Extruded aluminum bars - where to source?

[chorky]

So, I need to find a solution to mounting 2 100w panels on the RTT. I think I know the route to go but want to cross-reference since this is unnecessarily expensive it seems.

For reference, my tent manufacturer does sell a 'roof rack' for the tent, however, the bars are placed strangely close together. Screenshot below.

So to quickly find a resolution I made measurements and went to 8020's website. There they have a 1530 series bar, which I think is sufficient for 2 panels each weighing about 11 pounds. I am more concerned about the force of wind driving 80 on the highway....

However, for 3 bars and 6 L brackets, it's over 400 bucks!?!?! Man that seems WAY excessive considering both panels are less than that. These are the 'light weight' options which are cheaper than both the ultra-light weight and the heavy weight, but being anodized on the ends they are more expensive, by about 10 cents, than the bare alum ones.

Anyone have suggestions for another source? I did check amazon but was not able to find 1530 series bars, nor bars long enough that I could then cut down to fit.

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[Steven_B]

When I was building out the first version of my camper interior, I found just about everything I needed from https://www.tnutz.com/

A lot cheaper ($$) than 8020 at the time.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

When I was building out the first version of my camper interior, I found just about everything I needed from https://www.tnutz.com/

A lot cheaper ($$) than 8020 at the time.

https://www.tnutz.com/product/ex-1030-black/

Nice- and site wide sale.
Just started a project I didn’t know I was starting…. ???

 

[Jaxmax]

Can you get two replacement bars from 4x4 Colorado, perhaps drill new holes if the other locations don’t work. Or do you actually have four bars up there with them doubled up at the ends? Keeping everything low profile up there is a god idea and using those bars should be sufficient for solar panel or two I would think…..Jack

 

[chorky]

nt bars from 4x4 Colorado, perhaps drill new holes if the other locations don’t work. Or do you actually have four bars up there with them doubled up at the ends? Keeping everything low profile up there is a god idea and using those bars should be sufficient for solar panel or tw

They even suggested the same lol. But if you look at the picture, their base rack goes the full length of the tent roof, yet the mounting points for the rack are pretty narrow, maybe 2 feet? I would have to buy two of their racks, cut them so only the center portion is there, and mount both back to back. That would be 600 bucks. Kinda lame. I have no clue why they design it that way, no other roof attachment is like that. The bars I speced out from 8020 would sit about that same height. I think 4x4 Colorado is using 3030, whereas the bars I looked at are 1530, so a little thinner and lower profile - that hopefully would be ok for 2 panels at 11 pounds each. I was hoping the tent company would have had a different style of rack. But I think that's all they have

 

[chorky]

When I was building out the first version of my camper interior, I found just about everything I needed from https://www.tnutz.com/

A lot cheaper ($$) than 8020 at the time.

Thank you for the reminder - I totally forgot about them until you mentioned it. Still cheaper. Just placed an order for about half the price. Still ordered some stuff from 8020 that I can't find elsewhere though.

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