Surco, Defender, or Yakima...?

[John E]

Making future roof rack plans. Can't decide between which rain gutter mounts to use, any thoughts?

Defender is what ORU is calling their version of the ConFer style rack.

I'm leaning towards a set of Yakima to start but they only come in sets of 4 and I think I'd like 6 mounts.

Initial use will be to attach an awning with some sort of rack or platform coming later. I've got an idea of how I can attach my homemade awning to the Yakima mounts, have to figure out a way to attach the Surco or the Defenders.

[Jacket]

Is this for an FJ60? These are pretty nice:

http://www.gamiviti.com/html/product...rackparts.html

The 30/60 angled risers are perfect for the 60 roof line, and work pretty well on an 80 as well. They will bolt to any flat rack with plates that you can drill a hole into. The flat racks that Tim sells are matched for these risers.

[John E]

It's to fit on top of my FJ62.

[Wareagle]

I have a surco. Is ok, but sat too tall for my taste. I cut stanchion for lower rise 6209542702_a3054e11b7_b_d.jpg

Cut version

6422106185_95891cfdb5_z_d.jpg

[1911]

DiamondRax makes a nearly exact copy of the Con-Ferr rack: http://www.diamondrax.com/

They're in CA too.

[Flagster]

I went with Yakima 1A towers...easy to find odd numbers on CL if you need more than 4...I run 6...sometimes 8
I chose because I thought 1K for a rack was a little much....

[John E]

Yakima.

Thanks for the suggestions, I found a set of the rain gutter 1A towers on ebay to get the project started.

Don't know why I didn't think of that earlier. Brain fade.

For now, it's off to Yosemite for a few days of camping.


Onward...

[Flagster]

This pic shows the three 1A towers I am running with a Yakima megawarrior extended basket...I don't run the basket much as I like being able to throw my canoe on top...

[REDrum]

Three Yakima cross rails is what I went with on my 80. I have OEM sub tank so wont be carrying much up top other than surf boards and kayaks. Front rail is pretty much for wind deflector and place to land limb risers, rear two do their thing. When using my RTT I'll add a fourth, so I'll have three under it.

[John E]

A box with 4 used Yakima 1A towers sitting on the dining room table.

Still have to inspect them but the price was right and I got the locking inserts too.

Thanks for the ideas.