Last week I asked about aluminum rain gutter rack tower because I was planning on making a rack for my harbor freight trailer. Many thanks to Deerfoot who offered to sell me his out of his barn. Well, I decided against the aluminum towers because I went into my shed and found some yakima 1A's that have been in there for a couple decades and I had forgotten I had. So I put together a rack using the yakimas and some electrical strut channel. That's the stuff that you see bolted to concrete to hold electrical conduit. Anyway, I used a grinder to cut some artificial rain gutters out of the strut channel, then used the rest of it to make some 7 foot crossbars which I then painted with bed liner paint. I really like the way it turned out and hope that it can provide some inspiration. Total cost was about $50.
Close up of towers with rain gutters attached.

Cutting strut channel

Painted with bed liner

Finished rack!

Nice job and cost effective.

Great job and very creative.

deerfoot: "Great job and very creative."

Thanks Deerfoot, I owe some of it to you. Your email got me moving and motivated to get it done last weekend.

MisterKrabs: "

deerfoot: "Great job and very creative."

Thanks Deerfoot, I owe some of it to you. Your email got me moving and motivated to get it done last weekend."

I wish I were so easily motivated. Lately all my energy has been going into snow removal.

I built one on a utility trailer I already had for hauling motorcycles and other stuff. The box is secured to the trailer with 4 bolts and if you remove 8 more it breaks down to flat panels and store up against the wall in the garage. I needed it to be modular so could still have the trailer for other uses. The box is centered over the axle but towards the back or the trailer to make more room between canoes and the back of my vehicle without an extension. The 4' x 8' box is pretty secure. Two pipes lock the lid in place with locks. You could easily break in to it with a saw though. ;)

Great idea!