Does anyone have any suggestions for ways to fasten 2 x 4s as cross bars for the factory 300td rack. I'd like an option that is that is solid and doesn't have to rip the existing bars to shreds. I read someone saying they did it with lashing and rope...but I'm not a knot guy and would prefer a hardware option. I've looked into the various yakima/thule options but really want to do this CHEAP. hte plan is to eventually mount a car top carrier to the crossbars.

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'85 300td Frybrid WVO Kit

Quite honestly, I wouldn't skimp on this, especially if you ever plan on going on the highway. Someone lashing together a roof rack scares me, I really hope I don't run into them on the highway. If you think about the wind resistance at 65-70 mph, especially with the air rushing underneath the carrier, there is considerable force, enough to possibly break some wood. If I were you if you want to do it cheap, head over to Home Depot and get some 1/4" steel stock, at least it would hold up to the abuse. Also you'd want to consider wood warping and stressing the existing bars. Sorry for the long negative post, it just raised a bunch of red flags for me.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

2x4s with u-bolts around the side bars? cut some tubing (old garden hose?) into 3-1/2" pieces, slit lengthwise and slide over existing bars for protection from wood and u-bolts. Presto: Ghetto cross bars.

(I also understand that used tires make great bumpers for parallel parking )

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83 300TD, 260,000 miles, aka "Dusty"
6 vehicles, 2 cup holders (both in the dump truck)

I guess you better stay off the road then. Many tractor trailers have floors made of wood, ever heard of a "Woody", or looked in the bed of an old pickup? It depends a lot on how you lash things down and the lumber dimensions though and you should over do it rather than under.
Lumber can be just as safe as a factory rack. I recently needed to go pick up some wheels, and there was not enough room in the back. So, I used two 1x4s cut to length. I bolted the 1bys on with 5/8" u-bolts. I also put some 3/16" hose over the bolts to protect the chrome on the bars. All the lumber did in this case was provide a support under the wheels, and I lashed them on with two ratchet straps. Get long enough u-bolts and you can use a 2x4 if the extra strength is needed. 1x4s worked fine for what I needed. Good luck, and yes keep it safe.

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For Sale: 1982 MB 300TD
1995 Chevrolet Suburban 6.5TD

Sold: 1980 IH Scout Traveler- Nissan SD33T Diesel

A person could find a Yakima/Thule gutter rack with bars used on Craigslist around here for about $40. Saw one for $20 the other day.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I used a ghetto ski rack (2 x 1" steel tubes, 4 x plastic feet, straps) with and without a reinforced sheet of plywood (4x8x1/2" or 3/4", 2x4 screwed along each edge) and eyebolts for tiedowns pretty successfully on an 88 audi 90 for years. I moved up to 10 or 12 sheets of 1/2" drywall & lumber at a time, my apartment in a few trips, and moved a couch & lots of flat pack furniture back from Ikea in canada. We grew a little concerned about lift developed on the skyway over the welland canal (windy day) but had no probs on the way back. Border guard at buffalo just laughed.

If your going to load it up, distribute the load over the roof- my roof got dimpled around the feet and they were maybe 3x6". Still less visible than the dent a wild turkey left flying into the car.

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CC: NSA

All things are burning, know this and be released.

82 Benz 240 D, Kuan Yin
12 Ford Escape 4wd

You're four times

It's hard to

more likely to

concentrate on

have an accident

two things

when you're on

at the same time.

a cell phone.

www.kiva.org It's not like there's anything wrong with feeling good, is there?

Yes, beware of flying turkeys and pigs.....


And especially beware of "raining cats and dogs". Have you ever had a cat go splat on your windshield? It messes up your windshield and the cat isn't very happy, either.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

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1984 300TD

I'd probably run from a guy with a roof carrier lashed with a couple of ropes and a 2x4 on the highway. A semi trailer, woody, and pickup beds are different in that they take the load differently. In each of those cases there is a metal frame taking the load in the CG of the load, so the wood is not bearing a large amount of weight. If this carrier is the way I'm imagining it, there is no center support underneath the wood, it takes the full weight. It would eventually bend after being exposed to the weather/load a few times. Yes, you CAN build it and have it hold up, but I think there are better ways, and not worth risking the chance, having to worry about long term weathering/warping, etc.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

I've carried three canoes on a set of 2x4 roof racks with QuicknEasy towers for many thousands of miles with no problems at all.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I'm not arguing that there are stupid things people do. What I did was a temporary solution because I needed it right away. It was only on there one weekend, and it cost me $4 in u-bolts. I think this is the spirit of the original post, quick, easy, cheap, temporary.

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For Sale: 1982 MB 300TD
1995 Chevrolet Suburban 6.5TD

Sold: 1980 IH Scout Traveler- Nissan SD33T Diesel

I have used 2x4 with rope many times for temporary use, even long distance. Ignore all naysayers.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

I've got so cross bars if you want to do it the right way.

Nice bumper!

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Currently driving a very clean 1985 300SD from the West Coast.

Here's how they do it in Russia.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

That's a thing of beauty.

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83 300TD, 260,000 miles, aka "Dusty"
6 vehicles, 2 cup holders (both in the dump truck)