OT: $10 DIY Roof Rack Cross Bars

[DerbyDad03]

I may need some extra cargo room when I move my daughter next weekend, so I
bought one of those soft car top bags just in case. It requires cross bars for
the roof rack. I didn't want to spend ~$90 on aftermarket cross bars or (worse
yet) ~$160 for OEM, so I made my own for under $10.

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq121/DerbyDad03/20150802_131120_zpsijfqno2v.jpeg

I flattened the ends 3/4" EMT conduit to fit snugly into the track and then used
a nut and bolt fore and aft to prevent them from moving frontwards or backwards.

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq121/DerbyDad03/20150802_134558_zpsgwksegiw.jpeg

I had the nuts and bolts, so all I needed was the conduit ($3.50) and the
PlastiDip spray. ($6.00)

I flattened one end of the conduit in a vise and then made a jig to hold the
flattened end vertical so that the other end would be perfectly parallel when
I put it in the vise.

Yes, I know the front bar is pretty close to the roof, but the cargo bag straps
will be pulling up on it, so it won't be a problem. I'll have a moving pad under
everything, including the bars, anyway.

[micky]

In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 5 Aug 2015 19:58:48 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03

Well as someone who when he was little scratched the bathroom chrome
when using a pliers *through* a washcloth, I can tell you that pads
don't always work, but I agree the cargo bag straps will be pulling up.

I always buy a can or 3 of Dupli-color paint, when I get a car, because
they always stop selling the color my car is in a few years. Dupli-color
on the only occaions I used it matched so well I couldnt' see where I
had painted only 10 seconds after sprayingi on. A dark colored car if
it matters, I don't know. It was incredible. . (I used my left-over
brown color to paint my AC compressor cabinet.)