Wanted for trip

Woodsy, extra spare, have you thought about a tyre and a couple of tubes? They could be a lot lighter than the spare wheel. I have cut out carrying two spare wheels lately. Do you need a basket that big? Noticed there was a 900x1200 on trader and I will have one of those too in trader soon. Pretty inexpensive in the scheme of things.

Woodsy when I changed my 4WD about 9 months ago I sold the basket but kept the Rhino Commercial roof bars. The reason was that the only essential use I found for the basket was as a base for the 6th. spare wheel & tyre. A small amount of junk I could stap/bolt directly on to the roof bars without the need for a separate basket. What I found for the spare wheel was a locally made cross bar that runs N/S (front to rear) that bolts on to the Rhino roof bars and has a long 1/2 inch thick verticle bolt arrangement on it to secure the 6th. wheel. So the 3 roof bars finish up in an H pattern (seen from above), which is very strong. I had one welded up specifically to suit the roof bars of our 4WD. These are available from both major suppliers in Adelaide (Roof Rack Ciy and also Roof Rack World), and I also saw one type there made by one of the major national players which were fairly expensive but no doubt available interstate too. Perhaps someone could weld one up for you too. Enjoy!

Why not just get a piece of steel mesh and attach that to the bars? If necessary, you could strengthen it with a light steel frame around the edge, or 4 lengths of angle iron on the top.
You can then tie your gear down to the mesh with straps, ropes or one of those cargo nets with numerous hooks on it.

Woodsy

Had similiar dillemma a few years back and simply bolted a sheet of 18mm weather ply to the bars with U Bolts.

Drilled a number of holes around the perimeter and laced some string through and then used one of those trailer mesh cover thingies with all the hooks to keep it all in place. Worked a treat and if you bung a tyre up there you can drill some more holes in the base to securely locate it.

Simple, strong and cheap as chips. Was also ideal for throwing firewood on top because the bits can't stick thru the mesh and scratch the roof.

Thank you JohnR (Vic), Arkay, Roachie and John LG for your input & ideas. Some food for thought there.

Reason I wanted a basket that big was to carry the extra spare, couple of swags or tent & poles, table & chairs (camping style not dining). I like to travel with the Patrol well loaded inside but not too the roof. I like things accessable so I put the bulky and awkard stuff on the roof. If I carry extra fuel I have carried steel jerry cans inside, fixed into a bolted down frame, and low down in preferance to on the roof. (As a safety precaution I weld the jerry cans into the frame and then just grind the welds off when I want to use them). Excuse me while I go and get my fire suit on!.

I like the idea of the ply platform. I was going to build a basket but nooooo time!

I change tyres as a long long long last resort and would prefer to get a rim as I want to put a new tyre on it and use it with my existing new spare as 2 new rear tyres. The other half worn tyres I will use for the front and as spares.