We recently got a 1987 Fun Maker and would like to put some Yakima racks on top (no air cond.) so we can carry our seakayaks with us.
Yakima makes a side mount "rain gutter" accessory to allow mounting one of their towers. It is a "j" shaped piece of metal that bolts or screws to the upper edge of the top section.

My question is: do Hi Lo's use a metal frame for the upper part of their units?
If it is metal (steel or aluminum) I intend to use self tapping screws to attach the fo-rain gutters.

I would like some informed opinion on this project before I do something stupid.

why don't you use a small drill bit, and drill the side where the mount will be attached, the top part I believe is steel square tubing.

This was discussed on a thread under mods.

http://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f35/...roof-rack-473/

As i mentioned there (in the post)- running the bars across that much expanse can be a problem- and I used foam supports in the middle when I did it on a slide-in pop-up I had. Also- generally, both Yakima and Thule make bars that, in the past, only went to 60".

Another option would be quick and easys-which would allow you to use conduit or a 1x2 or 2x4 for your "bar". You can get conduit in any length you want and if you build up the fittings with tape- you can get the yakima accessories mounted.

Quik-N-Easy Raingutter Mounts - Rack-It

ps- I just checked and Yakima DOES make 78 " bars- though that might still cut it close.

Rick

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2201 TL

2010 Nissan Titan king cab SE
4x4

I have found that plain old 1" galvanized pipe works with the Yakima towers
I had used conduit on an International Scout that I had but it was much narrower.