Crazy Idea for Roof Rack?

[LukesfirstJeep]

I have all the hardware to mount a Yakima roof rack to my LJ hard top, but was wondering how to carry a canoe or kayak when the hard top is removed.

Yakima makes "artificial rain gutters " which are brackets that bolt to a truck cap or jeep hardtop. Has anyone ever welded or bolted a roof rack mounting bracket to their roll bar? I'm thinking about adding some type of bracket to the sides of my roll bar that allow me to mount a roof rack. The brackets won't interfere when I install the hard top. They look like this, but if welded, I won't need the backing plates or rubber pads.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AMR37/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[ElectricWizard]

I used to work for a rack shop. We'd use Thule 450 towers and their square bars, wrapping the towers around the roll bar. Worked good for folks who wanted a simple rack with no top.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0021ILIB4/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[LukesfirstJeep]

ElectricWizard, thanks for the reply. I'm trying not to buy another set of towers, but your solution definitely has merit. I'll have to find something that I can wrap around with my round Yakima bars.

 

[05 Blue Unlimited]

W

I used to work for a rack shop. We'd use Thule 450 towers and their square bars, wrapping the towers around the roll bar. Worked good for folks who wanted a simple rack with no top.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0021ILIB4/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Wow that's expensive!!

 

[ElectricWizard]

Wow that's expensive!!

Yep, I'll agree with that! Just about everything roof rack related is absurdly expensive.

 

[LukesfirstJeep]

I looked at the installation instruction for this product, and I think I can make mounting brackets. The rear mounts clamp around the roll bar with the cover installed. I have cross bars

https://www.olympic4x4products.com/Jeep-Wrangler-TJ-1997-2006-quick-n-easy-rack.html