Attaching Downpipe to roof racks (tent poles)

Hi Porl, Rhino have a alumunium bracket to suit 100mm pvc pipe. They come in a 2 or 3 pkt about $40.00.

What sort of roof racks do you have? I've got the 'Sports Bar' type with the groove down the middle. I made my own brackets for that.

Describe (or give me a link to) your racks and I'll see what I can think of.

Porl

I made two pole storage cylinders from 150mm pipe and made up brackets using the perforated gal ribbon that you see used as bracing in sheds - can't bring to mind the correct term.

I bolted them to the outside of the ally roof-rack on my 100 series LC. Did the job for 4 years until I bought a CT.

Spliney

did home job the other week....just made our own clamp type of thing that can fully come off so no horrid bits stick out...just use a long bolt type of thing to do it up really tight...will ask hubby how he did it and will let ya know if this idea helps.....we use a 200mm?? plumbers pipe for our poles etc.....

Laura B

"200mm plumbers pipe"

Mate! that is 8in in diameter.

How many and what sort of poles are you looking to store.??????????????????(must be big suckers)(and lots of them)

The 'usual' size (admittedly not the only size) is 100mm ie 4inches, which can be secured/fixed on by a 6inch radiator hose type clamp.

Where would you buy such and animal - easy, in the plumbing section of Bunnings or a plumbing store.

PS

For the member above who described 'continuos metal strip with holes' - these days it is known as 'hoop iron'.

Hi

If its only a short term thing, Ive seen 100mph tape used successfully on some pretty rough roads, when you get home just cut it off.

2 birds with one stone, practice your first aid and attach your tube ;)

Cheers

A couple of velcro straps are great for keeping poles together inside that big fat pipe.

Hi any 4wd store should have the brackets for the 100 mm pipes. I got mine at tjm for $28 a pair. Two bolts hold each bracket to the rack. I would also like to share with you in case you are not aware of it that overloading your tube with poles is dangerous. Being a plasterer I carry external angles and straightedges (yes some of us do use them) in the tubes. When I had to stop in a hurry the externals broke through the end cap and flew javelin like across the intersection and just missed some school kids waiting to cross. Now I make sure the tube is a maximum 10mm longer than the externals and straightedges inside it so if I stop in a hurry they dont build up enough energy/speed in the tube to break through the end. I also stick with tubes no bigger than 150mm so as not to overload them.

Some good points made already. For a while I carried my tent poles in 2 x 100mm sewer pipes. The pipes were just the right length to avoid the 'javelin effect'. I reckon 2@100 is better than 1@200, but that is just an opinion. Point load, strength required for barackets, wind resistance etc.

To make your own brackets. Use U bolts that fit tight around the roof racks. Get some 2mm steel or aluminium to make a cap across the top of the U bolt, obviously 2 holes for the bolt ends to go through. Or buy U bolts with the cap supplied.

Use hoop iron or 2mm aluminium strapping for the brackets. Bend around the pipe and slip each end under the cap for the U bolt. The bracket is now wedged between the roof rack bar and the U bolt cap. Follow.

For extra strength, bend the bracket back over the U bolt cap and pop rivet it back on itself.

This is a variation on how I made mine (which suit the sports bar style bars).

I've since changed and have built a narrow section into the side of one of my rear roller drawers to take my poles. Surprising how little space a dozen poles takes when packed right. But I have a dual cab ute, so had the length to do it.

I still carry two pipes on the roof racks. One is for fishing rods, the other is for a home made roll out awning.

Porl, You don't need a rhino bar to fit their brackets. I bolted them to my home made rack.

just a small point, DONT listen to any crap about using tape or any ting of that strength. if you need to drill through your $100 racks, then drill. if you need to bolt them as well, then do it!!!!!

imagine the look on your face, the feeling in your gut, and the ache in your soul, when you get up each morning, look in the mirror and think to yourself......"If i had secured it properly, or got the proper racks, maby it wouldnt have become a missile and killed that man/woman/child". do yourself and everyone else on the road a favor, and do it right the first time.

P.S. if you use the BIGGER IS BETTER method of chooseing pipe, remember.....the more space inside the pipe, the more likely you are to put just that "little bit" more inside, which will mean on heavy brakeing/accident you will need stronger brackets.

if its a cost problem, christ......give me a bell, im a plumber, and i will GIVE you some 100mm pipe, for the piece of mind that the car behind me/my wife/my loved ones & friends, doesnt have a potential missile on top!!!!!

sorry to grouch everyone!!!!!!!

Dear porl,

Get some large hose clamps, you know the ones that hold your radiator hoses on,the longer the better and if they are the same brand, you can join them together to make whatever length you like.

Don't buy cheap ones; try and get TRIDON. Rus.

Hey guys, there are good heavy stainless hose clamps made for irrigation pipes taking pressures of 120-150 psi holding together 100 - and up over 170mm pipes with a bolt to clamp the pipe. If you are in the country, many plumbers or irrigation suppliers will have them or plumbing wholesalers too possibly round the city.

There is plenty of 170mm waste water pipe available too if you want to use a larger size than 100 with scewable caps and the like and clamps to fit too.

On our work trucks we just drilled straight through the pipe and racks and used threaded rod with nylock nuts and some curved aluminum plates made from scrap to stop the nuts pulling through the PVC. (We also put aluminum plates in the end caps to reinforce them. If all you are storing is poles the rod through the tube doesn't take up much extra space.

Pete

did you get the photos???hope they helped a little

laura b