Had the idea to build a roof rack fer the Dime for a while now. And always had a basic design in mind but without any real measurements to go off of I wasn't sure how to attack this. So I took a minute and measured the width and length of the factory roof rack as I'd most likely be attaching it to what's already existing. Anyhow here's my current design:

 

looking good to me . I wanna see pictures during the process

 

I did a how to on making a rack from conduit...included material info...if that helps

 

2 things I would personally change.

1. Ditch the angle on the front. Makes you loose room for light mounting. If you do set all 4 up front facing forward the outside 2 will make the center 2 cast a shadow. With them straight at least you have the option of 4 forward or outside angled out.

2. I doubt you are gonna need that many side and back lights. Good pencil beams for the front require a few more cause they loose width as distance increases. Good flood lights spaced more apart are fine for side and back lights.

I find good rock lights in the wheel wells are more usefull than lights up high on the sides. Lights up high shadow close to the truck at night so you can't see the tires. I'm much more interested in what I'm about to run over vs what's going on 20 feet out in the woods. Rock lights just don't look as cool sitting in the mall.

I took all the side and back lights off the roof. Cheap work lights mounted under the blazer is good enough for me. The 2 55 watt lights in my rear bumper is fine for backing up. Have them wired to come on with reverse and off a switch.

 

Are you trying to figure out how much material you need with your design? Is that your question?

 

Thanks Warthog but conduit just isn't my style. Especially running a first gen. Also, I've seen far to many conduit builds... and conduit builds on JEEPS.

Neo, I've had the idea for the angle on the front for the longest time. It's kind of something I've OCD'd over a bit and I'm gunna try it that way for myself before I decide what's right. I'm only looking at getting 5 lights for now. Three forward facing and one angled out to the side left and right. I'm also unsure what you mean by the shadows thing... The red circles are showing where I would build upright supports, those aren't meant to be light locations. I'm also interested in hearing more about wheel well lights? I've never heard of anything like it. As for backup lights, I'd have one maybe two mounted up high angled down some to light up the scene behind me, and probably do the whole switch thing with that too. I've heard having them straight wired to the reverse lights is something guys don't like about that.

Jamaroon, that's exactly my question. I was working on this design in the wee hours of the morning until about noon one day after work and staying up all night. With my measurements, I was wondering if my math was correct, as far as material needed. Cause 53 feet of steel sounds like a helluva lot as for a basic roof rack(?)

 

Oh and Giovanni - my old man is wanting to put in the add-a-leaf's we've had for the thing for quite some time now before we start building a roof rack

So your in the same boat I am. Itching to build and see it come together.. but it's gunna be a while. My Old Man don't move to quick these days. Those leaf's been hanging round for months now.

 

My math comes out to 56' of material. I started building one but kind of lost interest in it. I was wanting to mount it using the factory mounts though and it was proving to be a little difficult.





This is what I had planned on it looking like.

 

nice rack jam!

 

Unless you point the lights facing straight down towards the ground they project the light out. Pretty useless unless you are on a road and looking at deer in the woods. Pointing them more downward gives glare off the body that blinds ya. I ran some for awhile but just removed them cause A. I found myself never using them B. They were in the way from loading a rack from the side and rear. Put 2 of them on my old bumper and gave 2 to dad for his yota.

Rock lights are lights mounted in the wheel wells and under the truck. They are designed to light up the ground under the truck so you can see what you are driving over. Also work well when doing night time field repairs.



I just use cheap "tractor" work lights that I don't mind as much if they get busted. There are fancy high dollar leds also. Since I ride in the woods kicking up sticks and mud/water I would get mad if I busted a $100 light on a trip.



Ones I use look something like that. The housing is rubber and holds the bulb in. Takes impacts pretty well but $12 a setup if it gets busted I can afford a spare or 2. Any cheap flood light small enough to mount out of the way can be used.