attaching stuff to the roof of truck

[swynx]

Was wondering how you guys would recommend attaching a light bar to the roof? I wanna do a basket but I'm not sure about how to attach that to the roof. Screws?

 

[97RangerXLT]

I would look at magnets.

No drilling or damaging the roof. you will have to run the wiring somehow, but that can be run into the top of the door frame and then down the A pillar or B pillar to connect it into the wiring harness.

One thing about the magnetic mount tho, you will need to remove the lightbar (or whatever you have mounted) frequently to wash the roof and the magnets, as it will collect a fine grit of dirt under the magnets and eventually chafe the paint. Make sure your mounting magnets have a soft face so that they don't scratch the paint.

AJ

 

[Rangurr]

Maybe drill and throw in some RTV sealed riv-nuts? That's how I intend to add my roof rack and light bar.

 

[black_demon69]

Maybe drill and throw in some RTV sealed riv-nuts? That's how I intend to add my roof rack and light bar.

don't you need a special tool to install the riv-nuts?

any holes drilled will need to be sealed with rtv.

 

[straycat]

You want to add a basket? I bought the Yakima roof rack, wind fairing and the Basketcase on Ebay many years ago. You can get them used in really great shape as well at a decent price. I bought more stuff at ORS (Onion River Sports) at a really nice price for my 2010 Nissan Rogue in 2010. I have the light brackets to mount to the roof rack om my Ranger. You can put them in the front or the back. I have the wires already run and when I go off roading and camping I just clip on the lights and connect the wires. I can just leave them on as well if I want to.
If you don't have the extended cab truck you can use one mount kit and bar and add the light that way and you can take it off when you need to. No drilling, marking, scuffingof the paint either.

 

[Rangurr]

don't you need a special tool to install the riv-nuts?

Yes and no.. It's suggested that you get the tool and just do it right but you can run a long bolt down through it with a nut wedged against the top of it then turn the nut down which basically pulls the long bolt up and pulls the riv-nut into it's locked position. Where you would only be doing 2, this method would make more sense than buying a tool but if you're maybe doing a whole rack or planning on adding more riv-nuts elsewhere, just get on Amazon and buy a $20 tool.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Does your truck still have the rain gutter? If so, make a rack that attaches there by pinching the gutter between two pieces. I made the front half of a ladder rack attach to my '86 Ranger by doing that. The back half attached to the canopy. No holes, no possible magnet scratches.

Richard

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My brother works with a guy that cut down a roof rack from an Expedition and put it on his F-150, makes it look like a giant sport trac.

You might try something similar with an Explorer. They have supports on the inside of the roof so it would be stronger than screws into sheetmetal, magnets or super glue.

Then you could just put your basket on the rack when you need it.