Roof Rack Pros vs Cons

[AndyG]

We have to choose our annoying noises and eliminate them as we see fit. I have many ex-wives, but a well fertilized garden.......WAY out back in the yard.

When I was young my folks were going through a divorce and it was bothering me- A wise dude said “ Son, half of all marriages end in divorce and the other half would if they could afford it”

 

[kincaid.0678]

My first wife had a habit of over packing whenever we went home on Leave. Even without a back seat there wasn't enough room, especially if we were bringing Christmas presents. So I got one of these to tow behind the YJ.
https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...y-40-12-in-x-48-in-utility-trailer-62665.html
I built a box out of a couple pieces of plywood, about 3" tall. No permanent mod to the Jeep except a hitch on the aftermarket bumper and the lights. It also worked well for hauling furniture when required.

I like that little setup. About the same price as the rack base too. How does it pull?

 

[kincaid.0678]

This TJ has that rack I intended to delete and changed my mind - I have firm suspension so it corners great, has 4:88 gears so it pulls good - has lights on the rack and overall works good.... if you want a rack.

The noise can be mitigated with spiral rope at the front or pipe insulation.

My advice- Don’t put one on if it doesn’t help you carry what you need.

View attachment 430794

I would only use it for trips. I’d probably remove it when I wasn’t using it. After seeing the post from @C.J. Roberts I’m kinda liking that little harbor freight trailer. But then again the roof rack doesn’t need to be licensed lol

 

[kincaid.0678]

Other roof rack cons are increased overall height,especially when loaded, and no security for your stuff. Save the $500 or so to buy the rack and build yourself a small enclosed trailer. Your past posts show you have the talent to easily do that

If I had more time this year before vacation at the beginning of July I would prefer to build my own. Being down to the wire on time with three weeks left to make something happen I doubt I’ll have time to put one together before we leave but it’s a good idea for a project when I get back. I’m not that worried about the security aspect of my luggage for this trip anyways. We drive straight to the North Carolina coast and then unload everything at the house, basically only stopping for gas, bathroom, fast food etc.

 

[tr21triton]

I would only use it for trips. I’d probably remove it when I wasn’t using it. After seeing the post from @C.J. Roberts I’m kinda liking that little harbor freight trailer. But then again the roof rack doesn’t need to be licensed lol

don't let Andy feed you that B.S. he lines his with plastic and fills it with water along with all his ducks and has disco lights around it at night. everybody in ALABAMA calls him the "DISCO DUCK" with his duck pond on top of his JEEP !

 

[C.J. Roberts]

I like that little setup. About the same price as the rack base too. How does it pull?

Even with the box on it, it only weighed a couple hundred pounds, so you barley knew it was there, and as short as it is you don't have to worry about swinging wide for it.

I would only use it for trips. I’d probably remove it when I wasn’t using it. After seeing the post from @C.J. Roberts I’m kinda liking that little harbor freight trailer. But then again the roof rack doesn’t need to be licensed lol

I doubt it would cost much to license the thing. When I had mine, (mid 80s) it cost me about $20 to register it in Ohio. As little as it weighs and as little as it costs, I doubt it would be much, even now.

 

[bucky]

WV trailer registration is $51 for the life of the trailer. My 06 came with a rack and removing it was one of the first things I did.

 

[Foxhound67]

I like mine, throw the tent up there to go camping with the wife and kid (about 500 pounds counting the tent) or my snowboard because it doesn't really fit in the cab. I don't notice any whistling and even with my tent up there I haven't come across anything I haven't fit under except my garage door which I don't park in anyway. I don't regret it at all. I got rid of the weird knobs and just use bolts to hold the cross bars on, currently my tent is on my Grand Cherokee and I have 5/16 pins with rubber washers holding the bars on so taking them off to drop the top is a 10 second thing. I've never liked the hitch racks, but that's a personal thing.

 

[kincaid.0678]

I like mine, throw the tent up there to go camping with the wife and kid (about 500 pounds counting the tent) or my snowboard because it doesn't really fit in the cab. I don't notice any whistling and even with my tent up there I haven't come across anything I haven't fit under except my garage door which I don't park in anyway. I don't regret it at all. I got rid of the weird knobs and just use bolts to hold the cross bars on, currently my tent is on my Grand Cherokee and I have 5/16 pins with rubber washers holding the bars on so taking them off to drop the top is a 10 second thing. I've never liked the hitch racks, but that's a personal thing.
View attachment 430873

I think it might be the quickest route for me at least for this trip. Sometimes getting into the DMV is a nightmare. Maybe next year a trailer will be in the cards. I’ll use either only a couple times a year tops so either way it’s a decent expense for a small goal, packing the wife’s clothes to the beach lol

 

[lBasket]

I think it might be the quickest route for me at least for this trip. Sometimes getting into the DMV is a nightmare. Maybe next year a trailer will be in the cards. I’ll use either only a couple times a year tops so either way it’s a decent expense for a small goal, packing the wife’s clothes to the beach lol

Am I the only one here with a rack mounted directly to the hard top?

I bought it like this. Just some yakima-style rails that you can put cross bars onto. I have some basket from cabelas to mount onto them.

Pro: basket easily removable by removing cross bars even at camp
Light
Cheap if you buy used. This shit is stupid priced new

Con:
Lower weight rating, put your heavy shit inside
Doesn't work with soft top?

 

[Foxhound67]

I think it might be the quickest route for me at least for this trip. Sometimes getting into the DMV is a nightmare. Maybe next year a trailer will be in the cards. I’ll use either only a couple times a year tops so either way it’s a decent expense for a small goal, packing the wife’s clothes to the beach lol

It's convenient to have when you're at the store and need to throw something up there because you thought it would fit inside and doesn't.

 

[Foxhound67]

Am I the only one here with a rack mounted directly to the hard top?

View attachment 430875

I bought it like this. Just some yakima-style rails that you can put cross bars onto. I have some basket from cabelas to mount onto them.

Soft top here, if I had a hard top I'd probably go Gobi. Seems like a really nice piece, but also depends on what you put up there. A cargo basket for suitcases or whatever? Anything works. A 150 pound tent with 2 adults? Need some beef.

 

[lBasket]

Soft top here, if I had a hard top I'd probably go Gobi. Seems like a really nice piece, but also depends on what you put up there. A cargo basket for suitcases or whatever? Anything works. A 150 pound tent with 2 adults? Need some beef.

I thought it read somewhere on the forum the dynamic load for the hard top was somewhere around 150 and static was closer to 300?

Maybe if I'm wrong someone can correct me. 150lbs of tent and camping gear is quite a bit

 

[Foxhound67]

I thought it read somewhere on the forum the dynamic load for the hard top was somewhere around 150 and static was closer to 300?

Maybe if I'm wrong someone can correct me. 150lbs of tent and camping gear is quite a bit

Possibly, I'm running the rack mounted to the frame because I have a soft top, they claim 600 pound capacity static and like 300 dynamic. I've had my whole family up there multiple times and never had a problem.

 

[kincaid.0678]

Am I the only one here with a rack mounted directly to the hard top?

View attachment 430875

I bought it like this. Just some yakima-style rails that you can put cross bars onto. I have some basket from cabelas to mount onto them.

Pro: basket easily removable by removing cross bars even at camp
Light
Cheap if you buy used. This shit is stupid priced new

Con:
Lower weight rating, put your heavy shit inside
Doesn't work with soft top?

If I had a TJ style hardtop I’d go that route. I have an either CJ or YJ style that came with my TJ but it’s not the greatest fit and has a few cracks in the fiberglass but was half ass repaired. I’m actually trying to sell it at the moment so I don’t plan on modifying it anymore. I like the idea though

 

[kincaid.0678]

It's convenient to have when you're at the store and need to throw something up there because you thought it would fit inside and doesn't.

I currently use my hitch hauler for that and if it’s a planned occurrence I’ll take the back seat out to fit whatever fits lol

 

[Foxhound67]

I currently use my hitch hauler for that and if it’s a planned occurrence I’ll take the back seat out to fit whatever fits lol

Talking more unplanned, like the other day I found one of those kitchen playsets for free in my neighborhood, slid it on top and strapped it down.

 

[Allstar424]

I have a roof rack mounted to the hardtop. I was really torn on installing it or not. The shop I got the hardtop from threw in the rack for cheap since it was an old display model so I went for it. No issues in the past 5 years with leaks or anything. I stay aware of how much weight I'm throwing up there. It can be a bit of a sail in a good cross wind. My wife and I run a woodworking business as a side hustle and that rack has hauled its share of hardwood just fine.

 

[kincaid.0678]

I have a roof rack mounted to the hardtop. I was really torn on installing it or not. The shop I got the hardtop from threw in the rack for cheap since it was an old display model so I went for it. No issues in the past 5 years with leaks or anything. I stay aware of how much weight I'm throwing up there. It can be a bit of a sail in a good cross wind. My wife and I run a woodworking business as a side hustle and that rack has hauled its share of hardwood just fine.

View attachment 430911

Good looking Jeep

 

[kincaid.0678]

Well the wife thinks we should go with the harbor freight trailer option which I’m all for. It will be something I can use until it falls apart, plus I can build it into whatever I want / need. Hopefully they have them in stock this weekend when I go to get one lol