Roof basket/roof rack questions.

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Abletobecain
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Roof basket/roof rack questions.

Post by Abletobecain »

Hello all,

I'm getting ready for camping season. Since my dog has the whole back end of the car I have no room to store any gear. So I'm getting a roof box. My problem Is that I also want a basket to put lights on. The only way to do that (I think) is to get a small box for the back half and a small basket for the front half. I'm just wondering if anyone has done anything like this already and hoping to see some pics of the set up if so. Any ideas would be appreciated too. I've thought about stacking the box higher than the basket or even chopping the back wall of the basket off so the front edge of the box can rest on the floor of the basket. The shortest box I can find is 4' 10". Any ideas?

Thanks in advance.
1977 BMW R100S 1WD ("Brunhilda"/Summer Fun)
1983 DLX Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Charlie"/Daily Driver)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Sprocket"/Off-road-Camping)
1985 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Lucky"/Project)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Cadaver"/Parts Car)
1985 Ford F250 6.9IDI ("Franklin"/Hauler)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Ravensburger"/in a million pieces)
2006 BMW 530XI Wagon ("Inga"/Roadtripper)
1969 Mercury Montego MX Convertible ("Big Ed"/My Dad's Old Car)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Al"/for sale soon)
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LowBuckCanuck
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My tercel:: 1986 DLX 4wd Wagon "Jenny"

Re: Roof basket/roof rack questions.

Post by LowBuckCanuck »

Why not just go with just a roof box, and mount lights off of the mounting hardware/roof rack? I think you have to choose one or the other in this case.
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Abletobecain
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Re: Roof basket/roof rack questions.

Post by Abletobecain »

I was thinking about just a bar across the front to mount lights but I also want to get a cooler strapped up there so I'd really like a basket. I measured this morning and the 58" Yakima Rocketbox Pro 12 would leave me about 15" of space on the front of the roof before the basket overhangs the windshield a ridiculous amount. That should be just enough to get my cooler up there. I think I'll just have to modify the basket unless there's some super short baskets out there. I've done lots of searching but haven't found exactly what I want yet.
1977 BMW R100S 1WD ("Brunhilda"/Summer Fun)
1983 DLX Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Charlie"/Daily Driver)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Sprocket"/Off-road-Camping)
1985 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Lucky"/Project)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Cadaver"/Parts Car)
1985 Ford F250 6.9IDI ("Franklin"/Hauler)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Ravensburger"/in a million pieces)
2006 BMW 530XI Wagon ("Inga"/Roadtripper)
1969 Mercury Montego MX Convertible ("Big Ed"/My Dad's Old Car)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Al"/for sale soon)
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Petros
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Re: Roof basket/roof rack questions.

Post by Petros »

get a large basket with front mounted lights, than strap a box into it when you want your roof storage out of the weather. somewhat more trouble, you can strap duffels and luggage directly into the basket, cover with a weather proof trap if concerned with rain.
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
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Abletobecain
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Re: Roof basket/roof rack questions.

Post by Abletobecain »

I was thinking of that too Petros but thought it might raise the box up too high for my liking.

I got the short box I wanted so now I just need two more bars and a basket for the front.

Image
1977 BMW R100S 1WD ("Brunhilda"/Summer Fun)
1983 DLX Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Charlie"/Daily Driver)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Sprocket"/Off-road-Camping)
1985 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Lucky"/Project)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Cadaver"/Parts Car)
1985 Ford F250 6.9IDI ("Franklin"/Hauler)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Ravensburger"/in a million pieces)
2006 BMW 530XI Wagon ("Inga"/Roadtripper)
1969 Mercury Montego MX Convertible ("Big Ed"/My Dad's Old Car)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Al"/for sale soon)
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Abletobecain
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Re: Roof basket/roof rack questions.

Post by Abletobecain »

Got it dialed...for now. I'm going to end up selling the Yakima basket as it's too wide for the car, and have a custom one fabricated that looks like this one but much shorter: https://www.quadratec.com/products/1224 ... JnILnrJmFM

Image
1977 BMW R100S 1WD ("Brunhilda"/Summer Fun)
1983 DLX Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Charlie"/Daily Driver)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Sprocket"/Off-road-Camping)
1985 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Lucky"/Project)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Cadaver"/Parts Car)
1985 Ford F250 6.9IDI ("Franklin"/Hauler)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Ravensburger"/in a million pieces)
2006 BMW 530XI Wagon ("Inga"/Roadtripper)
1969 Mercury Montego MX Convertible ("Big Ed"/My Dad's Old Car)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Al"/for sale soon)
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NWMO
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Re: Roof basket/roof rack questions.

Post by NWMO »

AbletobeCain,

I would be curious if you would share your change in mpg due to the baskets/racks. I prefer the look, but haven't had a real need, so I haven't pursued this yet. I expect that to change, but I'm not certain I want the extra drag of the basket all the time.

Chris
Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart"

In remembrance of my friend ARCHINSTL:

T4WD augury?
"Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?' Let us go and make our visit."
T.S. Eliot - "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

"Now and then we had a hope that, if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates."
Mark Twain
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Abletobecain
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Re: Roof basket/roof rack questions.

Post by Abletobecain »

I will definitely share the data once I get it. I've been tracking MPG since I got the car...even types of gas. Once I have a few tanks on this set up I'll post an average loss. I'm expecting some but it's worth it to me as I camp a lot and my dog takes up the entire back end. I will say I've ran a couple tanks with the box only and barely noticed any loss...maybe a MPG or 2 at most but I see that fluctuation with just types of gas too.
1977 BMW R100S 1WD ("Brunhilda"/Summer Fun)
1983 DLX Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Charlie"/Daily Driver)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Sprocket"/Off-road-Camping)
1985 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Lucky"/Project)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Cadaver"/Parts Car)
1985 Ford F250 6.9IDI ("Franklin"/Hauler)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Ravensburger"/in a million pieces)
2006 BMW 530XI Wagon ("Inga"/Roadtripper)
1969 Mercury Montego MX Convertible ("Big Ed"/My Dad's Old Car)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Al"/for sale soon)
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Abletobecain
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Posts: 415
Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2018 9:18 am
My tercel:: 1983 4WD DLX, 1986 4WD SR5, 1985 4WD SR5, 1983 4WD SR5
Location: Kitsap County
Contact:

Re: Roof basket/roof rack questions.

Post by Abletobecain »

Well I only ran two tanks through her before I took the basket and box off. Off of those two though it looked like I dropped from a consistent 27-28 to 22-23. I did have a lot of weight up there though. I might run some tanks with just the basket/just the box and see what that does. I decided to just make the 87 my camping rig and keep my 83 the daily economy driver. Swapped shoes too...pics over here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=13838&p=107836#p107836
1977 BMW R100S 1WD ("Brunhilda"/Summer Fun)
1983 DLX Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Charlie"/Daily Driver)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Sprocket"/Off-road-Camping)
1985 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Lucky"/Project)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Cadaver"/Parts Car)
1985 Ford F250 6.9IDI ("Franklin"/Hauler)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Ravensburger"/in a million pieces)
2006 BMW 530XI Wagon ("Inga"/Roadtripper)
1969 Mercury Montego MX Convertible ("Big Ed"/My Dad's Old Car)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Al"/for sale soon)
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NWMO
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Re: Roof basket/roof rack questions.

Post by NWMO »

Thanks,

Loved the pics. That is a big old basket.

Chris
Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart"

In remembrance of my friend ARCHINSTL:

T4WD augury?
"Oh, do not ask, 'What is it?' Let us go and make our visit."
T.S. Eliot - "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

"Now and then we had a hope that, if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates."
Mark Twain
Brodieroni82
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Re: Roof basket/roof rack questions.

Post by Brodieroni82 »

I’d buy that small basket off of you! Do you still have it or is it gone already?
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Abletobecain
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Re: Roof basket/roof rack questions.

Post by Abletobecain »

That's just the front half of a Yakima Mega Warrior. It just got swapped over to my camping T4. I have the back half though but I'm keeping it just in case I want to run just the basket sometime or I switch it to a different car/truck later. Keep looking on offerup, CL, and FB Marketplace. It took me about a month of checking everyday but finally found the basket ($449 new) in like new condition with all the mounting hardware, cross rails, and locking feet for $155.
1977 BMW R100S 1WD ("Brunhilda"/Summer Fun)
1983 DLX Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Charlie"/Daily Driver)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Sprocket"/Off-road-Camping)
1985 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Lucky"/Project)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Cadaver"/Parts Car)
1985 Ford F250 6.9IDI ("Franklin"/Hauler)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Ravensburger"/in a million pieces)
2006 BMW 530XI Wagon ("Inga"/Roadtripper)
1969 Mercury Montego MX Convertible ("Big Ed"/My Dad's Old Car)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Al"/for sale soon)
Brodieroni82
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Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2018 8:56 am

Re: Roof basket/roof rack questions.

Post by Brodieroni82 »

Oh I see, didn’t realize it was half. I’ve seen some shorties out there, I’ll keep poking around for one. Thanks for getting back to me.

Offer up is awesome - just found a fella selling a non-running 85 sr5 4wd that appears to be in great condition. He agreed to work me with on a parts deal. I’m going to take a look at it Friday.
Termell
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My tercel:: 1985 Tercel

Re: Roof basket/roof rack questions.

Post by Termell »

Abletobecain wrote: Tue May 21, 2019 8:56 am Got it dialed...for now. I'm going to end up selling the Yakima basket as it's too wide for the car, and have a custom one fabricated that looks like this one but much shorter: https://www.quadratec.com/products/1224 ... JnILnrJmFM

Image
That's nice set up! Looks very sturdy enough.
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Abletobecain
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Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2018 9:18 am
My tercel:: 1983 4WD DLX, 1986 4WD SR5, 1985 4WD SR5, 1983 4WD SR5
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Contact:

Re: Roof basket/roof rack questions.

Post by Abletobecain »

It worked great but the drag was ridiculous with my cooler and water jug and my dog's food bucket up there...oh, and two camp chairs. I looked like The Beverly Hillbillies, ha! And she was slooooow...all the more reason to put in a 4AC.
1977 BMW R100S 1WD ("Brunhilda"/Summer Fun)
1983 DLX Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Charlie"/Daily Driver)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Sprocket"/Off-road-Camping)
1985 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Lucky"/Project)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Cadaver"/Parts Car)
1985 Ford F250 6.9IDI ("Franklin"/Hauler)
1987 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Ravensburger"/in a million pieces)
2006 BMW 530XI Wagon ("Inga"/Roadtripper)
1969 Mercury Montego MX Convertible ("Big Ed"/My Dad's Old Car)
1983 SR5 Tercel Wagon 4WD ("Al"/for sale soon)
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