It did look pretty lousy just mounted to the stock crossbars:
But with the custom brackets it looks nearly made for the vehicle:
It's obvious the advantage the size gives but it's also nice for things you don't think about such as being closer to the edge of the vehicle so it's easier to load things and you can hang off a high lift in low profile fashion:
Though it was more expensive than others (paying extra shipping for the one piece as well) it is very well built and the utility it adds makes it well worth it. A few shots of various uses:
Gathering wood for a bonfire:
About 250 lbs of guns and deer meat:
Heavy steel targets and portable bench:
Dinner:
I made the brackets from 3/4" square tubing and 1/2" clamps (both from McMaster):
They fit inside the tracks but you do have to spread them a bit--so don't use this method if you want to use the stock crossbars in those locations in the future.
With six total locations and a direct loadpath you have many times the strength of the stock setup. Do a better job of prep and paint on them that I did though as you can see a bit of rust on mine already...I'm going to have to take those off and hit them again.
