Roof Baskets

JeepBeat · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 8:47 pm

I would like to consider a roof basket for next summer. I am not an off-roader, as such, yet, but wanted to question what usage you guys get out of yours? Besides on off-road excursions, what day to day use to you get out of your rack, if any? Would one be of any use to me? I know it would be helpful for camping, but I have a utility trailer that I normally haul for those events.

Also, what brands/models do you have. Post some pics and stories. On another topic, I saw the Black Widow rack, which seemed very nice. Thanks for the help!!

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:45 pm

i dont use mine too much. but its there when i need it for extra storage. espcially camping stuff, like chairs, tent, whatever else. since our jeeps dont have that much storage behind the back seat. plus it gives it a cool offroad look

i have a coleman basket only becuase i got it pretty cheap off of costco, i didnt have the money to spend 300 on a yakima one, although i did get yakima mounts and crossbars

i have lots more stickers up there now lol

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:48 pm

I have a coleman rack got it from costco for like $85 shipped. I have no use for it during normal driving so i take it off. It also knocked 1-2mpg off my hwy gas mileage with it up there.. I use it when i go camping and stuff. I also can't fit it in a standard garage with the rack on.

callaway · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:25 pm

black widow basket = cheap and effective

handy for extra tires...

or for traveling cross country. Went from Chicago to Mt. Rushmore with lots of camping gear on the roof...

With the black widow, I'm able to fit into my garage and even the parking garages in downtown Chicago

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:30 pm

I use mine all the time and it never comes off, doesnt hurt mileage that much at all. Ive used it to haul tires/ wheels/ lumber/ camping equipment/ wet muddy boots/ tools etc anything I dont want or have room for inside. I can get into a 6' 6" garage due to mounting my rack low and not way up in the air like some of them I have seen. I have one of the BVG ones that a lot of us got two years ago on Overstock.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:39 pm

I have the Rock Lizard Gecko basket rack,steel rails with intergrated basket.Lower profile then any rack on the factory rails and much,much stronger.I've stood on my rack(190lbs) with my spare on the rack(90lbs) and it didn't even budge any.

To see more pics and prices click on link in my sig.

KJ4ME · **Posted:** Mon Nov 19, 2007 10:39 pm

i plan on putting the hi lift on mine and off road lights. i typically like making things so i am making my roof basket myself.

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:12 am

mine is the lowest ive seen to date but mine is custom and i use it for lights and w/e i need to put up there its the full size of the roof and can hold a lot of weight Ive stood on it in the weakest spot and it barely moved but im also not that heavy only 5' 11" 165# but its strong enough for me

swyszomirski · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:59 am **Posts:** 286

I too made a custom rack mount. Take a look at my cardomain link in my signiture.

Stephen

csukoh78 · **Joined:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:34 pm **Posts:** 501

You cannot go wrong with the Black Widow...light, strong, looks good, and you can mount lights under them.. Only $99 bucks too, so that's a no brainer. Easy to take off too, but I leave mine on. Doesnt affect mileage at all.

meh_kick · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 7:40 am

Ditto on the Black Widow. I mount (with straps for now) a spare wheel up top as well as my Hi-lift.

I found a bungee net from Harbor Freight that fits the dimensions perfectly. With it, all above mentioned loose items will stay in place (camping gear, wet boots, small children, tools, lumber, firewood, etc.)

I don't run a wind fairing however, because the lights on the Renegade seem to deflect most of the wind already. I notice Zero additional wind noise and Zero loss in MPG.

Finally, it IS a great place to mount lights. Just put two lights on the rear to help me with backing at night, as well as working with the trailer as a work bench. Or even most recently, strapping up a stuck Farmall at the end of the day (wish I had a camera).

wildrussian · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:10 am

Where oh where does one get a black widow roof rack?

csukoh78 · **Joined:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:34 pm **Posts:** 501

http://www.discountramps.com/roof-rack-basket.htm

meh_kick · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:56 am

csukoh78 wrote:

http://www.discountramps.com/roof-rack-basket.htm

Quick delivery from there. Very friendly operators when I called in my order.

By the way, has anyone installed the extension on this basket mounted on the libby? It will hang over the sunroof, but I'm ok with that. I'm curious how sturdy it would be without any supports under it.

I've seen a few other LARGE baskets on the boards, but don't remember if anyone fabricated addition mounts towards the front.

JeepBeat · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:06 am

So, when purchasing a basket, do you need more mounting hardware, or do they come with brackets, etc. to mount to the stock bars on the KJ?

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:16 am

My Surco rack did not come with mounting hardware. They want as much for that as they do the rack so I opted for some Ace Hardware u-bolts for less than a tenth what the Surco mounts cost.

meh_kick · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:21 am

JeepBeat wrote:

So, when purchasing a <Black Widow> basket, do you need more mounting hardware, or do they come with brackets, etc. to mount to the stock bars on the KJ?

Need to fabricate or buy crossbars. The basket is too narrow in the front. I bought 1" (48" length) square tubing from a local Tractor supply and a hand full of U-bolts. Cost under $30.

It sits a little high, and I think when it warms up again for good, I may look into a lower profile mount (Tommudd has a pretty slick on if I remember correctly).

EDIT: I have too much time on my hands.

Note the basket sits between the rails, but I'm not sure how he's got the thing supported (if at all) from under the basket.

stick · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:12 am

I don't have a rack on my KJ because I have the plastic tupperware basket on my Renegade and haven't been able to figure out a way to mount some real crossbars and basket / accessories without loosing the Renegade basket look. However, I do have a Yakima LoadWarrior basket and Yakima mounts on my XJ. It's a good basket, but a little small. I've used it to carry all kinds of things. I camp a lot, so it comes in handy there. I think the Yakima basket runs $300 or more. There are better deals out there on other baskets, so I probably wouldn't have bought the Yakima LoadWarrior basket if it hadn't been used and really cheap.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:14 pm

Funny this topic came up.

I just have been emailing Marty about the Gecko Roof Basket (Like troy has)that he is making me. Not the cheapest one on the market, but a custome BULIT LIKE A TANK product should not and can not be the cheapest. You get what you pay for.

Unfortunately I do not have it, Yet. Or i would post pics.

Marty is making mine with 4 light tabs on the front rail and a CB antenna mount in the center front. I have also asked him to send me 2 rear light tabs so when I get it I can locate them as I need to for rear facing fogs or back-up lights.

I know i will love it and can't wait for it. But I have to because Marty is pretty picky about his work.

P.S. Big sale on his stuff going on right now.

csukoh78 · **Joined:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:34 pm **Posts:** 501

JeepBeat wrote:

So, when purchasing a basket, do you need more mounting hardware, or do they come with brackets, etc. to mount to the stock bars on the KJ?

Your best and easiest bet would be to buy the Mopar rack like I have (see above for pics) I got mine off ebay for $80 bucks and they fit like stock, because, well....they are designed by Mopar! Fits like a glove.
This is what I am talking about
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MOPAR-JE ... enameZWDVW

There is also this one....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mopar-cr ... dZViewItem

Roof Baskets

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