"TrickJos" (trickjos)
01/23/2020 at 14:39 • Filed to: None
7
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"TrickJos" (trickjos)
01/23/2020 at 14:39 • Filed to: None | 7
| 7 |
This roof basket from !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! was such a bargain I couldn’t pass it up. Many of the reviews mentioned that the paint wasn’t great, the hardware was crap, and rust quickly begins to form around the welds. I figured for $60 (after coupons) I wouldn’t mind putting a little effort into it to remedy those problems.
First, I scuffed up the existing paint then sprayed on a few layers of black paint . I finished up with a couple of layers of clear. I think it turned out pretty well. It will get scuffed up from use and I don’t plan to leave it on the car all the time so a perfect finish wasn’t the top priority. I sealed all the joints and with black silicone. I also put a dab of silicone in each screw hole before installing the new hardware. Hopefully, all of this will resolve the rust issue. I attempted to use the screws included with the rack, but they were soft and useless. So, I found some higher quality screws in the garage and used those.
Two coolers and a carry on roller bag for size reference. It’s roomier than I expected. It will be perfect for our road trip to Carolina Beach this summer.
Here is the result. I’m pretty happy with it and would recommend this basket if you’re willing to fix it up a bit. It seems to be well built and sturdy with exception to the paint and screws.
The first job was hauling some tree limbs and the Chrismas tree to the yard waste drop-off. The tree wasn’t placed as precariously as it appears in the picture, I promise.
Chariotoflove
> TrickJos
01/23/2020 at 14:48 |
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Good on you for replacing the screws. So often that’s where manufacturers cheap out on materials, which kind of baffles me.
sn4cktimes
> Chariotoflove
01/23/2020 at 14:52 |
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Yeah. Been down that road on quite a few items. Often electrical fixtures like lights come with chineseum-grade “steel” screws/bolts.
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Chariotoflove
> sn4cktimes
01/23/2020 at 14:56 |
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I ride on t itanium wheelchairs with carbon fiber parts that retail for over $6k. For thirty years, every time I get a new one and try to adjust stuff , I think, “are you f*ing kidding me?”, and then I go the hardware store and spend a few cents on decent bolts and screws. Sheesh.
jminer
> TrickJos
01/23/2020 at 15:35 |
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Looks good!
I’ve been tempted to get a roof basket but put my kayaks on my roof rack often though and hate putting things on and off the rack. I’ve got a wagon and don’t often need more room anyway.
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TrickJos
> jminer
01/23/2020 at 15:49 |
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Thanks!
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sn4cktimes
> Chariotoflove
01/23/2020 at 17:29 |
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It’s weird how so many manufacturers can make such cool or good stuff and then not have any idea about hardware ratings. I’ve hung curtain rods and towel rods that are rated for over 40lbs. The rods are fine for that but a few times the fasteners weren’t even long enough to hit a stud behind the drywall. Or the screws were already broken off in the bag...
You would definitely assume a wheelchair maker would be more on the ball though. Sheesh.
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Chariotoflove
> sn4cktimes
01/23/2020 at 17:32 |
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Amen.