RPMxB
09-14-2004, 09:32 PM
Has anyone mounted 4 Truck Tie-Down Anchors or Hooks on their xB's roof?
I've seen a number of threads about roof racks, but I've decided I don't want a rack or those SUV style rails. I'm thinking that four attractive chromed or stainless steel anchors would work well for hauling light loads of 4x8 sheets, a mattress, large boxed items, pipe, lumber, etc.
My xB replaces a small Nissan pickup with flat roofed aluminum camper shell. I used to haul loads like that on the camper's roof and tie them down with rope and the tie-down anchors on the side of the truck bed.
I note that the flat useable roof of the xB measures about 80" x 44" and I realize that this idea would require drilling 8 screw holes into the roof. I would prefer not to take down the inside headliner and instead drill into the structural beams in the corners. Hopefully, I could tap threads for each anchor's bolts. Maybe this project is too ambitious for me and I would pay my accessories shop to do the work.
Many of the truck anchors I found so far use the "pickup truck bed stake pocket" for mounting. This would not easily work for the xB. Here's one anchor I found that looks pretty good but I think it uses the "stake pocket" for mounting, instead of surface mount.
http://www.pendacorp.com/products/images/pic_hook_big2.gif
Here's an assortment of truck utility hooks and cleats that surface mount from KeeperCorp.com (http://www.keepercorp.com), but I think most would look terrible on the xB:
http://www.keepercorp.com/prod/image/tthw.jpg
Maybe model 05626 would look OK... maybe not.
Please comment on these ideas and post pics if you can. Anyone have a diagram or pic of the xB roof structure with view from the inside with the headliner down? Thanks. :D RPM
I've seen a number of threads about roof racks, but I've decided I don't want a rack or those SUV style rails. I'm thinking that four attractive chromed or stainless steel anchors would work well for hauling light loads of 4x8 sheets, a mattress, large boxed items, pipe, lumber, etc.
My xB replaces a small Nissan pickup with flat roofed aluminum camper shell. I used to haul loads like that on the camper's roof and tie them down with rope and the tie-down anchors on the side of the truck bed.
I note that the flat useable roof of the xB measures about 80" x 44" and I realize that this idea would require drilling 8 screw holes into the roof. I would prefer not to take down the inside headliner and instead drill into the structural beams in the corners. Hopefully, I could tap threads for each anchor's bolts. Maybe this project is too ambitious for me and I would pay my accessories shop to do the work.
Many of the truck anchors I found so far use the "pickup truck bed stake pocket" for mounting. This would not easily work for the xB. Here's one anchor I found that looks pretty good but I think it uses the "stake pocket" for mounting, instead of surface mount.
http://www.pendacorp.com/products/images/pic_hook_big2.gif
Here's an assortment of truck utility hooks and cleats that surface mount from KeeperCorp.com (http://www.keepercorp.com), but I think most would look terrible on the xB:
http://www.keepercorp.com/prod/image/tthw.jpg
Maybe model 05626 would look OK... maybe not.
Please comment on these ideas and post pics if you can. Anyone have a diagram or pic of the xB roof structure with view from the inside with the headliner down? Thanks. :D RPM