New Roof rack.

Deussne · **Posted:** Tue Feb 19, 2013 1:30 pm

Ok. So I am making myself a roof rack to go on to my 2002 Renegade with from OEM Light bar.
I want a rack that will carry large items like 4x8 piece of plywood, even a roof tent.
I want to be able to protect my roof lights, I want it to be simple, cheap, and most of all effective.
This is my perliminary layout. It is not done yet.
What do you think?

Lancer · **Posted:** Tue Feb 19, 2013 4:00 pm

I think it looks good - the only question, is whether the upturned front will make wind noise louder. I assume that you are a good welder

dgeist · **Posted:** Tue Feb 19, 2013 4:32 pm

Good so far. To the point on the front noise, you might be better off with the rounded edges into the wind (turned up or not) to reduce noise.

Also, it would be good to have some kind of front-back member in the middle somewhere to facilitate lashing smaller items. Lateral movements are a pain with anything up that high and you don't want to have to lash all the way out to the outer rails if you don't need to.

Dan

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Feb 19, 2013 5:07 pm

Agree with the up turned and more noise
need some sort of deflector out front

infernicus · **Posted:** Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:36 pm

I like it a lot. I agree it may make some more noise with the turn upfront, but I think it might make some more room for lights. Kind of the idea I had. Keep going with it!

Any more pictures? :lol:

KK4x4 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:59 pm

Maybe some sides on it to to help hold things in place

Deussne · **Posted:** Tue Feb 19, 2013 9:43 pm

I have to politely disagree about the noise. If you look at many examples of the roof baskets that jeep use, many of which do not have any king of wind deflector. This rack cant do any worse then that. I can create a sloped deflector but my OEM Light bar is in a way of it... :SOMBRERO:

At the same time remember that I have a Renegade with an OEM light bar. This curved portion is sitting behind that light bar and it is slightly higher then the light bar, so that it will protect that light bar when I carry some plywood or long items.

I have a "Removable" upper section in the works. That will create a basket If I want to bolt it down to the main section.

And no I am not fabricating this thing myself. I can have a metal shop do this for me.

:JEEPIN:

P.s. I got this thing tested with 800lb of dynamic load and as long as the bolts(roof) hold this rack is not going anywhere. I got to work on a better bolt down method.

infernicus · **Posted:** Tue Feb 19, 2013 9:52 pm

AWESOME!
Your Renegade roof lights probably provide enough deflection of the wind to not really create anymore noise then.
Curious in the removable section too!
I am still very excited to see the outcome.

arengant · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2013 3:36 am

X2 I like it a lot!

Deussne · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2013 7:25 pm

Ok. I got the "removable" basket mocked up. Not sure If I like it yet, and not sure which version

1st.

Here is with a deflector and some lights.. I don't really need that though.

This is a slightly different version
2nd.

What do you think? Which one you like better?

:5SHOTS:

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2013 7:33 pm

Sorry I just don't get the flip up in the front at all
doesn't fit with the shape of the KJ
I know why you think you want to make it that way but I'd just a flat rack and be done

infernicus · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:02 pm

I actually still like it a lot.
The extra part makes the curve up front look a little funny.
Is there a way to add the OEM Renegade Lightbar in the drawings so we can visualize it better.
I'm sure we'd understand it more.

Personally, I don't need the basket part. I would leave just the bottom part.

I like the low profile look of it. That's what I need. I need to be able to get into NYC parking garages.

I would go with the first drawing, I'm not sure about that extra wrap around.

Are you the one creating these drawings? Or is the shop making them?

Keep with it!

teckman02 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:10 pm

that looks good i like it

Deussne · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:17 pm

infernicus wrote:

I actually still like it a lot.
The extra part makes the curve up front look a little funny.
Is there a way to add the OEM Renegade Lightbar in the drawings so we can visualize it better.
I'm sure we'd understand it more.

Personally, I don't need the basket part. I would leave just the bottom part.

I like the low profile look of it. That's what I need. I need to be able to get into NYC parking garages.

I would go with the first drawing, I'm not sure about that extra wrap around.

Are you the one creating these drawings? Or is the shop making them?

Keep with it!

I make the drawings.
I agree all I really need is the flat part myself. Maybe I just forget the removable basket section.

Tommudd I still like the curve up front. Its there to protect my OEM light bar.

Flat rack has already been done by various other guys.

Anyone want me to layout anything in specific?

Deussne · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:42 pm

Forgive me for the crudeness of this image... I do not have photoshop on my home PC.

The angle of the photograph is off so thats why the windows don't line up 100%

This will give you an Idea as to why I am trying to curve the front up.

infernicus · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2013 8:44 pm

Awesome!!
I have plenty of ideas.
Unfortunately, I'm on my phone at moment. When I get back to my research collection I'll make sure to post up.

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:21 pm

Well if you think the lights need protected than just do a 90 degree bar up front right behind the bars
That way anything else you haul on top will have something to go up against
and the few times you haul plywood it would hold it as well

Deussne · **Posted:** Thu Feb 21, 2013 7:25 am

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm going to sand this base out for a quote and a sample for test fit. Wooho... Cant wait.

Liberty for All · **Posted:** Sun Feb 24, 2013 1:50 am

Well done! I understand your set up so for me, I would prefer a flat rack but with no more than two inch sides of the same diameter of the rest of the tubing.

kirksjeep · **Joined:** Tue Dec 11, 2012 9:55 pm **Posts:** 12

I just mounted my rack and although I used the factory rails, I made my own cross rails and cut about 3" out of the back of the rack to allow it to go along side the factory rails as they get narrower as they go back. Since my KJ is the same color and is a Renegade it might give you an idea of how the lights look with the rack.

The cross rails:

New Roof rack.

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