Roof Racks

I'd like to hear from folks who have roof racks on Cherokee, XJ, with factory roof rails. What did you get? How does it work?

And I'm looking to put spare tire up there. Any one have the roof rack mounted spare tire holder?

Jim

I bought mine from www.quadratec.com. It's all aluminum and I put the spare (full-size) and a high-lift jack in it. Tends to rattle a little at highway speed, otherwise it's one of the greatest mods I've made so far.

Thanks. Will look now. What was the final price with spare wheel adapter? Do you have the factory roof rack too? I'm getting a bit confused on install with or without the factory roof rack, rain gutter installs, etc.

Jim

Thanks. Will look now. What was the final price with spare wheel adapter? Do you have the factory roof rack too? I'm getting a bit confused on install with or without the factory roof rack, rain gutter installs, etc.

Jim

Total was $500 or so with shipping. I made my own tire "tie down" out of DOM tubing. Yes to the factory roof rack on my 97'.( Hence the slight rattle I mentioned.) The rain gutter mounts might be a little better to tighten down. It was super simple to install. A few dozen nuts and bolts and about 2 hours time. I ended up replacing the standard nuts with a ny-lock type, but other than that one of the best mods I've ever done.

I found these. Made by Surco with optional spare wheel accessory.


http://www.autoanything.com/products/product_gnn.aspx?p_id=1380


Total is 299.85 for rack, spare tire mount, mounting brackets and shipping.

Ever heard of Surco?

Jim

I'm not familiar with surco. I checked the site, and it looks familiar to mine, except mine is aluminum with complete sides (a little less weight on my roof rack mount). It looks like that one would be easy to fabricate some mounts for safari lights on the front flat pieces .And for the price you can't go wrong! I hope your happy with it. (let me know how the install goes...)

Gotta wait one more pay day.

I also own a Suzuki Grand Vitara. Wife drives it. The heat in Arziona really tears up plastic parts in interiors. One of the A/C vents for the Jeep had to be replaced. It was easy, pops right out, cost 8 dollars. Jus had to replace one on the Suzuki. The original one broke. It cost 32 dollars.

Ouch!

I found myself saying to the parts guy, "Well my Jeep it only costs...."

Have I slid into Jeep World?

Jim

http://www.prolineracks.com/car-rack-special.html

Metal, holds my full size spair, no rattles and well priced.

Thanks. Probably just me but I don't see the spare tire accessory for the Safari rack. Am I missing it?

Jim

I made my own with a piece of 5/8 threaded rod, a pad lock and a couple of short pieces of 1" angle iron, but I am fairly certain that the mount for the Thule's will fit it.

BTW: I also have my Hella's mounted to the front of the rack. I love this rack because of the way the front uppper rail is set back from the lower...gives you room to do things like that.

If you like, I'll snap a picture of it and e-mail it to you.

What I did:

Drilled a 5/8" hole in the middle of two 12" long pieces of 1" angle iron. Welded the end of the rod to one of the pieces of angle with the rod sticking out of the inside of the web. Put that on the bottom of the rack and from the top, put the other piece of angle with the web facing down. Threaded a nut down to clamp it tight to the rack and put a tack weld on it to the rod. Drilled a hole in the top of the rod for the padlock. Slid the tire over the rod, used the factory tire mount center cone and ran another nut down to hold it, then put the padlock and a tire cover on to finish it up. about $15 bucks worth of stuff from Lowes, a $15 cover and 10 minutes with the neighbors mig welder. :)

I just saw a roof mounted spare tire device. Not rack. Just spare tire. I couldn't catch the Jeep in traffic. Used to of the factory roof rack arms, close together, tire mount mounted right on those. No rack.

Anyone seen this?

Jim

Oh, I didn't realize you really didn't want a rack. Check this guy's project out...

http://www.4x4wire.com/jeep/tech/carrier/zj_roofrack/

Primary goal is to get spare out of back of Jeep. That's getting closer. Although the one I saw yesterday was obviously not self-made. It had channel locks for the runners in the roof rack guides, etc., fittings very well done. Now I have to keep an eye out for that Cherokee again. I think I know about where it lives. Have to be careful these days though to not get shot! :)

I may go with roof rack. Easier, does add some storage space, etc. But mostly just want to get smelly spare out of back of Jeep by summer here in AZ.

Jim

I found these. Made by Surco with optional spare wheel accessory.


http://www.autoanything.com/products/product_gnn.aspx?p_id=1380


Total is 299.85 for rack, spare tire mount, mounting brackets and shipping.

Ever heard of Surco?

Jim

i second that, i have a surco on my rig, its not as strong as the steel ones but much lighter and cheaper, get it from summitracing.com http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?Ntt=surco&Ntk=KeywordSearch&DDS=1&searchinresults=false&N=0&target=egnsearch.asp its only 149.95 + 39.95 for the mounting kit. Tell them you found free shipping someplace eles and they will match that

I have a Conferr for my xj. It fit both my 91 and now my 98. Very sturdy set up, goes into factory rails. Have room for my spare, some gas, and my lowboy folding chair (open with me on it). Instead of factory floor (1/2" spaced tubing) used 1/2" marine plywood.

I would have to agree with bayouwolf on this one. i always shop from there. they have the good sh**.

I built my own after seeing the prices in catalogs, friggin outragouse for what they are.
Bent 1.5" flat stock to fit the profile of the roof rails and stick up to weld to frame for mounting bracket. Used 5/16 bolts with a small peice of stock welded to the head that fits into the slot on the inside of the stock roof rail. Bolt goes thru the bracket, and the flat sock is pulled tight into slot. Took a little messing around to get this right. Not hard, just trial and error.
Made the frame out of .5" sqaure stock. Two cross braces and two 4" tall peices on each side of rack attaching top rail. Made two light tabs for front and back(flat stock with a hole).
The floor is expanded steel, like a heavy mesh. That was the most expensive part, $35.
I used the stock mounting bolt and plastic nut to mount the spare. Just welded bolt to cross brace.
When it was done I took it to a place that does spray on bed liners and had them shoot the whole thing for $70.
Wish I would have it longer. It is the about the same length as the roof rails. When I get the rear bumper done I think I will make one that goes to the front of the roof.
I use the thing all the time for hauling stuff, lumber, gas cans, camping gear, and dirt bike gear. Plus I have more room inside with the spare gone.
I will put a link to some pics tonight.
Here's a link to the pics, http://thespool48895.tripod.com/My%20Photo%20gallery.htm

Ouch!

here's mine, built myself...

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/500/226654P1164228-med.JPG

3/4" EMT and a wire feed, black powder coat. has mounts for lights front and back, been too busy to put them on...

Part #-12138.300 for quadratec. hope this helps.

I purchased my roof rack from a post site called "craigslist.org" (which has post lines in many different cities and states.

Looking on E-bay is also a good place to find one.

I just posted a line on AF concerning the same thing though, about mounting it on the factory mounting. I hope to get some good input.

I bought a new bike rack from this company called Rocky Mounts for my 2004 Chevy Tahoe Z71 and it works great. It was really easy to put on my factory racks and it didn’t require any special help. I highly suggest The Noose bike rack that they offer since it was only $85 - works awesome and looks great in a variety of colors to match your ride. It was the only rack that actually fit on with no problems at all! Their website is rockymounts.com. I believe they have racks for Jeeps and a number of other vehicles too since their racks are universal.