OK, I've lined up a source for some custom bungee cords for the XTerra's roof rack. I can get cords that are 5/8" diameter thickness (about as thick as a good cigar) for $.60/foot. Here's what I'd like to do, I'd like to build an Xterra "roof pack" that consists of four bungee cords, two longer ones and two shorter ones to go lengthwise and crossways over the roof rack, then buy a bunch of them and distribute them to whoever wants them on our forum.

The questions I have are:

Who wants a pack of four?
How long should we make the longer ones? shorter ones?

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Thanks,
Puhnutmenum

Great idea.

Put me down for a 4-pack.

Thanks.

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2001 SE 4X4
Alpine Green

Chuck's Backpacking Bonanza

You know that I'm in. I would say that the lengths should be just less than the distances between the cross members themselves. That way, with nothing up there, the bungees would be secure, but will still allow for the most possible stretch to fit gear under. One more thing-if it's not too much more, I think it would be good to add one or two more short bungees to the pack. Maybe 2 long and 4 short. Thanks for getting the ball rolling on this.

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Dave Lange
Super Black 2001 XE 4x2 Auto with 3pack
Emma, vizsla, and Jimi, German shorthair
SWXC Member #26

great idea. i'd be in for a set. hell maybe you should sell them to the nissan dealerships for 10Xcost like they do to us!

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Cracker
2001 XE 5spd Black 4X4
SOXC Member www.soxc.org

I am also interested, let me know when ready and thanks!

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I'm also interested keep us in the loop!!!!

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Count me in PNUT. I'll trust your judgement on the length. I do think 4 short and 2 long sound like a good combo.

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Cris
'00 Aztec Red 4X4 V6 XE 3 Pack

I'm in for a four pack. Better make them in yellow. You know how some people are.

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I'm gonna measure this afternoon. Custom colors cost extra though, and I'm not sure I wanna go through ordering all of the different colors and keep track of 'em...

I'll do the math and have more info tomorrow!

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Thanks,
Puhnutmenum

sweet

Here's some more info. After measuring, it appears that the best fitting bungee would be 48". If you take the roof basket out of the equation, what's left of the roof rack is basically a square. Its about 42" wide and 41" long. If you take a bungee cord that's 48", you could stretch each end around one roof rack tube and hook it onto itself. This way, it will stay attached and still give you enough "stretch" to put a big duffell bag or something underneath it.

A test drive with a bungee almost this long and 1/2 the thickness (5/16") revealed spooky results... hooked up to the roof all by itself (nothing underneath it), the bungee started vibrating in the wind and it produced quite a headache inducing "hum" that vibrated throughout the X. Your mileage may vary, but my big-ass bungees will remain safely stored INSIDE till I'm ready to use them.

Prices at $.60/foot =
4 cords x 4ft/cord = 16 feet X $.60 = $9.60 per set.

This price doesn't include shipping, and colors are limited to "what's in stock" since the 9/16" thickness is fairly rare and the cost to spin up an entire spool of cords of that thickness in custom colors is too high.

I will confirm tomorrow that I can give the bungee people several different addresses for shipping, so we only have to incur the shipping cost once... My goal is to create an "Xterra Pack" that each of you can call and "request." Then you can send them the money, give them your address, and you won't have to wait for me to be "home" and you won't have to pay me for 2x shipping.

Cool? On to step two... I'll let you know the final outcome tomorrow.

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Thanks,
Puhnutmenum

PNUT - Does that company have large diameter hooks that we could get? I am really interesting in bungees that will fit directly around the rack without having to wrap the bungee around and attach it to itself. I am willing to pay more for this. You could take a 1/2 foot off each bungee; this could keep the cost just as low. If this is not available, I would like to know what kind of hooks they use. Normal bungee hooks are usually pretty weak. I have some that are hard plastic with a nice thick metal hook underneath-very nice. The thing I am worried about is that the hooks will be the weak link to these VERY thick bungees. Thanks for your help.

PNUT...
Are you concerned about gear shifting around up there and scratching that purty yellow roof?
Only soft items (duffel bags) would be safe.
The rubber strips from XTERRAPARTS would probably help save the surface.

Just a point to consider.
I think I'll save up and get the safari rack
Thanks for your efforts and contributions though.

K

Is it that hard to find thick bungy cord ? I always got mine at the local Home depo store.. cut to length, in our case, they keep it with the ropes etc. and have varied diameters. As far as hooking to the rack, they sell a nifty lock down. It looks like a screw on bottle cap, you loop the cord back on itself, a small tooth clamp holds the loop together, and then you screw down a locking cap..( plastic ), you can always snug up the fit of the rope. Its kinda hard to picture, but I can snap a shot later and post.

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member of http://www.soxc.org
http://www.geocities.com/x_canuk

I asked about "big hooks" and they don't have them. Apparantly, nobody does... the hooks they use are a military grade of stainless steel and are much stronger than regular bungee hooks.

Home depot has a variety of bungee cords in various diameters. I called them last night after finding similar cords at my local hardware store. All of these are made in Taiwan and they only have the thinner hooks with the rubber coating.

The bungees I'm looking at are extremely strong. I've learned a lot about bungees here the last few days and there are many many different grades of everything from the nylon to the rubber and the hooks etc. A military grade bungee cord is made from thicker, softer rubber that is more tightly wound by very strong nylon (no cotton). This makes them much more impervious to weather changes and exposure to sun. They also retain almost 100% their elasticity after being stretched for many many more hours at a time.

I plan to order a set today and when they arrive, I'll take pictures and give you a full report.

Incidentally, I would NEVER bungee something to the roof that would scratch the paint (duh!), I personally wanted something to help secure my kayaks to the Yakima rack -OR- to bungee down a big soft "dry bag" full of hunting gear.

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Thanks,
Puhnutmenum

These are the clips I was mentioning, although they are plastic, they are strong. I'm currently using the to tie rope holding down my tempo garage shelter, last week-end, it held everything down in 120 kph ( 65 mph winds ) at least they leave you the option of adjusting the load tension. ( BTW, that is also the bungee cord I get at our Home Depo )

I think they are meant for boating ?!

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member of http://www.soxc.org
http://www.geocities.com/x_canuk

Xcanuk - Thanks for the info. I think I'll buy the military issue bungees from PNUT's contact and then if I don't like the hooks, I'll pick up some of those puppies. I wonder if Walmart has them? No Home Depot in Duncan.

If the price is right, I am in for a set of the Military issue bungee cords.


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Eric Miller
University of Chicago
Also from southwest MO.

I may be in for a set of the military bungees as well. Keep us posted. What am I saying? Of course you will.


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2000 Black SE 4x4, 5spd
=========================
"not all those who wander are lost"
-J.R.R. Tolkien

You can count on me on ordering.

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2001 Just Blue
4X4 V6 XE P/U/S

I'm in for a set of military grade (Hopefully Marine Corps grade) cords!!
Semper Fi!!!!!!!!!!

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Marine Corp grade is exactly what they're supposed to be. I ordered a set of 4 today for a total of $15. Hopefully they'll arrive before I leave for London next Sunday.... it'll be hard for me to take pictures of them if they're back in the states!

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Thanks,
Puhnutmenum

Put down for a set too.

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'00 Solar Yellow XE
Automatic
3-pack

Was that with shipping?

Ship them to me and I'll test 'em for ya!
....no...we can get 6 more cases of Miller up there, I'm sure of it...

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"My head hurts, my feet stink and I don't love Jesus."
J. Buffet

Total cost with shipping = $20.50 US. I can't wait to see these things, apparantly he only sells them to commercial truck drivers and military surplus stores...

The clips are nickel plated steel, half moon clips.

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Thanks,
Puhnutmenum

I am in.

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Eric Miller
University of Chicago
Also from southwest MO.

I would love to get some of those cords to go with the huge pack I bought for inside stuff.

Let me know please.

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Xavier
"I said, Reading is GOOD, can we start the story now?"

I would like a 4pk too. The USMC military grade is what this old Marine wants.

Keep me info'd and Thanks!!1

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Roger

Here they are!!

Sorry it took me so long to post, I was out of the country the day after they arrived. Here they are though, in all their glory. Total price with shipping was $25.50. Four Marine grade cords, 4 feet long each with heavy duty steel hooks. They each stretch to 8'3" and are perfect for the roof.

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1462945&a=10999847&p=42081409&Sequence=0&res=high[/img]

Whoever's interested, I can give you the precise number to call or I'll order a set myself and ship them too you if you live abroad or something. I really like them, you should feel the weight, they'll last forever.

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Thanks,
Puhnutmenum

I would like a set..I will email you.

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'00 Solar Yellow XE
Automatic
3-pack
I love the smell of napalm in the moring...smells like..victory.

Puhnutmenum,

Shoot me that number, homeslice. They look great; thanks for doing the legwork to get this done.

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Dave Lange
Super Black 2001 XE 4x2 Auto with 3pack
Emma, vizsla, and Jimi, German shorthair
SWXC Member #26
www.geocities.com/baofka96/

Call or e-mail Frank at:

Frank T. Lasky, "The Rope Dope"
Info@theropedope.com

32 Glenwood Drive
Westfield, MA 01085
1-877-568-4182

Tell him you want the same set of 4, 4' bungee combo that he made for "Ken Walker"

Particulars:

-Nickel plated steel "half moon" hooks
-Military Marine grade 7/16" thick bungee
-Total with shipping = $25.50US

He said he had enough spun cord to make about 12 to 16 more before having to order another spool from his supplier. My guess is, the quick get theirs quicker so order as soon as you can.

If you get his answering machine, leave a message and send him an e-mail, he's good at getting back to you but he absoulutely will NOT take a credit card number through e-mail... he will ask for that over the phone.

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Thanks,
Puhnutmenum

Just ordered, can't wait to get 'em.

Hey PNUT,

I think you should repost this as a new topic like "Special Bungees for Rack now available!" There are a ton of people who said they wanted them, but probably don't know they can order them since this is an old thread.

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Dave Lange ~ Super Black 2001 XE 4x2 Auto with 3pack
Emma, vizsla, and Jimi, German shorthair ~ SWXC Member #26
the X, the V, and the GSP ~ more pictures here