Andrew's 2022 Sarge Green Mojave - Northern CA

[MER21]

Looks great! I’m having a similar issue with not finding a solution that fits my needs and am leaning towards building a rack myself. Where did you buy the aluminum extrusion and fittings from (website)? Thanks!

Give the guys over at KB Voodoo Fabrications a call. They have these brackets that will allow you to attach their bed racks to the rails in the BAK Revolver: https://www.max-modular.com/attachment-brackets/retraxone-xr-brackets

It allows the Revolver to still roll open with the rack installed.

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[arskemp]

Looks great! I’m having a similar issue with not finding a solution that fits my needs and am leaning towards building a rack myself. Where did you buy the aluminum extrusion and fittings from (website)? Thanks!

I got them from tnutz.com. I'll post a parts list and cut lengths next time I'm at my computer.

 

[The Gas Man]

I got them from tnutz.com. I'll post a parts list and cut lengths next time I'm at my computer.

Awesome, thank you! I’ll check their site out. I think it’s exactly what I’m looking for.

 

[arskemp]

Created another thread to talk about more details on the rack:
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...um-extrusion-rack-for-bak-revolver-x4s.59111/

For anyone wondering, here is my receipt/parts list from tnutz.com. Took about a month for everything to arrive. Not entirely happy with their support, since part of my items were backordered (the corner gussets) and they waited 2 weeks to notify me about that (and didn't respond to any of my emails when I asked for an updated ETA) nevertheless, they came roughly the same time as the rest of the parts. Not included in the list is a few flat and lock washers I had lying around (probably < $5 worth).

Some info:

The rack bars are 59". This gives them just a little bit of overhang on each side.
The legs are 9"
The square gussets are cheaper if you buy the bolts and tnuts with them
I bought secondary 1.5" legs in case I want it as low as possible
I bought extra bolts just in case
I bought spring loaded tnuts to keep inside the rack for mounting random items - the reason I went spring loaded here was so that I could always keep them in the rack and they wouldn't slide around/rattle. They will be what my bike racks will mount to.

Some thoughts after the fact:

- I'm using a lockwasher + a flat washer to keep them raised up enough for the m8 bolts I received to not touch the bottom of the x4s t slot. Not an issue, just an FYI.
- I could probably go slightly lower on the 9" legs. If I did it again I would probably do 8.5"
- I would also get longer legs (just in case) I wanted to transport something that was would overhang above the cab (and then get a rack the clamps on the rear hard top). I may still do this in the future If I require this scenario but I lose out on shipping buying it seperately.
- I'm probably going to add lockwashers + locktite to all the bolts other than the feet just as a safety precaution in case they rattle themselves out.
- I'm probably going to buy some security m8 bolts (at least for the feet, or even maybe a combination of types) to make it slightly harder for a thief to remove. I know it won't prevent someone with basic tools but it would at least make it slightly more difficult to take.
- The tnuts for the extrusion (barely) fit the tslot on the x4s when turned upside-down from how they are inserted in the extrusion. I was actually expecting them NOT to fit and was going to fab up something (I may still do this just to have a single bar with 2 threaded holes so it's easier to line up at each leg).

Don't have more to add until I actually use it for something (hopefully soon).

All in all, their is a LOT of expandability aluminum extrusion. I could add crossbars to the sides forward/ back for additional bracing (and add more legs too), change the legs out to change the height, add other bracketry to the tslots on the extrusion, etc. It could truly be a half rack if someone wanted to put some additional though into it or expand upon it.

 

[22_Sarge_Sport]

worked surprisingly well for an option I already had lying around (my wife had some black nail polish already).

Green Gladiator, goth wife. This guy has it figured out.

 

[arskemp]

Test fit my bike rack retrofit before the rain started to come. No bikes yet, probably next weekend I'll test fit those and depending on how they sit move the bars forward/back.

Basically, I have two yakima racks that were designed to mount to yakima's bar/old style system. They use a strap/clamping style system. They also sell something to convert this to a universal bar system called "mighty mounts". I found those for ~ $50-$60 online per set. Since I only paid $50-$80 EACH for these racks used I decided I could DIY this as well pretty easily.

What I ended up doing was:
- In the front, simply using the holes where the clamp went through and replacing it with an M8 bolt directly into the tnut
- In the rear, I took a piece of scrap aluminum I had and cut it out in a T shape. I then replaced the sliding carriage bolt that came with the yakima rack with a shorter one and used the knob from the original mount to tighten the "T" mount I made onto the rack. The T mount then has holes that mount directly to the t slot. Since I am using a carriage bolt in the rear, this lets me still slide the T mount forward/back based on the distance between the aluminum extrusion.

My T mounting adapters

How things mount in the front

How things mount in the rear (racks are different models, but the T mounting adapter works with both)

 

[arskemp]

Got the bikes on. The rack is rock solid while driving. Bikes move around a bit but that is due to the flexing of the bike mounts themselves, not the bed rack. A bit of a pain getting the bikes up there but it works.

On another note, a few other things I've noticed:

- The black anodized coating scratches super easily. If I didn't greatly prefer it's aesthetics, I'd likely not go black.
- I did notice a very slight amount of surface rust on the (what I assume are black oxide) bolts that came with the corner gussets on the bolts that mount to the x4s rail (the only bolts where water can sit). Nothing that can't be simply wiped off, but like I've mentioned before, I was thinking about security bolts and if I end up doing that I might be switching these out with stainless.

 

[arskemp]

Question Time!

Been thinking about the best way to lock down items on this rack and looking for input. Does anyone know if there is such a thing as locking eyebolts/tiedowns? Something where the eyebolt can be tightened and then locked so it just free spins or something like that? Google didn't help but I might not be using the right term.

Otherwise, what I might try is simply sticking a lock through the corner gussets. Since the lock would be (hopefully) thick enough to block the top of the bolt in the corner gusset, the gussets itself couldn't be loosened. Might have trouble finding the right size lock though...

Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[arskemp]

Question Time!

Been thinking about the best way to lock down items on this rack and looking for input. Does anyone know if there is such a thing as locking eyebolts/tiedowns? Something where the eyebolt can be tightened and then locked so it just free spins or something like that? Google didn't help but I might not be using the right term.

Otherwise, what I might try is simply sticking a lock through the corner gussets. Since the lock would be (hopefully) thick enough to block the top of the bolt in the corner gusset, the gussets itself couldn't be loosened. Might have trouble finding the right size lock though...

Anyone have any other ideas?

Updated my build log with more details on my new mounting nuts. Cliff notes, I ordered these and they work perfectly:
https://a.co/d/381wwje
https://a.co/d/8NIUHCP

 

[arskemp]

I'm part of the cool club now, finally took my obligatory one tire on rock photo:

Hit up a local offroad park on Saturday with a coworker. Might filter through my dashcam for some footage, but the Mojave surprised me! The biggest weaknesses for me are the breakover angle and general height. If I decide to make a habit of this, I definitely would want to move to some 35s/37s and a light lift (~ 2").

 

[arskemp]

Was a busy weekend! First time taking my son (14 months) out camping, and first time trying out the truck bed tent.

 

[SargeDiesel]

I keep a stool next to mine as well.... lol I ordered my RH-4x4 rails a couple months ago and I just received them a couple days ago. I love them..... haven't installed them yet, but they are nice and appear very high quality and worth the $$... They are bigger and more substantial looking in person.

Edit: finally got them installed, there are great.

 

[arskemp]

Edit: finally got them installed, there are great.

I've been loving mine as well. Adding the grip tape to it was a must have for me though, with wet shoes it makes a world of a difference.

 

[SargeDiesel]

I've been loving mine as well. Adding the grip tape to it was a must have for me though, with wet shoes it makes a world of a difference.

I will be adding as well after my next trip to harbor Freight.. don't have any skateboard shops around my location... where did you pick it up ? how did you lay it down ?

Edit: I see you put it in between every bar, looks like you wrapped it completely around.

 

[arskemp]

I will be adding as well after my next trip to harbor Freight.. don't have any skateboard shops around my location... where did you pick it up ? how did you lay it down ?

Edit: I see you put it in between every bar, looks like you wrapped it completely around.

I bought mine from Amazon. They've warn a little faster than I thought they would though, so I'm not entirely sure I would recommend them yet.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X7MJJXD?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

The strip is 2" wide and I'm happy with that size. All I did was cut equal lengths of it off the roll and then cut a curve on the corners. They are just laid on top, they don't wrap around the whole bar.

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