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View Full Version : Homemade Over the tower wakesurf rack



trayson
05-03-2017, 01:33 AM
So I've been wanting to do this for a long time... (and yes, it's the same basic design as the agenda racks and it's also the same basic design as a thule rack that I retrofitted onto a hitch rack back in the late 90's, LOL)

That said, the idea is pretty simple. Get something on top of the tower that mimics what a surfboard roof rack on a car would look like.

I used 2" x 1/4" aluminum flat bar, 3/8" stainless steel hardware, Clamps from Origin racks, and a set of FCS flat topped surfboard pads with nylon cambuckle straps. I used some foam pipe insulation to take up the space on the surf pads (they were designed for a much thicker crossbar).

Made the crossbars 16" wide and the center length 32" long. The surf pads are 18" wide on the bottom and 16" wide on the tops.

I'll be mounting a matching one on the other side of the tower. I have all the cutting and all but one hole drilled. I just ran out of time this evening. I ended up having to relocate my flag holders to the outside corners of my tower. I didn't want any limitations on width for what I could carry up there. I figure I'll likely throw a kneeboard or something like that up there at some point. It's definitely going to hold thicker epoxy resin foam core boards.

When all is said and done, between my new swivel racks, the cargo bimini, and these overhead racks, I'll be able to hold 12 boards without doubling up! Better to have more room than not enough. (I had times last summer where I had capacity for 6 boards and had to double up on the cargo bimini to carry 8 total...

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u492/traysonh/Moomba%20XLV/0502172208_HDR_zpsjfzdoa61.jpg

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u492/traysonh/Moomba%20XLV/0502172208b_HDR_zpsfom2yyaf.jpg

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u492/traysonh/Moomba%20XLV/0502172208d_HDR_zpswzxpyqto.jpg

http://i1070.photobucket.com/albums/u492/traysonh/Moomba%20XLV/0502172209_HDR_zps9uokwxiw.jpg

BrettLee3232
05-03-2017, 01:54 AM
Looks good! What made you go with FCS pads instead of dakine?


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trayson
05-03-2017, 02:20 AM
Looks good! What made you go with FCS pads instead of dakine?


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Well, even though DaKine is pretty local to me (90 minutes away), I liked the clean look of the FCS better. And they came in a package with the cambuckle straps and a nice carry bag. Plus, I actually have FCS fins! (although my wife, son and I ALL have DaKine backpacks for skiing/snowboarding).

Pads are basically the same though.

996scott
05-03-2017, 03:44 PM
I made a couple of these a year or two ago and they are really nice for getting things up out of the way.

trayson
05-03-2017, 03:58 PM
I made a couple of these a year or two ago and they are really nice for getting things up out of the way.

And sorry I gave you grief about them back then. I feel kinda hypocritical since I just made my own. But I did realize that making a rack that mimics a car roof rack isn't really that novel of an idea! It just takes gathering the materials and slapping it together.

parrothd
05-03-2017, 04:42 PM
And sorry I gave you grief about them back then. I feel kinda hypocritical since I just made my own. But I did realize that making a rack that mimics a car roof rack isn't really that novel of an idea! It just takes gathering the materials and slapping it together.

Hahaha was just thinking about this, saw the old posts when building mine...

KG's Supra24
05-03-2017, 04:46 PM
Hahaha was just thinking about this, saw the old posts when building mine...

https://forum.moomba.com/showthread.php?26411-Homemade-surf-rack

Curiosity got me. LOL

trayson
05-03-2017, 04:54 PM
Yeah, I took up a silly "cause" and got on my internet soapbox.

I must have just been in the mood to debate that day. go figure.

gregski
05-03-2017, 06:15 PM
This has also been on my to-do list.

I didn't quite follow your description. Is the "crossbar" what the pad is mounted to with its dimensions being 2"x16"?

trayson
05-03-2017, 06:28 PM
This has also been on my to-do list.

I didn't quite follow your description. Is the "crossbar" what the pad is mounted to with its dimensions being 2"x16"?

Exactly. Two 16" aluminum flat bar for the pads. They're 2" wide and 1/4" think.

crr1876
05-03-2017, 08:37 PM
Man that looks great! What is the ball park cost for all your parts? Where did you buy the clamps to mount to your tower?

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trayson
05-04-2017, 11:31 AM
Man that looks great! What is the ball park cost for all your parts? Where did you buy the clamps to mount to your tower?

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Clamps were from Origin reborn racks...

I'll send you a PM on the rest.

wolfeman131
05-04-2017, 11:37 AM
you going to dress those up with some of that sparkly blue tape?

kaneboats
05-04-2017, 11:39 AM
No way. Don't you know what day TODAY is?

Prospersigman
05-04-2017, 11:44 AM
May the 4th be with you...

trayson
05-04-2017, 11:45 AM
you going to dress those up with some of that sparkly blue tape?
I'd much rather have a sparkly blue SA 450!


No way. Don't you know what day TODAY is?
May the 4th be with you!

996scott
05-04-2017, 03:58 PM
And sorry I gave you grief about them back then. I feel kinda hypocritical since I just made my own. But I did realize that making a rack that mimics a car roof rack isn't really that novel of an idea! It just takes gathering the materials and slapping it together.

It's all good my friend, you will love having them. :grin:

trayson
05-04-2017, 05:11 PM
It's all good my friend, you will love having them. :grin:

Yeah, I had two spots for the nicer more fragile epoxy foam core boards on my Cargo bimini. And we regularly would have 3 of the thicker boards that I don't want to put in traditional board racks, so the overhead racks will be nicer for that.

And if we want to carry things like the big hydroslide Versa monstrosity, then the overhead racks would be really useful. (that stupid thing weighs 20 pounds!!!) But we use it for events like Wake the World and also when we have young kids that aren't going to be quite coordinated enough to take to surfing... (even at 20 pounds, the versa is WAY better than having to bust out a tube!!!)

trayson
05-05-2017, 12:23 PM
Man that looks great! What is the ball park cost for all your parts? Where did you buy the clamps to mount to your tower?

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If anyone is interested in doing this project, I actually ended up with an extra 2 pairs of the clamps. $75 shipped to the lower 48 states for the four clamps. They are good up to 2.5" and worked great with my 2 3/8" diameter tower tubing on my rad-a-cage tower on my 2008 XLV. You won't find any clamps cheaper. And you won't have to wait months to get the Origin ones directly from China...

crr1876
05-05-2017, 06:06 PM
I'll take them if they fit my tower!

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trayson
05-05-2017, 06:18 PM
I'll take them if they fit my tower!

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Yeah, you should have the same 2 3/8" tower tubing that I have on my 2008. Hit me up with a PM that has your name/address/phone and I'll respond with info to get me the money.

-Trayson