Cross bars - New Question...

Ron · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2006 1:00 pm

The wife wants to put a basket on her Lib so I have a couple of questions...

Where or who has the cheapest roof rack cross bars?
are there bars I should stay away from? and
do the baskets all mount pretty much the same way?

Thanks guys (and gals...)

dirtykj · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2006 1:06 pm

Look at this. It's a roof rack made by one of the members on this site. It does look quite strong, and he has plan to replace the factory rails, that will make it really strong (not limited by crossbars).

the1jferg · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2006 1:14 pm

ChemGuy, Is that the Dennis rack?

dog_party · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2006 1:16 pm

You can go here to read a good discussion on the available clamping options (Thule and Yakima).

And you can go here for the forum topic dealing with a roof basket at Overstock.com for only $60.

Or go to Google.com and type in "Liberty roof basket." You'll be amazed! There are a no end to all the options out there.

Or you can fab one up yourself!!

Ron · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2006 4:34 pm

Wow...way too much information...

. I've got some reading to do. Thanks. Also, after seeing some of the fabs, I may try and do my own cross rails now...

Thanks

dog_party · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2006 4:48 pm

Ha! Ask and ye shall receive.

Personally, if I were getting a basket right now, I'd probably be grabbin' that one from Overstock for $60. Kinda hard to beat THAT!

krazz1e · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:06 pm

also check out http://www.youngs.org/kjparts/ he has a list of parts.

I bought a surco rack a few weeks ago and mounted it. It was $250 shipped with the mounting brackets. I have yet to use it so can't comment on it, will be packing stuff on it during the Moab trip.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 13, 2006 7:43 pm

Easiest way to do crossbars is to goto home despot and get a couple lengths of straight 1 or 2" steel stock (like 1/8" thick I think). Cut it to length ( I coated mine w/Rustoleum). Drill a hole in each end and screw it down to where the stock crossbars mount. Use Coated u-bolts to mount the rack/basket to it and be done. Whole project should cost u under $20. As long as the weight is distributed by the basket's floor u shouldn't have any problems. See my Cardomain page for some pics using the $60 roof rack from Overstock.

Troysterr · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2006 1:02 am

I just received my $60 Overstock.com basket today. It is by no means my favorite, but for $60, it's hard to go wrong.

(I wouldn't necessarily use it to mount a hi-lift, or spare tire, or anything like that--I just need someplace to throw the tent and other stuff when I go camping with the family.)

Thanks for the tip on "fabbing" cheap crossbars--that's probably the route I'll go, too.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2006 3:19 am

Hey Troy,
Just hit up ure site lookin for some stuff and alas, alot of the links have dried up and gone away..... :cry:

Ron · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:31 am

I'm heading to Home Depot this weekend to try and fab a set up. Thanks for the ideas on doing it and I think I'm going to go ahead and order the $60 basket. You don't need too stout a basket for mall crawling...( I hope she doesn't read this)

Just ordered one. It's back up to $64 but that's ok.

fish eye · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2006 3:25 pm

Cacher123 wrote:

Easiest way to do crossbars is to goto home despot and get a couple lengths of straight 1 or 2" steel stock (like 1/8" thick I think). Cut it to length ( I coated mine w/Rustoleum). Drill a hole in each end and screw it down to where the stock crossbars mount. Use Coated u-bolts to mount the rack/basket to it and be done. Whole project should cost u under $20. As long as the weight is distributed by the basket's floor u shouldn't have any problems. See my Cardomain page for some pics using the $60 roof rack from Overstock.

Too bad this won't work on the 05 Rennies....

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2006 7:20 pm

Quote:

Too bad this won't work on the 05 Rennies....

Why not? Don't the crossbars have to mount to the rails somehow? Anyone got any good close up pics of how the crossbars mount to the newer rails?
I know the rails are like 2" diam or something so just go get some 2 or 2.5 inch u-bolts and mount the flat stock to the rails. Then use smaller u-bolts to mount the rack to the flat stock (crossbars).

Or try these: They say they will fit up to 2" rails:

Quote:

PRODUCT DETAILS:
- Heavy Duty, 58" inch Steel crossbars.
- Set of two (2) fully adjustable crossbars.
- Fully assembled. Installs in minutes.
- Clamps securely to most factory roof rack side railings.
Adjusts to fit railing spacing of up to 56" across (outside)
- Quick adjust knobs clamp crossrails to your car roof
railings. Clamps from railings from 1" to 2" in width.
- Durable black polyester powder coating.
- 165 lb max carrying capacity.
- Note: These crossbars will only mount to roof side rails
that are a minimum of 1.75" inches height above roofline.
(***measured from the top of rail to top of roof***)
- Use any Thule accessory on this rack
including bike, ski and watersport carriers.
LIST PRICE: $100 OUR PRICE: $69.95

http://www.prolineracks.com/spec-car-roof-racks.html

Or these which mount to the rain gutters: (Do we have rain gutters?)

Quote:

PRODUCT DETAILS:
- Same 165 lb. load capacity same as our Thule brand
rain gutter roof rack but at 1/3 the price.
- Crossbar end caps have integrated tie down
loops to secure cargo.
- The gutter mount system converts your factory
railing into a multi-purpose load carrier.
- Adjustable to fit a wide range of gutter sizes.
- Includes 4 tower feet and 2 load bars.
- Easy to Install, all hardware and instructions included.
- 53" load bar adjusts to fit rain gutters spaced
up to 57" apart. Not wide enough for you?
Than get optional wider Thule load bars only $45
- 5" height clearance above your vehicle's rain gutters.
- Use any Thule accessory on this rack
including bike, ski and watersport carriers..
LIST PRICE: $90 OUR PRICE: $49.95

http://www.prolineracks.com/spec-cartop-carriers.html

Troysterr · **Posted:** Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:15 pm

Cacher123 wrote:

Just hit up ure site lookin for some stuff and alas, alot of the links have dried up and gone away..... :cry:

Yeah, that happens sometimes. I do try to check them from time to time, but I can't keep up with everything. In most cases, though, the links that are there should at least give you an idea of where you might look for more info.

mb818 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 15, 2006 10:17 am

click on my sig to see '05 renny cross bars mounted

mb818

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Feb 15, 2006 7:29 pm

mb818 wrote:

click on my sig to see '05 renny cross bars mounted

mb818

Do you have the stock alternator? It looks different.

mb818 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 16, 2006 12:20 am

it's a stock alternator... 2005 renegades come with a beefier 160 amp alternater compared to the 135 amp alt. in the sport and limited... no clue why... could be because of the light bar option...

mb818

snow blower · **Joined:** Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:24 am **Posts:** 69

the roof rack looks nice for sure..... could you get it powder coated in a different color?? Like a silver or gunmetal ??

Ron · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:47 am

For those who have mounted the cross bars, what are the measurements on the rails? How far from the front? How far apart? Did you center them, towards the back more than the front...I have a sunroof I have to deal with so I'm just trying to figure out the best way to mount the basket...

thanks...

dog_party · **Posted:** Fri Feb 17, 2006 11:12 am

I just posted this in another thread yesterday, so I copy/pasted it here.

I believe mine are the 48" bars, which is the smallest Yakima offers. There is very little overhang. You can cut down any overhang that you don't care for. The rear hangs over a little more than the front because the rails are not parallel (they taper slightly toward the rear).

But, if I were doing it again, I'd get the longest bars they offer and then cut them down because the longest Yak bars (78") are MSRP $50, and my 48" bars were MSRP $50 (I actually got them for $40). If I did it over again, I'd get the 78"ers, chop 'em down with a hacksaw, buy an extra set of end caps, and have a set of 30" bars for free.

I will add (to answer your question) that I pushed my front mounting feet all the way forward on the rail and the back mounting feet all the way to the back of the rail. I have the sunroof too and I have never had a problem since the rails (and all the stuff mounted on top of them) are well above the sunroof glass (even when you kick the little vent function open). The only problem I ever had with the sunroof was that time I didn't close it before throwing a sand-laden Ocean Kayak on top of my truck. I had to vacuum a bit of the Atlantic seaboard out of my front seats that day.

Cross bars - New Question...

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