Power of the dollar: Roof Rack vs. Hitch Rack

Jeepman56 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 4:33 pm

Roof racks are nice and you can mount lights on them (which is also cool), but what about the hitch mounted racks. I have heard of them but being new to Jeep I haven't seen them yet. I was wondering if anyone had any insight into pricing or quality of these items. Thanks for your time.

tommudd · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 5:03 pm

Like anything you can pay a lot or a little. They are handy on long trips only in my opinion, where you go to point A unload stay a month and reload and go home. I had one for the Cherokee that was up higher than the hitch so that it would not drag when off road, BUT then you could not get into the back to get anything. I have one for the Liberty that just comes straight, its OK if you just need to get into the rear window area but anything else and the rack needs to come off. I paid like 75 for the first one years ago and 50 for this one. I also have a roof rack that stays on all the time and I love it as I can throw stuff up there and forget about it, no hassles JUST MY NICKELS WORTH OF INFO ! :wink:

Tom

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 5:13 pm

The hitch racks are good, as Tom said. They can mess with your departure angle when off roading. and also they can be easy to forget you have on there when backing up. OUCH!!!!!

Roof racks are more storage space, distributed better accross the vehicle and not all on the rear end, Raises the center of gravity if it is alot of weight, added wind resistance=MPG issues....

Both are great, i intend to install aroof rack as soon as the wallet allows, and then lights.

Blue KJ in PA · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:19 pm

WoodysKJ wrote:

. and also they can be easy to forget you have on there when backing up. OUCH!!!!!

.

That's why you put the hitch mount carrier into the front hitch...*S*

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 10:54 pm

I have a hitch rack and I love it. Its great since I can put stuff on it that I do not want to put inside the jeep. Fire wood, coolers, tents, tarps, things like that.

Sport · **Posted:** Fri Aug 10, 2007 8:57 am

Get a hitch and roof basket!

FreeJeep · **Posted:** Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:52 am

I used both my roof basket and a hitch basket when we went to Moab. With four of us in the Jeep, it was pretty much required for our 2 1/2 week excursion.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:26 pm

FreeJeep,

What kind of hitch and hitch rack do you have? Looks like a RL bumper, correct?

Is it rated to used a Hitch basket? and did you have any issues with spare tire clearence?

Lets see some detial pics of your rig. Roof rack, Lights, Bumpers, winch, lift etc...

BTW GREAT LOOKING RIG!!!!!!!

stick · **Posted:** Fri Aug 10, 2007 9:41 pm

I have a hitch mount rack. I got it about 6-7 years ago and have used it on all of my Jeeps. I use it a lot. It's great for camping. I use it to haul my firewood and cooler. It's not something you'd want to go off roading with, but they are easy to remove, so just leave it at camp when you go on the trails. I think I paid $75 for mine. I've seen them anywhere from $170 for folding aluminum ones to $40 at Harbor Freight on sale. I also use mine to carry the Christmas tree.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 11, 2007 11:51 pm

Was at Cabella's in PA today. They have a nice sturdy rear hitch mount basket on sale for $49.95 and several other models as well. The $50 one had a "Z-bar" which mounted it higher. They call it an ATV basket but it's no different and fits a 2" Hitch .

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0006064520570a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&No=40&Ntt=hitch&noImage=0&Ntk=Products&QueryText=hitch&Ntx=matchall&N=4887&Nty=1

Power of the dollar: Roof Rack vs. Hitch Rack

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