Roof rack-steel tube

[Tinbasherdan]

How do, I'm looking to build a copy of the camel trophy rack for my discovery, as finding an original is like rocking horse poo. I need 25mm o/d x 3mm wall, which in struggling to fin unless I go seamless hydraulic, and the prices are giving me a heart attack. I can however get 2mm wall for peanuts, but I'm concerned it'll be too thin really, any thoughts or advice?

 

[Gareth0123]

25 X 3 is really heavy stuff (if you can get it!) at around 1.7kg/mtr. 1" o/d X 16 g should be more than strong enough.

 

[blenkie1]

You can get 26.9x3mm circular or 25.4x2mm ERW tube. Any good?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

The originals were 5mm wall! With a roof tent on there's at least 60kg up there so I'm reckoning that 2mm might be a bit flexible

 

[Paul.]

Why not use 26.9 x 3.2 CHS, readily available and cheap as you like

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Send us a linky Paul

 

[Paul.]

Send us a linky Paul

Any steel stockholder will have it, 3/4" nb gas pipe is the same size, will cost a little more though.

http://www.parkersteel.co.uk/Matrix/32/Circular Hollow

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Spot on mate, now just need to learn how to accurately bend pipe and I'm away

 

[sparkysy]

What about steel conduit that will be 20 or25mm diameter just can't remember how thick the wall is I know it's not thick but the 25mm takes some pulling on!

 

[bigegg]

30mm or even 40mm SHS x3mm is going to be stiffer than 25mm x5mm.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I've seen similar racks built from conduit, seemed a bit flexible

 

[bigegg]

If you desperately need to have 25mm x3mm, James Dunkerley at Batley carry it. They have a branch on the wrong side of pennines, as well.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Thing is its a hell of a rack as it is, not just a simple flat jobby, anything bigger than 25mm is going to look ridiculous perched on the roof I think

 

[Paul.]

Spot on mate, now just need to learn how to accurately bend pipe and I'm away

I wouldn't bother for a one off job, use weldable elbows instead
http://www.fhbrundle.co.uk/products/25E26__weldable_Elbow_20mm_NB_90_Degree_To_Suit_26_9mm_O_d_tube

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Mr Paul, I owe you a brew sir

 

[sparkysy]

Yeah I just read the previous post about gas tube that would be excellent nice and stiff! If you bend it yourself make a few trial runs to find where your machine starts and ends the bend I mark the middle point too then mark the middle of your bend and line them up in the machine to get symmetrical bends!

 

[Tinbasherdan]

This is the rack in question

 

[bigegg]

Thing is its a hell of a rack as it is, not just a simple flat jobby, anything bigger than 25mm is going to look ridiculous perched on the roof I think

I've had a google - see what you mean!
Me personally, I'd forget about an exact copy, and go for thinner section 25mm SHS, but braced more? Perhaps using 25mm x 50mm for the cross members which lie on the roof, where they won't be so obvious.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I'm a bit of a stickler for originality :/ I missed out on buying one a few years ago for 400 quid, genuine LR and I could've punched myself in the face

 

[bigegg]

Just realised you want CHS, not SHS - not sure if Dunkerleys carry that, sorry for mis-read!