roof rack idea???

Thinking of building a roof rack for the ol dodge, mainly because of the pain in the but it it having to move the full size 35" spare to hook up to the gooseneck every time plus the spare just takes up alot of bed room. Can't have any tire under the bed in the stock spare spot, the 5" exhaust takes up too much room. I have a toolbox in the front of the bed so essentially I only have a 6" long bed space. Thought maybe something like this built out of 1.5" .120 wall tubing might be a good spot for spare and other camping gear, etc. Would also be a good tie down section for the bed and maybe some more KC lights up there and some work lights point to the sides. Thoughts? It is kinda a rough drawing but I think you can get the idea

 

i plan on building something like it. not for a spare though, but for a light bar and for airhorn mounting.

 

That would look pretty goofy with a tire up there... :dunno:

What about a rack it on the gooseneck tongue, since you only loose the bed space when you have the GN in there?

 

even w/o trailer it kills bed space having it back there.

 

I like that idea for a rack. Build me one too please..

 

I think I can do it with 3 20' sticks of tube. Probably would be less than a bill in material

 

That would work. I've been toying with the idea of building a rack over the cab of my F-350 CC to carry my Club Car golf cart while towing the 5th wheel camper since it's not legal in the states that I travel to pull doubles.

The front mounts would tie into the tow eye pads and the back would go into the front stake pockets in the bed. A set of ramps coming off the back would allow loading before hitching the trailer and unloading after dropping the trailer.

Back in the 1970's I built a rack out of 1-1/2" Square tube for an F-250 to haul boats out of Fl. Had at least a couple of 18' boats up there with the outboard motors on them. Also hauled a 19' boat to Little Rock one time.

Good luck with the tire carrier and post pictures of the build.

OT

 

Looks like it would work just fine you might want to have a small tool box on top if the weight could be supported and space was ample.

 

i think with some triangulation in those uprights it would float over cab ok even with some decent weight

 

Triangulation will be key. you only have a reg cab so you wont need that big of an overhang. I have an extended cab and my lumber rack easily supports my 180lbs over the cab of my truck.