[SmellyRandy]

TO ME.... it looks like the rack is maybe 3/4 to 1 inch above the roof ribs. Not much room to really drop it too much more.

Probably correct, but I'll take every 1/8" I can get! Still in shock how simple and clean this setup is.

 

[Mar10]

I’d like to see a lower mount as well. It does indeed look like it’s higher up and could possibly go lower.

@CDL - do you think that the top of the rack could sit flush with the tops of the rails? Or is it too deep to get it that far down? TYIA.

 

[stpeccator]

Looks great, can you explain the bike tube a little more? Link to what you purchased? Thanks for the help.

 

[John P]

I measured the height of the X's roof to top of OEM rack sidebar = 4.5". The cargo rack is 5"H. Depending on the load and flex of the cargo rack base, it's going to stick up above the rails. I would be cautious about mounting it too low and scratching your roof. Lost in this conversation is the sweet McMaster Carr dampening U-bolts. Great find that could have application beyond a cargo rack. Thanks CDL, and the code worked.....dammit $201.60 free shipping

 

[Brunnie]

OK... to make thins easy for all, since our various rigs sit at different heights, put a level or something stiff and straight from one side of the rack to the other. Then measure down to the roof, preferably on a rib. Once you have that measurement, anyone can figure out if the rack setup as shown will fit in their garage.

In my case.... my garage door header is 82 inches from the floor. The weather strip deletes an inch from that. When I back my rig into the bay my awning just touches that weather strip. I have 81 inches of clearance total. The DepHep rack sits ontop of the stock rack rails, and the awning mount bracket sits ontop of the rack. From the ground to the top of the awning is 80.5 inches.
My driveway has a slight rise just as you enter the garage door, so I'm not entering flat but at a slight angle.

To mount the rack as close to the roof as possible, I'd take some 1/4 inch spacer slats and put them on the roof and put the rack on them. Then I'd fasten the rack to the stock rails. Finally I'd remove the spacers. Easy peasy.

 

[CDL]

Is that as low as the basket can go? Looks like in one of the pictures its sitting on the original rack mounts? Personally I'd like to get it a bit closer to the roof, bit this is really close to what ive been looking for.

The way I have it mounted as shown is about as low as it'll go due to one main obstacle - The basket width. It sits just a hair above the factory rack's base/roof mount (at the middle roof section). Hard to tell from this picture, but I could maybe squeeze a quarter in between the roof mount and rack.

TO ME.... it looks like the rack is maybe 3/4 to 1 inch above the roof ribs. Not much room to really drop it too much more.

Dam, spot on... it's pretty low as it is - The rack sits 3/4" just above the ribs at the narrowest point (the center/middle of the roof).

Also measured the rack sits about 2" higher than the top of the factory side rails.

Adding shots of the wet box clearance as well; this is with the rear ubolt positioned as far back as possible:

 

[CDL]

I measured the height of the X's roof to top of OEM rack sidebar = 4.5". The cargo rack is 5"H. Depending on the load and flex of the cargo rack base, it's going to stick up above the rails. I would be cautious about mounting it too low and scratching your roof. Lost in this conversation is the sweet McMaster Carr dampening U-bolts. Great find that could have application beyond a cargo rack. Thanks CDL, and the code worked.....dammit $201.60 free shipping

Awesome!! Can't wait to see how you set it up!!
I would take the time to scuff up the bolts and paint them black prior to install. The chrome contrasts too much for my taste.

 

[CDL]

Looks great, can you explain the bike tube a little more? Link to what you purchased? Thanks for the help.

Cut strips of bike inner tubing to wrap around the factory rail, and ubolt bracket over that. Fills in the ever so slight diameter gap/difference between rail and ubolt bracket, and creates more friction to hold it in place.

Links are in the first post.

 

[SmellyRandy]

The way I have it mounted as shown is about as low as it'll go due to one main obstacle - The basket width. It sits just a hair above the factory rack's base/roof mount (at the middle roof section). Hard to tell from this picture, but I could maybe squeeze a quarter in between the roof mount and rack.

Ahhhhh didn't consider that.

Much thanks for the original post and all the follow-up info and pics. I'm psyched about this and just bummed it hadn't been discovered a year ago when I built mine! Secretly hoping something wrecks my rack so I have an excuse to go this route. Everyone who does this, please post your pics!

 

[Mar10]

@SmellyRandy - if you were only closer.....I’d buy your rack. Headed east anytime soon? Lol!

 

[Mar10]

@CDL - thanks for the excellent op and follow up posts. All the detailed pics are friggin gold.
You really brought a gem to the crew. I see MANY folks going with this option.

 

[SmellyRandy]

@SmellyRandy - if you were only closer.....I’d buy your rack. Headed east anytime soon? Lol!

In 1.5 weeks but flying without the X, unfortunately! But I'm from Ohio and I've never made the drive there from Colorado so it may be on my to-do list at some point. I'll keep you in mind!

 

[TRILLS]

McMaster Carr dampening U-bolts arrived yesterday! Waiting on the Rack!

 

[11Xterra!]

Dammit, I swore I wasn't going to get pulled into mods past a new shift knob and LED bulbs. What's the discount code? lol

 

[11Xterra!]

LOL! I know right! Son-Of-A-Bitch it looks like I’ll now be buying mods

 

[John P]

Dry fitting the rack. I want it as low as possible, DC office garage challenges. Star award for CDL

 

[BigfootX]

Shiiiiiiit man, that's the cleanest and by far the easiest option I've seen. My rooftop platform via How-to: Cargo Carrier Converted to Roof Rack is nice especially because it's a little more stealthy, but man it's a total pain in the ass to mount and remove, plus I sometimes yearn for the side-walls all the way around. I definitely might go this route and replace mine in the future and look to add a wire mesh floor across it plus some D-rings.

Good lookin' out, you two.

Way easier than what i did! Nice! Love it.

 

[ShawnInPaso]

Mega tanks @CDL . Just ordered the rack!

 

[CDL]

...I want it as low as possible, DC office garage challenges....

Nice!!!!

Measure twice, drill once!!!

Post pics and measurements of where you drilled to get as low as it’ll go.

Are you gonna have it sitting on the side rail roof mounts?

 

[John P]

Nice!!!!

Measure twice, drill once!!!

Post pics and measurements of where you drilled to get as low as it’ll go.

Are you gonna have it sitting on the side rail roof mounts?

Yes I will. It will only touch the middle one, because the roof slopes off slightly to the rear. Place a strip of inner tube for cushion. Haven't got the McMaster hardware yet, because I'm incorporating an awing too. Waiting on that