side and clamping a wider bar on top of the OEM bar, put everything too high. I went with a Yakima system as I prefer the round bars that they use, over the square ones from Thule.

I got a Landing Pad #2, a Control Tower, and 66" wide bars. You may want to go with the 58" bars for a basket, but you can buy longer and cut them off to any desired length. I had to go back and get the 44" fairing as I was geting quite a bit of wind noise. The 44" fairing fits almost perfectly in the slight indent on the roof.

I'll try and get a picture of the components later.

[tower]

FWIW, the Landing Pad 4 & 5 work perfectly for an H2. The rectangular nuts fit into the factory roof rack. You just need to get them up to the bolt to catch the thread.

[Steve #1]

Thanks for the info guys, gives me a few options...... they're even proud of there mounts. :eek:

Dan, how do those mount to the rail? Are they two piece?

[Desert Dan]

no pics sorry

two piece
each clamp uses two machine screws and washers to connect with a threaded pice of (upside down T shaped) metal that slides in the track. Then you bolt on an L shaped piece that provided a horizontal surface to attach the roof rack.

There are three on each side of the rack

[JH3]

I just picked up th eSurco Urban Rack. I you order the 45in wide model, you can use your existing crossbars and the rack (and rack floor slats) will mount directly to the crossbars. The rack uses track sider bolts and you can slide them right into the crossbars. its a nice clean install. If interested, i can snap some close up photos or jst go to surco's web site.

[charlie06h3]

I used the Surco mounting hardware and crossbars for my rack. I brought the H3 OEM rack basket off eBay but the mounting hardware was lost in transit. :( Since the eBay seller couldn?t get the OEM mounting hardware and I didn?t want a refund. I began researching other mounting hardware. After looking into Thule and Yakima, I used the Surco CH100 with the 53 inch Safari crossbars. I think its a little taller then stock. The CH100 mounting hardware fits into the H3 roof tracks and the 53 inch crossbars fit nicely to the roof basket.

[Steve #1]

Thanks Charlie I was thinking about making something along the lines of the CH100 and after seeing a detailed pic, I don't think it will take much work.

Thanks guy for all the suggestions.

[hummerconvert]

Just installed my arb roof rack last night. Used factory track and arb fit kit for a Jeep Cherokee gutter. There should be a actual h3 fit kit out in the future, but this works for now.