I keep bouncing between through hole to the rollbar and just running a Gobi. I can't find a way to do the through-hole mounting that lets me sleep well at night. For now, the project is on a funding hold.
Roof Rack Idea
- Thread starter KingCarGuyZ
- Start date
I keep bouncing between through hole to the rollbar and just running a Gobi. I can't find a way to do the through-hole mounting that lets me sleep well at night. For now, the project is on a funding hold.
I had one of these for a while and was quite happy. You can use it to mount a rack. I just had cross bars
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DVEEWV0/?tag=wranglerorg-20
I ended up taking it off after we got our camp trailer. I rarely used it anyway.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DVEEWV0/?tag=wranglerorg-20
I ended up taking it off after we got our camp trailer. I rarely used it anyway.
Roadhawg011
Member
Frontrunner rack on the JK drills through the roof to mount to the Rollbar. My wife has one on her JK. It worked very well, with no leaks, until I had to remove and re-install and drill out some rusted bolts. They use like a pad of foam around each hole, glued to the roof to help seal.
It is a pain in that you can only ever run the rack with the hard top on, or hardtop off completely....no soft top. But I figure you've thought of that.
You can see the supports to the rollbar here...uses the JK Softtop mounting holes (which don't exist on the TJ so you'd need to do some drilling)
Roadhawg011
Member
To add, it's fooking strong. When they initially designed it, Front runner had a video of them picking up a JKU by the roof rack with a crane.
Yes tied into the cage makes all the difference in the world. I have a LJ with hard top, I also have a soft top but have never put it on. Am I correct in thinking that nobody makes a roof rack for the LJ or TJ for that ties into the cage thru the roof? I have design but don't want to reinvent the wheel either.
I could make plates with no rack brackets to cover the holes if you did want to take the rack on and off. Sealing the holes with some fiberglass resin would not be the end of the world if I want to ditch it later on.
Rusted hardware means they spec'd the wrong stuff. That would be a easy fix.
I could make plates with no rack brackets to cover the holes if you did want to take the rack on and off. Sealing the holes with some fiberglass resin would not be the end of the world if I want to ditch it later on.
Rusted hardware means they spec'd the wrong stuff. That would be a easy fix.
Found a photo from when I had it on. It doesn't drill into the hard top. Mounts to the gutter and the back edge.
calhoun4x4
New Member
I've yet to get the work done. The plan is to weld the three pieces of the sides tubes so that they are one integrated tube. These mount on front at the door hinge, and bolt to the bumper mounts at the rear. Welding it together will eliminate the persistent bolt hole elongation during off camber fun.
For the cross rails on top, we are going to replace them with some stronger metal that will support the weight of the tent and myself. The cross rails will connect to the side rails by metal collars. The plan sounds good. Once I can finally get it done I will post an update.
As far as the Gobi's go, I helped my buddy install his on his JKU and he is very happy with it. We drilled several holes in his top. We were extremely worried because we could not get the mount to fit correctly on one side. That is when we realized the template was incorrect. We had to modify one or two holes (make them larger) so that the bolts would line up correctly. I was so worried. I just could not see how that mount on the rear driver's side would not leak. Two years and at least a dozen trips it is still dry as a bone.
calhoun4x4
New Member
So I have the smitty built one have you slept 2 people in the tent before and how did the rack hold up the Tent I plan on getting is very light compared to most roof top tents ?
I have been the only person in it. The middle cross bar bent a small curve, and the rear cross bar bent at least a quarter inch. I have it open over the rear, so I am sure that the rear cross bar gets the most stress.
The side bars are in great shape. My only problem with them is that they are secured together by nuts and bolts. Even without the weight of the tent, flexing the Jeep out, bouncing off of rocks and trees cause the tubes to twist and I do not want the holes to elongate to the point where a bolt will break or fall out.
Overall good quality, just not engineered for what I am asking it to do.
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