Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

After I played around with the all-in-one rack idea on the back of our Delica for quite a while I moved on to a custom made roof rack. The multiple use of swing out arms where just too limited and also after I got a few quotes it ended up too $$$.

Anyway this is my new idea to keep our beloved crystal light windows as well as the sunroof free from anything, but still carry a full size spare tire and 4 Scepter fuel cans. On the front there will be a little compartment (with doors on both sides), which works as a wind shield and to store spare parts. There are also two swing out arms mounted (green) on the side to hold a big tarp above the sliding door.

And the best thing is. Noel is already working on it :) Can't wait to get it mounted on our Delica...

Hey Felix, what is in the boxes at the back, your graphic makes me think of 4 dead bodies -- do you plan to become an axe-murderer? Hope you're not planning on putting Missy up there... we're watching you. Christine.

Like your way of thinking!

Nice rack idea

I would recommend to have your fuel cans in place of your spare (rear underneath) or as close to the tailgate as possible.

diesel is about 1.9 lbs per liter so if you're carrying 4x20L scepter cans full of dino, that would be 150lbs and then your spare+rack,etc... that's a lot of weight to carry up top.

if you're carrying close to 300 lbs, think of it as a 300lb fat guy wobbling up top from side to side trying to tip your delica over on the highway.

deli's are wonderfully high COG when you start adding weight up top.

they are stickmen bodies Christine. nothing to see... continue along...

:-D :-D Christine don't worry :-D :-D

miller, I saw your photo a while ago and it kept my brain working :)

Jesse, good idea, but we actually have just 3 x 10 L Diesel cans and one 10 L water can up there. We don't go on big expeditions :) 20 l cans are way to high in my opinion, even if you store it on the side.

So keep in mind the rack is not finished at this stage, the majority of it is done, Im saying about 80%, the front wedge still has to have its skin put on, the ends of the rails still have to be finished, but the majority is done, when looking at this you have to imagine the Cross bars will actually fit up into the body of the rack, bringing down the overall height, and it will be lower at the front than the front as its designed to sloap with the tilt of the roof.
I took these picts today with the tire in its place, the cross bar in place to hold the fuel cans from sliding around and clearly its not polished as its still under construction.
With the cross bars taking more of the weight and considerably adding to the strength as any downward pressure is not only pressed down, but in on the cross bars, with out the cross bars in the rack is not strong, but when its all together, Its going to be amazing, from inside the delica , you wont be have the crystal lite roof blocked as the cross bars go in the tinted area and the rack is designed by Felix to really take advantage of what the van has to offer. My hats off to his design,
WELL done Felix.

I will post more picts when its fully finished with all the options on it and the front wedge in place and polished up.

LOVE IT

WOOOOOHOOOOOO!
It looks amazing Noel! Can't wait to see it finished and have it on our Delica!

Thanks a lot for posting photos. Looks really good Noel!
As I look at the photo I was wondering how you want to attach the mount for the telescope arms?
Cheers
Felix

Not to worry felix, its still going as your draft showed,One will be at the back under the bottom for the Slide in of the larger segment, and the top will be built into the front wedge/tool box.
and also on the side with pins
I can allready tell your making plans,This is just a couple picts of whats welded onto the rack, the cross bars are also in the making.
Noel

Hey,
Super Sweet its looking good!
It was nice to meet you guys that day at Noel's I was grabbing some tanks.
Love what you guys have done for mods!
Kinda weird too because I had been thinking of a cristal light rack for quite awhile
and there you guys were making it happen.
The tarp hanger is going to be awesome to have on this lovely and tempermentaly temperate coast!
Nice little Patio!
This one is on the to do list for sure!

Also from what Jfarsang said

think of it as a 300lb fat guy wobbling up top from side to side trying to tip your delica over on the highway.

If you feel the need to test this theory,I can ride up on the rack for while! (Not quite the full 300 but I would have beer
and hockey pads on so it would be close!)

Nice looking so far Noel!

Right on!

the 300 lbs coment was if he was carying 80lbs of diesel on the roof, but he will only have 30L of diesel and 10 L of water, and thats only for long trips, not daily driving, these tanks he picked up are really sweet, they only hold 10L of diesel but they are at least twice as ruged as the ones normally used for fuel cans.
AND....Bad Joe, your letting the cat out of the bag to early, the part you speak of was going to be a surprise in the final unveiling..... NO soup for you.

here is some up dated picts, the side bars are to show where the awning rails will slide out of, also the tire lock down post is Stainless steel with a stainless nut welded to regular steel tabs for the lock to go through. the stainless will not corode the aluminium so the only part to keep on top of is the tabs that are drilled for the lock, and that should be just painted.




The sides for the front wind wedge still need to be cut as you wanted to install those your self, and I will be finishing up the cross bars this weekend.
the curve of the crystal lite roof is being an issue with the drop of the van from rear height to front. but its all just challanges.

What size spare can you carry on your rack

The spare on the rack is a 235/75R15, but it could easily take a 33"/34" as the sides are cut out to take a larger tire down the road if required...