LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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 Posted:9/11/2003 17:58 |
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I noticed the X-rack problem several months ago, and quickly stowed the crossbars away.
Your postings have given me some ideas. I have measured the Explorer & Expedition racks, and their longitudinal rails (screwed to the roof) are not as far apart as the X's. It's unbelieveable how close they are in dimension, which makes me wonder why Ford didn't take advantage of some cross-model commonality of parts.
Now I'm thinking I might try one of the crossbars off my girlfriend's Explorer just to see if the tower will fit and tighten within the X's channel. If so, I may order 2 pair of the Explorer crossbars just to get the towers .... then modify the crossbars with some sort of extruded aluminum bar (probably C-channel) to get the right amount of width.
Unfortunately, since I've yet to have a need for the roof rack at all, this will be a back-burner mod for a few months ..... though I may try her towers this weekend just so I can start some research. |
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greateastern
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• Southern, MD, USA |
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• Registered on 9/21/2002 |
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• 93 posts |
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Posted:9/11/2003 19:32 |
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Keep us posted Land Yot.
Thanks!
Gary
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'02 X LTD, 4X4, PSD, 3.73LS. True Blue & Gold. 15K miles. Pretty much stock. (Sigh!) Upgraded load range Steeltex tires. Roof rack bars removed. Ford spare tire organizer. Way overdue on getting guages... Sunnybrook 30FKS travel trailer, 31ft, 8000lb. |
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:9/13/2003 08:47 |
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I haven't yet tried the Explorer towers on my X (I drove my GT40 to my girlfriend's place yesterday), but I studied her Explorer's towers a bit closer. The crossbar is arched ... no surprise there ... but to my pleasant surprise, they are held in the towers by a couple screws inserted from below. This is raising my hopes for a future transformation that will be much simpler than I first envisioned. It would be awfully sweet if I could find some raw stock that has the same elliptical cross-section as the Explorer's crossbars. Her Explorer also has some little tie-down loops/rings that tighten inside in the tracks ... another "nifty" little item if it will fit the X's tracks. |
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:9/14/2003 14:05 |
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OK ... more progress. The Explorer towers WILL fit and tighten in the Excursion tracks. HOWEVER, you have to remove the aft end-piece of the track (the plastic end with the press-down retainer clip) to slip the towers on. This is not a bad thing, and will definitely deter theft. The little Explorer tie-down loops also fit. So, I will be making a trip to a junkyard for 2 pair of Explorer crossbars. I haven't decided yet if I want 3 or 4 crossbars on the X ... probably 3. And I've yet to determine how I will fab a longer bar between the towers.
I read somewhere that somebody is buying the Yakima roof rack system for their X. Yakima is very nice stuff ... I had one on an old Supra ... but Lord is it ever expensive. On the other hand, by the time I add up the cost of my time to obtain parts, modify and fabricate them to fit, the Yakima could be a bargain.
Decisions, decisions .... Do I have more time on my hands than money? |
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greateastern
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• Southern, MD, USA |
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• Registered on 9/21/2002 |
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• 93 posts |
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Posted:9/14/2003 16:34 |
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I can personally testify to the quality of the Yakima stuff. I've got a Space Cadet box for the roof, a set of their round crossbars and a set of towers to fit a Volvo 740 and a set for a 92-99 Suburban. The thing has been coast to coast and I love it. You are right about expensive, but once you get the big stuff, swapping out towers for the different cars isn't so bad.
Gary
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'02 X LTD, 4X4, PSD, 3.73LS. True Blue & Gold. 15K miles. Pretty much stock. (Sigh!) Upgraded load range Steeltex tires. Roof rack bars removed. Ford spare tire organizer. Way overdue on getting guages... Sunnybrook 30FKS travel trailer, 31ft, 8000lb. |
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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JohnBoy
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• DFW, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 9/3/2002 |
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• 972 posts |
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Posted:9/16/2003 16:39 |
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Maybe I should put my TWO serts on there !
2005 6.0L 4x4 Eddie Bauer Ex
2003 6.0L 4x4 Limited Ex - traded in (BooHoo )
"The Republicans should back off and let men marry men, women marry women, and legalize abortion. In three generations there would be no Democrats." |
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:9/28/2003 10:21 |
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Update - Have purchased one set of Explorer crossbars & towers off eBay ($25 + $16 S&H), and have another set coming. After studying the crossbars, I've decided I will cut each halfway between the towers, and machine and'or grind an aluminum block that will slip inside the oval-shaped tubing, matching the outside oval contour. I'll drill & tap holes to secure the crossbar halves to the middle-bracket from beneath. I'll take some pix when it's done & let y'all see the results. |
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LANDYOT
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• Subscriber since 11/23/2003 |
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• Newport News, VA, USA |
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• Registered on 7/15/2003 |
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• 1,110 posts |
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Posted:8/5/2005 11:49 |
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DONE! It's been almost two years (told y'all it was a back burner mod), but I finally got around to finishing the modified Explorer crossbars, and mounted them atop my X. Look in my album for a couple pix.
Not only do they retain that OEM appearance, now they sit way up off the paint, and they also allow a long load to clear the Ford rear air deflector. Height was not much of a concern to me because the X wouldn't fit in the home garage anyway. However, I wanted to keep the height low enough to still access the parking garage at work.
I did this the hard way, making 8 inserts that fit inside the elliptical crossbar tube, and they also tightly slip inside the receptacle of each tower. Drilled and tapped 40 holes, and secured everything with stainless steel hardware. An easier way is to cannibalize one crossbar tube, cut it into appropriate lengths, and TIG-weld those cut pieces to the ends of the other crossbars. |
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ROBERTH
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• Raleigh, NC, USA |
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• Registered on 3/23/2003 |
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• 62 posts |
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Posted:8/8/2005 19:13 |
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The Ford "FIX" is something that makes sense to me if it is basically a shim that goes under the existing rails? I was thinking of looking for some rubber gasket material in long strips to make something like this to raise the rails just enough to allow clearance. I would think that somewhere around an 1/8" or so would be enough since they are barely touching the paint now.
Any idea if Ford has a part number for these rubber strips? |
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Posted:9/16/2003 15:42 