Roof rack Storage
Submitted: Saturday, Oct 09, 2004 at 23:51
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16927
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Member Eric
I thought I would share a idea I got into my head and finished off today . Went into repco and purchased on of those Boat type winch motors , rated at 2000 pounds . Cost was $90.00 I mounted it to one of my beams on the garadge roof , ran the cabled down the wall and suspended the remote at arms reach . I made up a sling for my full length roof rack and hoisted it up to the ceiling. I also fitted up 4 safety straps just to make sure it dosnt come down on anyones head . Now when I want my roof rack on , I lower it onto the roof and away I go . When i get home from a trip i just winch it off . I tried it out and it took around 3 min to fit and remove . Very happy chappy .
cheers
Reply By: Mad Dog (Victoria) - Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 00:45
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 00:45
Great idea Eric. I'll keep it in mind if I ever get a roof rack.
AnswerID:
79551
Reply By: Member - Jack - Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 06:24
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 06:24
Great idea - now I just need a garage : )
Jack
AnswerID:
79557
Reply By: Member - Brian (Gold Coast) - Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 08:45
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 08:45
Thats a good idea Eric.... but like Jack, I don't have a garage, and the roof rack lives on top of the garden shed... now you now have me thinking of a "swing-away" crane, with the winch motor you spoke of, to lift and place my rack on the shed roof... hhmmmmmmmmmm......... might have to think this through a bit more... LOL....
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Brian (WA) - Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 11:01
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 11:01
yer great idea I dont have a garage or roof rack, but i do have my solor
panels in a frame which is mounted on my roof. something like that
will make it easier to get them on and off after our trips.
brian
FollowupID:
338978
Reply By: Member - Mark (VIC) - Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 14:24
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 14:24
Yup great idea Eric. Thought of this before. Only thing is, I can't get my 4x4 in the garage while the roof rack is on. Door height is too low:(
AnswerID:
79584
Follow Up By: Member Eric - Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 20:34
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 20:34
what if you drop tyre pressure ?
FollowupID:
339007
Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Monday, Oct 11, 2004 at 11:47
Monday, Oct 11, 2004 at 11:47
Ha, yeah same, I was thinking how awsome that was and how easy to do, but yeah I've got one of those terrible 70's arches over the garage door, I had to take the rubber stoppers of the roller door just to get it in with the roof bars on, the basket on top of that, no chance!!! BUGGER.
...
.....
Where did I put that brick cutter?? LOL
FollowupID:
339064
Reply By: Waynepd (NSW) - Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 17:25
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 17:25
Great Idea Eric,
I have been wondering how i was going to store my new Shippshape rooftop camper, I think you have just hit on the very idea i needed. I was thinking Block and Tackle but the winch is the way to go.....i'll be heading to Repco tomorrow...
AnswerID:
79596
Follow Up By: Member Eric - Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 20:38
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 20:38
Just make sure you get one to suit , The one I got only
winches up . got down movement , it has a cluch you loosen . If I was to do it again , i would spend a little more and get a warn on . They sell them at arb , around $250 . I made up a arm with a socket so i can release it grom ground level
Hope this helps
FollowupID:
339010
Reply By: Willem - Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 19:44
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 19:44
Great idea Eric...don't forget to remove the luggage from the roofrack first, tho...hahahahaha
AnswerID:
79609
Follow Up By: Member Eric - Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 20:35
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 20:35
You just gave me a top idea , ill leave all my
camping gear up on the roof rack , so next trip drop on and away you go . cheers
FollowupID:
339009
Reply By: Member - Allan - Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 23:18
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 23:18
Manual boat winch dynabolted to the wall does the same thing and no need to connect cables to battery. Also handy to lift camper top off trailer so it can be used as a normal car trailer (unfortunately 350 days of the year in my case).
AnswerID:
79643
Reply By: rosco - Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 23:26
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 23:26
Eric,
Great idea, but for the other readers. Why spend $90 on electric with little or no reverse control? Why not use a small manual boat winch ($30) and a couple of cheap sheaves across the ceiling and down the wall. That way you can lower the rack under control. Slip on the ratchet lock and align the rack. Nothing worse than the roof rack hitting the 4x4 and missing the roof gutters. Ouch!!
Rosco
AnswerID:
79644
Follow Up By: V8troopie - Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 23:55
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004 at 23:55
I have been through that exercise Rosco and I have a permanent set up to get the dinghy up under the roof and a temporary set up for the roof rack.
What I found is that cheap sheaves might be more trouble than the money safed, especially if they are plastic sheaves. Plastic and steel cable is not a good mix.
What I would like to hear idea's about is how to balance the roof rack so it stays level when winched up with a single winch. I find that task tricky, especially since the troopy is
well over 2 metres high and the roof is only about 3 metres up.
Klaus
FollowupID:
339030
Follow Up By: Member Eric - Monday, Oct 11, 2004 at 06:50
Monday, Oct 11, 2004 at 06:50
Then you dont need a winch . All you need is 4 tie down straps . just throw one on every corner and around your roof beam , and tighten them up individually , you can bet the roof rack up of the car easy enough that way . Now i measured the roof rack and found the center point . i marked it with some tape . I connect the cable straight to that point . it lift off very
well ballanced . One hand on the controler and one hand on the roof rack . it lifted off no prolems , and straightened out
well when it sat on the beams
FollowupID:
339035
Follow Up By: Member Eric - Monday, Oct 11, 2004 at 06:55
Monday, Oct 11, 2004 at 06:55
Rosco ... It lowers by clutch wheel . The more you loosen , the quicker it comes down and vise versa . My coment was that I had to reach up to release the clutch. So had to make a contraption to be able to release it from ground level . If i replace the motor , i would make sure it wound both ways . Just for convinience
cheers
FollowupID:
339036
Reply By: Baz (NSW) - Monday, Oct 11, 2004 at 07:56
Monday, Oct 11, 2004 at 07:56
Great idea now i just need a vehicle that i can fit a roof rack too !!!!!
AnswerID:
79658
Reply By: Patrol22 (Queanbeyan - Monday, Oct 11, 2004 at 08:45
Monday, Oct 11, 2004 at 08:45
Yeah Eric great idea. Now all I've gotta do is find a way to jack my garages up high enough to fit the patrol under.
Cheers
Pete
AnswerID:
79664