I hope I'm not beating a dead horse here, so I apologize if I missed this when searching.
I am thinking about getting a roof rack. I've had stuff like the Yakimas and stuff before, but I want something I can use to occasionally free up some space, but also as an elevated platform for scouting and for doing some long range target shooting. I haul kayaks and ladders from time to time. At some point I'd like to get a small hard top RTT, but would likely move this to a trailer once I can save up and get the time to build one.
I do want to occasionally pull the hard top like everyone else, but I typically do this only once or twice a year. Still I'd prefer to make this as easy as possible, but it'll have to be the frame type mounted rack with ladder.
Some background I'm working on running an ARB fridge inside the tub, I bought an 82 qt but after a few weeks of testing had to return it because it wouldn't/couldn't maintain any temperature and ARB said it wasn't working properly and it was used so warranty didn't apply. My plan is to normally go out with the big fridge and slider. When I get another fridge I'll run an AUX battery for the fridge, coms, lighting, and powering up devices. I would like to be able to store some of the smaller flexible 50W or 100W solar panels for times I'm in the field for longer stretches, especially in the summer. I don't intend to run those panels on the rack as I'm typically going shade for the vehicle when it's hot out. I may set panels out when I go to work and I'm too lazy to take the fridge out of the back of the Jeep. Typically the battery will be charged and isolated while driving or at idle.
I run an ARB awning, but at night I typically just go under the stars, tarp or if it's bad out a small backpacking tent. I've been using a hitch mount cargo carrier a lot lately, but I can't open the swing-out tire carrier very far as it hits, so no access to the fridge. I've drawn up some stuff on a more elaborate tub mount tire/cargo carrier to work with a tail gate, but I'm not sure it'll free up enough room and it won't do anything for an elevated position for scouting, etc.
Anyway I've been looking at the GOBI Stealth the most and I've seen some stuff by Garvin. I'm sure there's others. If you have any suggestions that would be great and I've thought plenty about just skipping the rack, but I keep adding all this cool off-road gear, so It's getting harder to put it everywhere.
Thanks
I am thinking about getting a roof rack. I've had stuff like the Yakimas and stuff before, but I want something I can use to occasionally free up some space, but also as an elevated platform for scouting and for doing some long range target shooting. I haul kayaks and ladders from time to time. At some point I'd like to get a small hard top RTT, but would likely move this to a trailer once I can save up and get the time to build one.
I do want to occasionally pull the hard top like everyone else, but I typically do this only once or twice a year. Still I'd prefer to make this as easy as possible, but it'll have to be the frame type mounted rack with ladder.
Some background I'm working on running an ARB fridge inside the tub, I bought an 82 qt but after a few weeks of testing had to return it because it wouldn't/couldn't maintain any temperature and ARB said it wasn't working properly and it was used so warranty didn't apply. My plan is to normally go out with the big fridge and slider. When I get another fridge I'll run an AUX battery for the fridge, coms, lighting, and powering up devices. I would like to be able to store some of the smaller flexible 50W or 100W solar panels for times I'm in the field for longer stretches, especially in the summer. I don't intend to run those panels on the rack as I'm typically going shade for the vehicle when it's hot out. I may set panels out when I go to work and I'm too lazy to take the fridge out of the back of the Jeep. Typically the battery will be charged and isolated while driving or at idle.
I run an ARB awning, but at night I typically just go under the stars, tarp or if it's bad out a small backpacking tent. I've been using a hitch mount cargo carrier a lot lately, but I can't open the swing-out tire carrier very far as it hits, so no access to the fridge. I've drawn up some stuff on a more elaborate tub mount tire/cargo carrier to work with a tail gate, but I'm not sure it'll free up enough room and it won't do anything for an elevated position for scouting, etc.
Anyway I've been looking at the GOBI Stealth the most and I've seen some stuff by Garvin. I'm sure there's others. If you have any suggestions that would be great and I've thought plenty about just skipping the rack, but I keep adding all this cool off-road gear, so It's getting harder to put it everywhere.
Thanks