Roof Racks for your RAM?

[Wiredawg]

Hi Larry,

No problem with questions... happy to answer. For whatever reason, could not reply to your conversation. Took second Covid shot yesterday so feeling a little poorly today.

Honestly, I wished in hindsight that I ran the track all the way front to rear. My focus was mount the canoe and aero wing.

All screws installed, tube with gun used for commercial adhesive. The only Yakima gutter mounts used to aluminum mounting system bolts. From the Yakima gutter mounts up is all Yakima. You might say I modified how Yakima gutter mounts attach to the roof.

The forming process is time consuming and needs a big well mounted vise, a medium and large crescent wrench to slightly form each one. I think I hit your questions... happy to answer any more questions and help any way possible.

PS, the ring is not used in this project but could be if additional stability or other purpose required.

 

[Wiredawg]

All,

A little side story... using a 5500 truck as a general purpose pickup is a little overkill, as we sold our heavy 5th wheel RV and bought a Super C Motorhome. Anyhoo, why I decided to keep the truck is the bed is so versatile... even though my bed a lot higher than pickup, I can load from side, I can load cargo with my tractor, and the aluminum mounting system is the best feature on the bed.

Anyhoo, old crip story on the truck.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Larry Sciblo]

All,

A little side story... using a 5500 truck as a general purpose pickup is a little overkill, as we sold our heavy 5th wheel RV and bought a Super C Motorhome. Anyhoo, why I decided to keep the truck is the bed is so versatile... even though my bed a lot higher than pickup, I can load from side, I can load cargo with my tractor, and the aluminum mounting system is the best feature on the bed.

Anyhoo, old crip story on the truck.

Cheers, Ron

Thank you Ron....awesome job. Thank you for all your answers....I appreciate it. I know what you mean about the second vaccine shot. I was feeling groggy for about 4 days..I think I am through it. LOL Cheers!!

 

[Wiredawg]

Larry,

Should you decide to drill your roof, be sure to wrap the drill bit about 1/8 inch from the tip several wraps with electrical tape to control penetration. Once I got the curve right on the tracks, I taped in place, used Sharpie to mark holes, used punch with slight tap, and drilled the holes. I squirted a slight dab of commercial adhesive in and around the holes, squirted the holes of the tracks, carefully placed track on roof, started all screws by hand, working from ends, tightened like it was an engine head, all snug. There are plastic end pieces chose to not screw in... just used the adhesive on them.

That's about all I can remember. Anxious to see what you come up with.

Cheers, Ron

 

[R.Taylor]

L-Track rocks... I did a bunch on my new work van. It's rather inexpensive for what it does.

https://www.uscargocontrol.com/collections/airline-straps-hardware

 

[Elsbury]

Nice truck wiredog! I too have thought about a roof mount setup on the Mega Cab...a lot of roof up there lol. Like your setup.
I too had my second round of vaccine. .....just made me sore like I worked out too much lol.

 

[bcbender]

Hey Ron, I am thinking about putting this L track in the bed to mount my AUX tank and then bonus, I can use it for tying things down when the tank is not in the truck. My question is do you have to drill and mount it for every hole? I have a sample piece and looks like the screw holes are about 6" apart, I was going to try to hit the cross members of the bed and avoid drilling a hundred holes if possible. My plan was to put two tracks at the edge of the bed (before the radius) and then one down the middle and use these to mount the tank. Just trying to decide if I want to go angle track like you did or standard track as it comes in black and would be semi hidden on the black bedliner... I assume the black coating may not be so durable tho.

 

[Wiredawg]

Hey Ron, I am thinking about putting this L track in the bed to mount my AUX tank and then bonus, I can use it for tying things down when the tank is not in the truck. My question is do you have to drill and mount it for every hole? I have a sample piece and looks like the screw holes are about 6" apart, I was going to try to hit the cross members of the bed and avoid drilling a hundred holes if possible. My plan was to put two tracks at the edge of the bed (before the radius) and then one down the middle and use these to mount the tank. Just trying to decide if I want to go angle track like you did or standard track as it comes in black and would be semi hidden on the black bedliner... I assume the black coating may not be so durable tho.

View attachment 128100

I would do every hole AND use commercial sealant. The strength comes from distributed load.

Cheers, Ron

 

[bcbender]

Can anyone comment to the countersink angle of the USCC L track,... I called yesterday and was unable to get a strait answer from their sales / support, I have read comments / reviews about the counter sink angle being 100 degrees and fasteners being difficult to source, but the fasteners they sell are 90 deg. As much as I'd like to spend more than $1 / fastener, I can get a much better deal on fasteners from McMaster (etc). Going to pull the trigger tonight on the powder coated black standard track I think, but was just curious if anyone who's installed it had the deets.

 

[Wiredawg]

Can anyone comment to the countersink angle of the USCC L track,... I called yesterday and was unable to get a strait answer from their sales / support, I have read comments / reviews about the counter sink angle being 100 degrees and fasteners being difficult to source, but the fasteners they sell are 90 deg. As much as I'd like to spend more than $1 / fastener, I can get a much better deal on fasteners from McMaster (etc). Going to pull the trigger tonight on the powder coated black standard track I think, but was just curious if anyone who's installed it had the deets.

View attachment 128316

We're two weeks into a four week RV trip, so can't recall which screws I used. I went the easy route and carried my cargo track to Home Depot and used it to source 3/4" long flush and stainless steel metal screws... absolute necessity to be flush. Worked bigtime.

 

[bcbender]

Thanks Ron,

I now have a sample piece from a Nascar hauler buddie, I plan to do the same. I can buy much less cost in bulk. Just want to get the track and AUX tank finished before I head out for weight and shake down trip. Enjoy your vacation!

Brian

 

[Wiredawg]

Thanks Ron,

I now have a sample piece from a Nascar hauler buddie, I plan to do the same. I can buy much less cost in bulk. Just want to get the track and AUX tank finished before I head out for weight and shake down trip. Enjoy your vacation!

Brian

Brian,

Great... hope you're taking pics. Wonderful to be out and traveling again. Life is great in America!

Cheers, Ron