Slightly Unconventional Roof Rack Homebrew

[radiogaga]

OK, so here is the details. I have a 12', 2" mast which slots nicely into my drive on mount. All is good when the mast is ratcheted on to the roof bars when it's light. Not so last night when the 6m UKAC contest ended. It took an age to get the mast back on to the rack.

Any ideas as to a simple solution that I can make to add to roof bars to allow the mast to be take on/off quickly and easily (in the dark )

So, calling all you fabricators and engineers....

[dcwuk]

Something like this?
http://www.screwfix.com/p/ladder-clamp-set/62335
Just thought I would give you a quick option these could probably be engineered to suit your mast
or even as they are.

[radiogaga]

I looked at that, without some half reasonable fabrication I had visions of firing a 12' missile at the car in front when I braked hard. I was thinking maybe of a scaffold clamp.

[cjay]

a coupel of Scaffold clamps would work but so would a couple of U bolts.

The ladder clamp relies on having rungs to sit between, the furthest a ladder can slide is the distance between rungs but a pole could slide completely out, so, how about a ladder clamp and a couple of scaffold clamps on the pole spaced to sit between your roof bars?

You'd not need to mess about with the scaffold clamps once attached to the pole, they'd just be 'stops' and the ladder clamp would hold the pole down.

[radiogaga]

a coupel of Scaffold clamps would work but so would a couple of U bolts.

The ladder clamp relies on having rungs to sit between, the furthest a ladder can slide is the distance between rungs but a pole could slide completely out, so, how about a ladder clamp and a couple of scaffold clamps on the pole spaced to sit between your roof bars?

You'd not need to mess about with the scaffold clamps once attached to the pole, they'd just be 'stops' and the ladder clamp would hold the pole down.

I think I get that

Do you think the strength of the 2" pole would be compromised if it were to have two 10mm holes through both sides?

I was thinking about this over breakfast - maybe fixing two long bolts vertically through the roof bars to coincide with two holes in the pole, couple of wing nuts on top to be double sure. All depends on the strength of the pole... Thoughts?

[Mattylad]

How secure is the roof rack to the vehicle?
They are designed to take a downwards load - not one pulling it from the side.

[Black_Pirate]

Drain pipe......like what they use on vans....?

[grafter]

An eight nut clamp on each bar or just use gaffer tape.

[Mattylad]

Get a bit of rope around it - were you never in the scouts?

[kr0ne]

Wind a powerful electromagnet round the roof bars...

Mount the on/off switch on the centre console and you can use it in conjunction with the brakes as artillery!

[radiogaga]

Wind a powerful electromagnet round the roof bars...

Mount the on/off switch on the centre console and you can use it in conjunction with the brakes as artillery!

Possibly the best answer.

I am going to settle for a bolt through the roof bar held permanently in place with a nut. Two holes drilled in the mast that the pole slides on to.. Works a treat - thanks chaps

[Mattylad]

Be aware that every hole you drill in a mast leaves a weak point that it can break\bend at when under strain - it's much better to do it with a clamp - bolt 1/2 the clamp to your roof bars.

[radiogaga]

It's only 12' for /p use. Nothing bigger than a 3 ele for 6m on it. I did consider a bracket but this takes 30 seconds to load and unload.