RADO's Off Road Rig- Build Thread

[pbkid]

Ill measure mine when i get home, i thought it was only about 4". If if is, id be willing to trade it (with beer for extra) for some body lift and headlight projector help?

[JoFotoz]

Yea..Black Widow is 6.75 inches tall at rear...

Ill measure mine when i get home, i thought it was only about 4". If if is, id be willing to trade it (with beer for extra) for some body lift and headlight projector help?

...measure of roof rail.

Jo

[pbkid]

Yea..Black Widow is 6.75 inches tall at rear...



...measure of roof rail.

Jo

Jon, are you talking that the rack needs to be 4" from the top of your crossbars or 4" from the roof of the VX?

[VXorado]

Yea..Black Widow is 6.75 inches tall at rear...

...measure of roof rail.

Jo

Jon, are you talking that the rack needs to be 4" from the top of your crossbars or 4" from the roof of the VX?

I have 5" from the top of my crossbars to the garage door. That basket would probably work if the rack is 6.75" including the roof rack.

That picture of the Widow I posted is definitely not the rack on Jo's VX. It must be the new version, hence the part number ending in V2 (version 2?)

[VXorado]

Cool let me know.

...and if you don't want to get rid of yours, I may have another option.

[Triathlete]

Rad...do you have pics/info on your tank lift. I don't recal seeing anything about it before...or my memory is failing me (as it often does).

[VXorado]

Rad...do you have pics/info on your tank lift. I don't recal seeing anything about it before...or my memory is failing me (as it often does).

Gas tank lift. I used some metal pipe and cut it to size for longer bolts to lift the tank. The hardest part was having to cut the driver's side mount off and weld it back on with the gas tank above it.


I lifted it before Moab last year and didn't have time to fit the skid plate. I ended up putting a huge dent in the tank on cliff hanger. I have since fitted the skid plate...oops.

[vt_maverick]

Pretty sure the Thule 696 is less than 5", probably more like 3-4".

[VXorado]

Rad...do you have pics/info on your tank lift. I don't recal seeing anything about it before...or my memory is failing me (as it often does).

Don't worry, you're memory is fine and I just didn't post anything on it. I do have a couple pics that I can upload later today or tomorrow.

Pretty sure the Thule 696 is less than 5", probably more like 3-4".

Thanks Ashley, I was wondering about the Thule racks. I like the idea removing the roof rack and making a mount like Justin did on his old VX. Then height really wouldn't be an issue. I can't believe I missed the rack in Boulder that you posted. That would have been too easy...

[vt_maverick]

I like the idea removing the roof rack and making a mount like Justin did on his old VX. Then height really wouldn't be an issue.

That's exactly what I was thinking about after my first post, I actually spent a while digging on the site for his install details but couldn't find it anywhere.

[VXorado]

The wrap look good! Would like to do it to mine to cover up the crappy paint but for the cost I could just get it repainted. Wont even try to do a wrap myself. I suck at that kind of thing and it would look horrible.

Thanks Dave. I'll give you a hand if you ever want to give it a shot. Maybe on the Volvo...

That's exactly what I was thinking about after my first post, I actually spent a while digging on the site for his install details but couldn't find it anywhere.

I found it in the how-to section under accessories. I forgot he had lights mounted on the rack that looked pretty good. Maybe something to consider for your rack?

[Gizmo42]

The wrap look good! Would like to do it to mine to cover up the crappy paint but for the cost I could just get it repainted. Wont even try to do a wrap myself. I suck at that kind of thing and it would look horrible.

[VXorado]

Update on the roof basket...

I decided to pull the trigger on a Rola cargo basket.



Looks good, 5" tall, good price and positive reviews. It only cost $184 shipped from etrailer.com and the quality is suppose to be pretty good (according to the reviews).

http://www.etrailer.com/Roof-Cargo-C...ola/59504.html

I'll update with pics once I get the rack.

[JMNY]

Nice! Looks great!

Update on the roof basket...

I decided to pull the trigger on a Rola cargo basket.



Looks good, 5" tall, good price and positive reviews. It only cost $184 shipped from etrailer.com and the quality is suppose to be pretty good (according to the reviews).

http://www.etrailer.com/Roof-Cargo-C...ola/59504.html

I'll update with pics once I get the rack.

[Triathlete]

Do you have any issues catching your cladding now. I think if I was to do this I would trim the back cladding and fab a new skid plate (weld it to the existing plate) that would exstend out to the cladding.