John Deere gator Roof Rack

[barlowlc]

Going on a trip to West Virginia in April. Me and some Friends are going up to ride the Hatfield/McCoy trails.
Wanted a roof rack for some extra storage and began looking online. Of course I didn't find anything that I was willing to pay for. I started scrounging around and was able to come up with enough square tubing to build what I want. I've got the main frame and the mounting all done (which to me is the aggravating part) and now I can continue on with the rest of the rack.
Thinking about adding some additional space to the back and closing it in to make a lockable storage compartment for straps, chains,etc. It will look pretty close to the basket I built for the front.
Here's what I've got so far.

 

[heavydoc]

Pretty cool, looking forward to the finish pics also

 

[barlowlc]

Pretty cool, looking forward to the finish pics also

Thanks, I'll try to show my progress as I go.

 

[Jp8819]

Pretty cool and looks good so far just becareful not to make it to heavy up there for hill country, with it being high won’t take much to lay one over in the hills off camber if not careful.

 

[barlowlc]

Pretty cool and looks good so far just becareful not to make it to heavy up there for hill country, with it being high won’t take much to lay one over in the hills off camber if not careful.

Hopefully it won't be too tall or too heavy. I'm using thin walled 1x1 square tubing and will wrap it in expanded metal.....Keepin my fingers crossed. Of course by the time I get it full of junk, Who knows what it will weigh. lol

 

[barlowlc]

Update on the roof rack. Mainly just been measuring and cutting pieces. Just about have all the pieces for the frame work cut. Nuthin worth taking pictures of. Hopefully I'll be able to start gluing it together this weekend and can show some progress.

 

[barlowlc]

Worked on the roof rack a little while today. Started out by adding 3 more inches to the rear. Decided to make the tool box on the back. With the thought of what may go in the rack and the box I decided that the factory cab mounts would be too chincey to hold much weight. I added some more mounts to the cab and the rack. I think when I put the lights back on they will hide most of the outside brackets and it won't really look like it has 4 brackets holding it on. Hopefully it won't look too stupid.
I covered the back glass with some old work shirts that were soaked it water to protect it from welding splatter. Made that mistake at work a long time ago, finished welding, stepped back and the side glass shattered out of one of our dump trucks....oops.




After that I put together the top part of the frame. Added a crossmember to the bottom frame and welded all the uprights on






I didn't weld the top band on today because I want to put the floor in it before I do that. I will have to notch the floor around the uprights to put it in and it will be easier to do with the top part off. I did set it up there to get an idea what its going to look like though.





I just set that piece across the back to give an idea of where the tool box is....It will be 3 feet by 8 inches and 5 inches deep

 

[barlowlc]

Here's some pics with it just sitting on top of the gator

 

[barlowlc]

Been doing some more work on the roof rack this week. Tonights the last night I'll work on it ...Off to my parents for the weekend to help out.

I made a template for the toolbox floor and welded the floor in.


I also welded the back and the sides of the tool box, welded the expanded metal floor in, and welded the top rail. Its comin along slowly but surely.
I've still got to make the tool box lid, wrap the rest of it in expanded metal, prime and paint it.

 

[barlowlc]

The storage/tool box isn't all that large but I think I'll be able to cram a good bit of stuff in there

 

[barlowlc]

Just an update on the rack,


Haven’t been able to do much, been at my parents since the 17th. My mom got some kinda stomach virus and has been down For the count. So I’ve been tendin to Her and Dad. Bout three days later Dad got it. I think they are both coming around the bend now though. Hope to be back home around Wednesday and get back on the rack.

 

[ronn47]

Just an update on the rack,


Haven’t been able to do much, been at my parents since the 17th. My mom got some kinda stomach virus and has been down For the count. So I’ve been tendin to Her and Dad. Bout three days later Dad got it. I think they are both coming around the bend now though. Hope to be back home around Wednesday and get back on the rack.

Hope your parents are better soon.

 

[barlowlc]

Hope your parents are better soon.

Thank you, They are a lot better than they were last week. Seems like it’s sumthin all the time though. We just take the good with the bad and keep chuggin along.

 

[barlowlc]

Haven't got to do a whole lot this week but I did make a little progress.
I was able to make the lid for the tool box, weld the hinges and latches on. I also cut the rest of the expanded metal to fit. cut some chain links in half to weld onto the frame for some tie down points and started putting the rest of the expanded metal on. I put one side and the front on tonight, also welded a few of the tie down points on
but sadly ran out of welding gas.😩 Oh well, probly all I'll get done this week. Stay tuned I'll eventually get it done

 

[ronn47]

@barlowlc What type of welding gas do you need?

 

[barlowlc]

@barlowlc What type of welding gas do you need?

Its the mixed gas for my mig welder 75/25 argon/co2
I'll take the tank and get it swapped out this weekend most likely.

 

[ronn47]

I have some 75/25 here in HS if you don't get yours filled.

 

[barlowlc]

I have some 75/25 here in HS if you don't get yours filled.

Thanks for the offer I really appreciate it!!! Thats awesome of you!!! I'm back off to Mom and Dads tomorrow after work. Won't really need any till Monday afternoon so I should be able to get the tanks swapped by then. I may load a tank and take it with me in the mornin. (I don't know if you know this or not but you can get the tanks swapped at advance auto in Lancaster) I'll stop and get it swapped on the way to Rock Hill.

 

[LeeMajors]

Thanks for the offer I really appreciate it!!! Thats awesome of you!!! I'm back off to Mom and Dads tomorrow after work. Won't really need any till Monday afternoon so I should be able to get the tanks swapped by then. I may load a tank and take it with me in the mornin. (I don't know if you know this or not but you can get the tanks swapped at advance auto in Lancaster) I'll stop and get it swapped on the way to Rock Hill.

If you're heading to rock Hill. It should be cheaper at Robert's oxygen

 

[barlowlc]

If you're heading to rock Hill. It should be cheaper at Robert's oxygen

O.K.thanks I'll have to check them out!

 

[barlowlc]

due to extended hours at work and then a ruff bout with covid I've been out of comission for several weeks. Haven't been able to work on the roof rack. I'm starting to feel some better and hopefully will get back to the project soon.👍

 

[barlowlc]

Finished up the welding on the roof rack. cut the holes for the locks, installed the locks and adjusted the locks for the tool box lid.(forgot to take pics of that)
Removed the toolbox lid and locks, then painted the rack and lid with flex seal. getting close to installing!

 

[barlowlc]

Finally got it finished and here's what I got

 

[barlowlc]

Was hoping to post some pics of the West Virginia trip and the roof rack in action, but that’s not gunna happen this time. My friends made it up there this afternoon but without me. My Dads not been doing well and I‘ve been staying at his house for about 4 weeks now. He’s just too much for my mom to handle by herself. He doesn’t have enough strength to get up and down by his self. My sister has been here during the day while I work and I pull weekends and night shift. Hopefully next trip will be different and will see how the rack does!

 

[Ponzerite]

Nice! Noticed the gun boots in the back. Did you make the mounts for them as well? Either way, I'd like to see some pictures, please and thank you.

 

[barlowlc]

Nice! Noticed the gun boots in the back. Did you make the mounts for them as well? Either way, I'd like to see some pictures, please and thank you.

I didn’t make the mounts but I did modify the mounts that I bought. I’ll see if I have some decent pictures to post can’t take any right now because I’m at my parents And the machine is at my house but there may be some in the iPads gallery.

 

[barlowlc]

I used a 3x3 square block under the kolpin mount. I bolted the mount to the block and the block to the bed. The three inch block put it at the exact height for the mounting bolts in the side of the bracket to align with the bed rail. I then used an electrical conduit clamp to clamp the bed rail and bolted the gun boot bracket to the clamp. Been on there for around 5 years and works like a champ!

These are the best pics that I have with me.

 

[Ponzerite]

That really looks sharp. Trying to figure something out for myself now. I like that concept

 

[barlowlc]

That really looks sharp. Trying to figure something out for myself now. I like that concept

Thanks, I’m guessing that you have a gator?

 

[Ponzerite]

Not exactly. A bush hog brand. Same concept

 

[barlowlc]

Not exactly. A bush hog brand. Same concept

I used the kolpin in bed double gun mount 6.0 that I purchased from Cabelas. The gun boots are the kolpin gun boot 6.0. They come with a chinsey foam like insert but I took those out and purchased the actual zip up gun case that goes in the boot. I purchased the boot from Cabelas but had to get the zip up case directly from kolpin. The gun mount I used is suppose to be more of a universal type but they do have some that is machine specific. The whole setup is kinda pricey but it’s been well worth it to me! Hope this helped.