Not another roof rack post... This one is different

[DCarver]

I know the web is flooded with the debate on roof racks for popups. I travel with three kayaks that I strap to my tow vehicle. I want to move them to the trailer but don't want the weight or holes in the roof of my popup. I am thinking of a removable rack system that will be mounted on support bars mounted to the bumper and front cage of the popup. These would be removed before it is lifted and stored under the popup while camping. When installed the rails would sit about 6" above the roof for the rack to sit on.

I'm not sure any of this is making sense, my question really is what is everyone else doing?

[5picker]

I made something very similar to what you described for a Coleman pop-up many moons ago. I bolted small square tube 'receivers' on the back bumper (and the frame arms in the front) and attached the rack to those. It was pinned at all 4 corners (and the attaching points) and would come apart in a minute or so. It worked great!

I was pulling it at the time with a Chrysler Cordoba and had no truck bed to haul anything.
The rack carried a LOT of stuff for us!

[DCarver]

Perfect!

Glad to see my thoughts are somewhat grounded. I plan on using receiver tubing like what is on your hitch to secure the frame to the popup. You wouldn't happen to have any pics?

[5picker]

Sorry, I sure don't. Like I mentioned, MANY moons ago! LOL!

I didn't use tubing as large (2") as what typically fits in a standard hitch receiver.
Mine was only 1-1/4" or 1-1/2" square.

[Goff]

Originally Posted by DCarver

I know the web is flooded with the debate on roof racks for popups. I travel with three kayaks that I strap to my tow vehicle. I want to move them to the trailer but don't want the weight or holes in the roof of my popup. I am thinking of a removable rack system that will be mounted on support bars mounted to the bumper and front cage of the popup. These would be removed before it is lifted and stored under the popup while camping. When installed the rails would sit about 6" above the roof for the rack to sit on.

I'm not sure any of this is making sense, my question really is what is everyone else doing?

This is my first time to respond to a forum, so please be patient. I carry two 12 ft kayaks on my Viking pop up. The bumper on my pup will not support any weight and the roof will not handle the weight of two kayaks. I have attached some pictures that show what I did. There is no weight on the roof of my pup and no holes in the roof. The pipes on each side put all weight on the frame. The rack is all aluminum except for two wood 2x2's. The rack has carpet between the roof and rack and is not sitting on the roof. It can be removed in about 2 minutes.

[bikesalot1]

Goff,

If you have the opportunity, would you mind taking some detailed pictures of the crossmembers and attachment points, the piece that rests on the roof edge/frame and the attachement points on the trailer frame itself? Where did you get all of the aluminum pieces?

You did a nice job and it looks like something I might adapt for bikes.

Thanks!

BW

[Goff]

All the aluminum parts came from an industrial electric supply house. The Chanel is called aluminum unistrut. It is used for hanging conduit. It is put together with unistrut fittings. The support pipes on the sides are 1/2" galvanized emt conduit. I'm camping right now, but when I get home I'll send some pictures.

[Goff]

Bikesalot1,

I'm back home now so I will try to send the pictures you requested for the Pup roof rack.

[Goff]

Bikesalot1,

See the above pictures. I don't know why they are rotated, that's not how I attached them. If you click on them they will in large and rotate. I will send a few more that might help. If you need anything in particular let me know.

[DCarver]

Thanks for the pics, my plan was a little different. I'll post a plan in a few days

[bikesalot1]

Hi Goff,

Thanks so much for the pictures--that helps a lot. If I'm interpreting them correctly, it looks like you have bolted an "L" bracket to the bottom and made that your load-bearing component; however, I also know that you have support pieces that run parallel to the edge of the roofline. It looks like those rest on the edges of the roof, but I'm not sure how much load they're supporting. Thanks in advance for any clarification!

[Goff]

There is no weight on the roof except for side to side which is very little. The angle brackets on the frame are bolted on. The vertical pipe lengths are cut so there is no weight on the roof.