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Landy718



Member Since: 22 Mar 2021
Location: Brooklyn/Catskills
Posts: 17

United States 2016 Defender 110 Other USW Auto Santorini Black
LRDf Open Source Roof Platform
After not being satisfied with any of the roof rack options, and the lack of supply, I set out to build one of my own out of T-Slot framing and associated accessories.

I'm pulling together the build list, which I'll post here as well as assembly tips...it's really dead simple.


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The mount points will get another nut in the roof rail to better secure the whole assembly, but I've driven it plenty with only the single point of attachment at each corner with no issue.


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Now that everything is properly sized, I'll flip the entire 'platform' over so the gussets are on the underside and the entire top is flat.


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Post #893846 25th Mar 2021 1:35pm
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Landy718



Member Since: 22 Mar 2021
Location: Brooklyn/Catskills
Posts: 17

United States 2016 Defender 110 Other USW Auto Santorini Black
Here's the parts list.


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Very simple to assemble. I mounted the 6' pieces of T-Slot such that the rear would just miss the shark fin. I then infilled the horizontals cut to fit, as there's a bit of an inward canting of the roof rails from back to front - the front horizontals are shorter than the rear.

Mounting to the roof rails themselves was accomplished by grinding down the legs on these t-slot nuts from McMaster.

https://www.mcmaster.com/94750A604/


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In order to secure the 3-way cubes (from 8020.net) at the corners, I simpled tapped the ends of the T-Slot framing so I could bolt through.


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Next up, I plan to attach these strap down points from Front Runner, as well as these work lights from Sherpa. Two on driver and passenger side and two at the rear. Just trying to figure out wire routing...really trying to avoid drilling through the roof.


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Post #893847 25th Mar 2021 1:39pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
That's very neat. I had in mind to build an aluminium basket to fit on the three substantial roof bars that I have on my 110 but was just going to use angle and box section. I hadn't seen that T-slot stuff before but it looks like an ideal material. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia
Post #893853 25th Mar 2021 2:01pm
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Landy718



Member Since: 22 Mar 2021
Location: Brooklyn/Catskills
Posts: 17

United States 2016 Defender 110 Other USW Auto Santorini Black
It's wonderful in that it's basically what many of the commercial roof platform manufacturers use, so for the most part you can adapt their accessories to fit.

The roof box I have on there is simply affixed via t-nuts, same goes for my ski/fly rod holders.
Post #893855 25th Mar 2021 2:08pm
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Zed



Member Since: 07 Oct 2017
Location: In the woods
Posts: 3000

United Kingdom 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
That looks neater than the specific aftermarket racks. Nice work. WARNING.
This post may contain sarcasm.
Post #893875 25th Mar 2021 2:53pm
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Landy718



Member Since: 22 Mar 2021
Location: Brooklyn/Catskills
Posts: 17

United States 2016 Defender 110 Other USW Auto Santorini Black
Thanks! It's been a labor of love and I'm really happy with it.

The only thing I'm not particularly keen on is the corner conditions, so I've been working on a radiused piece that will go there and give it a look that I think is more complimentary to the truck.

Given the slight cant inwards from front to rear, I'm prototyping some pieces to make sure they match up with the angles first, then I'll have a machine shop bend some square aluminum tubing for me.


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Post #893884 25th Mar 2021 3:22pm
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SN



Member Since: 29 Jun 2007
Location: SK6
Posts: 729

whilst applauding you for your work, it's great stuff, I'm interested in why the LR or Front Runner racks weren't to your satisfaction? Confused Steve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
Post #893912 25th Mar 2021 5:05pm
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Landy718



Member Since: 22 Mar 2021
Location: Brooklyn/Catskills
Posts: 17

United States 2016 Defender 110 Other USW Auto Santorini Black
When I started out on this - approx 2 months ago - LR couldnt tell me anything about roof rack lead times and frankly I dont like how high off the roof it sits. For a full sized Front Runner, I've read too many horror stories of the roof rail removal gone wrong, where a bolt had too much thread lock on it and could not be forced free. So I endeavored to utilize the roof rails, while keeping the platform as close to the roof as possible without getting in the way of the skylight or shark fin.
Post #893930 25th Mar 2021 5:51pm
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Scotm



Member Since: 28 Feb 2014
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 634

Scotland 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Orkney Grey
Have you seen this lighting solution for T-Slot? Just came across it when exploring T-Slot on the net after reading your post.

https://alusic.com/EN/led-lighting-devices.htm
Post #893936 25th Mar 2021 6:09pm
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Landy718



Member Since: 22 Mar 2021
Location: Brooklyn/Catskills
Posts: 17

United States 2016 Defender 110 Other USW Auto Santorini Black
I have come across it before - I built a workbench out of T-slot - but it completely slipped my mind for this application. Could be interesting. I may eventually build out an interior drawer system for the rear cargo area, and could see this coming in handy there.

For a fairly comprehensive collection of all the fittings made for T-Slot or 8020, check out the following:

https://www.mcmaster.com/structural-framing

https://8020.net/shop

The 8020 site is nice in that they have a couple of really useful resources for designing with t-slot. The most useful I've found is their deflection calculator, that was very handy in this project for determining how far out the corners could be cantilevered and still maintain a decent live load.
Post #893937 25th Mar 2021 6:17pm
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Supacat



Member Since: 16 Oct 2012
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 11018

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS DCPU Keswick Green
For those based in the UK, I've bought Ali profile and fixings from these before. Found them cheaper on the generic parts rather than going with the Bosch Rexroth stuff:

https://www.aluminium-profile.co.uk/
Post #894025 26th Mar 2021 7:16am
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
That's very useful.

I also found this site, which despite appearing clunky and out of date, is still current as I received a price list (dated 2014) from them on Thursday:

http://www.valuframe.co.uk/Series-6-Aluminium-Profiles.html Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia


Last edited by LandRoverAnorak on 27th Mar 2021 12:22pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #894264 27th Mar 2021 8:33am
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Supacat



Member Since: 16 Oct 2012
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 11018

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS DCPU Keswick Green
Not come across them, so will check out in detail later. Thumbs Up

Looks like someone else is mounting 8020 directly to the roof:

Click image to enlarge
Post #894273 27th Mar 2021 9:43am
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Landy718



Member Since: 22 Mar 2021
Location: Brooklyn/Catskills
Posts: 17

United States 2016 Defender 110 Other USW Auto Santorini Black
Interesting. Curious as to what the mounts are. Is this from Facebook?
Post #894745 29th Mar 2021 6:17pm
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G4R1



Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Barnet/Limassol
Posts: 127

United Kingdom 
It’s also interesting how they managed to fit rotopax to the side windows as it doesn’t seem they used any sort of bracket. I don’t believe it bolted directly to the glass. 3.0L MHVE D200 S Pangea Green+Black Pack
Adv. + Off-Road and Family Packs
Post #894748 29th Mar 2021 6:26pm
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