Wall Rack for Hardtop

c5 rv · #1 (**permalink**) 06-16-08, 09:53 PM

I sent the car back to my mechanic so he can get the Cadillac dealer to fix the rear pulldown correctly. That let me snap some pics of the hardtop rack.

Components (all available at Home Depot):

- Rubbermaid FastTrack wall mounting system. This one is 56" long.

- 2 Rubbermaid FastTrack rubber-coated hose hooks. Each has a 50 lb. capacity. (I also bought a pair of horizontal bike racks. These extend out farther, flip up when not in use, and also hold 50 lbs. each. However, I thought the wider spacing wouldn't work as well with the curved hardtop edge.)

- 2x6 sleeper. This moves everything away from the wall enough to let the back ridge of the hardtop, just above the window, rest against the wall. Using a 2x6 instead of a 2x4 allows you to easily center the FastTrack in between the fasteners used to hold the sleeper against the wall.

- Lag screws and washers.

I cut the 2x6 at 6' and drilled top and bottom countersunk mounting holes every 16" starting 4" in from the end. I mounted the 2x6 to the wall, drilling through the wallboard into the studs. Countersinking (using a spade bit) allowed me not to worry about the lag bolts being in the way of anything once mounted on the wall. I centered the FastTrack on the 2x6 and fastened it using the provided screws. (I need to add more.) I centered the hose hooks on the FastTrack at 32" apart and screwed them into the FastTrack and 2x6. My son and I test fit the hardtop and threw an old towel behind it until I get a hardtop cover.

I'm a totally inept carpenter, and the job took about two hours. I managed to not cut the cord of the circular saw nor draw blood.

**Stealth** · #2 (**permalink**) 06-25-08, 01:21 PM

Nice job ..

If it was me, I do a couple more things:

1. add a side to side safety line to avoid a topple over, its a long ways down.
2. wrap the hooks with 1/4 neoprene to protect the back edge
3. paint the wall behind it and paint a large Cadillac Logo on the wall where the back window is