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Homemade trunks on the roof of the car

April 26, 2020

Often motorists are concerned about the lack of space in the car, necessary for transporting things, equipment, techniques, building materials or other items. Many cars are simply not designed to carry any extra items and cargo. If you often go to such events, as a fisherman, hunting with friends, or a trip with the family to the sea, then you need to think about extra space on your car to transport the cargo. Unfortunately, in most cars when buying, no additional roof rack is included.

homemade trunk

A good option would be to make a homemade trunk, designed for the roof of the car. This option is very economical, and with a small amount of effort expended, you will be able to acquire invaluable design skills, calculations and fabrication of the structure on their own. Such homemade trunks are called expeditionary, as on such design it is impossible to put too heavy things, but they can carry all that, what you need for the trip: tents, bicycles, skiing, mattresses, umbrellas, snowboards, fishing rods, or whole sets of clothes.

Car boxing on the roof

Also a very popular type of homemade trunk is auto boxing. The advantage of this design is, transported things will be safe even in bad weather, and the very design of the auto box, made ??with a streamlined shape, will not affect the aerodynamic properties and fuel consumption of your car. Now when buying a car very rarely provide a trunk in the kit, despite the presence of a specially equipped place and mounting for its installation. Therefore it is possible to make a luggage carrier the hands proceeding from the necessary parameters of your car.

Homemade boxing on the roof

Trunk on the roof of the car with his own hands

For, to make your own trunk, designed for the roof of your car, you need to do the following:

  1. We select the material for the manufacture of the trunk:

To begin, you need to choose the material, from which you will make this design. The best material will be metal, as it is strong and reliable. But for such a trunk you need a material with low weight, and reliable, strong characteristics. The most suitable option would be an aluminum alloy, because this metal is easily processed and formed into the desired shape, not prone to corrosion, and has a small specific gravity. Also some use a profile thin-walled pipe for production of luggage carriers. One of the most economical materials for the trunk is stainless steel sheet. Many people use it to make such structures. But the disadvantage of this material is its high weight and high cost.

How to put a towbar on a VAZ 2110/2112 with their own hands
Square pipe for the manufacture of the trunk

  1. We make measurements of the car:

After, how you chose the material, from which you will make a trunk, it is important to make accurate measurements of the car. Thanks to this, you will be able to calculate the required amount of material, his weight, and approximate price.

trunk measurements

To make it easier and more convenient to manufacture, you can measure the dimensions of the car in advance (width and length), and make drawings:

  • boards;
  • carcass;
  • bearing part (panel) - trunk bottom, which serves to strengthen it;
  • jumpers - elements, reinforcing the trunk.

The leading board can be made streamlined, which will significantly improve the aerodynamic properties.

Now, when decided on the material, the following detailed instructions must be followed:

  1. We cut out a profile according to the scheme prepared in advance, using a Bulgarian for this;
  2. By means of welding we make perimeter of a luggage carrier. This detail will have a rectangular shape;
  3. The resulting perimeter should be reinforced welded to it straight jumpers. For stronger reinforcement, you can weld jumpers between them, resulting in a lattice trunk base;
  4. A metal profile arch should be welded to the front of the boot, to create a more streamlined shape and improve aerodynamic properties;
  5. Next, you need to make the sides of the structure. First, cut the metal racks to length 6 centimeters. In most cases, craftsmen make the boards removable, therefore, the boards should not be easy to weld into the frame, and screw into the thread. What is needed for this? It is necessary to drill holes in the frame, in which to weld plugs. These elements are necessary to prevent deformation of the bolts during tightening;
  6. Next, you need to weld the rack to the top bar, which completely coincides with the base, differing only in that, that its lateral parts - right and left - are made a little shorter. Racks, which are located in front, are installed at a small angle for that, that the turned out design did not look like a box or a box, and completely repeated the basic contour of the car;
  7. After welding, the next stage - painting and installation on the roof of the car. Before painting the case it is necessary to put a primer layer, and allow some time for the primer to dry, it is necessary for that, that the paint kept steady for a long time and did not peel off. Then you can apply a layer of paint, and the best option - if it is spray paint, as it will not leave stains;
  8. Attaching the trunk to the car. If there are railings on the roof of the car, then the installation of the trunk is carried out on them. These body elements are able to withstand the load of the trunk. If there are no railings, then you have to drill holes in the roof and install the brackets, on which the ready design is then mounted. Some cars have grooves for the trunk. Also if you do not want to drill the roof of your car to install the brackets, you can find different fasteners, specially designed for such cases.

Roof rack Oise Patriot
Homemade trunk for the car

Advantages and disadvantages of such homemade trunks

Each type of trunk has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of such products include:

  • increase the space for cargo transportation;
  • protect the car roof from bumps or dents;
  • possibility to transport a boat, skiing, a bike, boxes, suitcases, snowboards, fishing rods, and construction equipment.