Build a DIY roof rack for the 2016 Ford Transit Connect.

Let's see how to build a sturdy and low-cost DIY roof rack. We utilize the existing frame crossmembers, located under the vehicle's roof covering, which are the structurally safest points. The material used is 3/4" metal tubing. Nuts are welded to the ends of each tube, creating a clean and strong attachment point, and then the 3/4" tube is welded at an angle to the brackets, forming the load-bearing structure of the crossbar. An identical crossbar is then created for the front. A crucial step to prevent leaks is the waterproofing of the attachment points. Inside, an insulating rubber panel is placed that follows the shape of the roof rib; from the outside, a rubber washer is added, and then everything is compressed with a 1/4" bolt with a wing washer, which screws into the welded nut underneath. The crossbars are positioned along the roof line, aligning them with the crossmembers, and the bolts are tightly screwed into the welded nuts on the crossbars. For the construction of the crossmembers, a suspension tube is used, which is bent (using a bender) to precisely follow the profile of the vehicle's roof. This operation must be carried out by a workshop; then the shaped and cut crossmembers are fixed to the crossbars, to which "T" bars are welded that will be used to secure the load.