I've been talking to a local fab guy here in Phoenix about making a bumper. He seemed interested but a bumper is a lot of R&D and he doesn't have the resources at this time. However, he did offer to make sliders or a roof rack in the future for the KJ guys. I told him that the sliders are pretty much covered but no one makes an attractive roof rack for the KJ as of yet. So, I'm checking to see if there is any interest in a steel aftermarket roof rack. Here is a link to his current WJ model. It looks similar to the Selway that AEV was talking about supplying but never did. I think it would look awesome on a KJ with some lights.

http://www.kevinsoffroad.com/roof_rack.html

It seemed kinda pricey at $700 but he does a cost comparison and things get alot closer in price once you start adding in all the extra stuff that comes standard on his, ...and there is a lot.

http://www.kevinsoffroad.com/roof_rack_comparo.html

I think I'm gonna jump on this but while I'm thinking, I figured I'd throw it out to the rest of Lost to see if there was any other interest. Because we will be starting from scratch, we can use this as a template and design it anyway we want, though it looks like he has it all covered. My first change will be mounts that bolt to the roof, and not to the current stock rails. After that, it's up to us. He is a current WJ fabber but I've been trying to tell him to get lost .

Also, if there is enough interest and you are going to our annual Moabfest this year, I can save see if we can all save on shipping by towing some with me.

Tell me what you think...and Thanks!

Dave

_________________
2005 Black CRD Sport
All J CRD Frankenlift with 500 fronts, Boulderbars, and Superskid
Kilby Gas Skid
Yukon Rear Axles
265/75 16 TrXus M/T's and Bridgestone Revo's
Fumoto Valve
Aero Turbine 2525
Rock Lizard Komodo Bumper
Sundance Custom's Front Bumper

That's a good looking rack, but I don't agree with you about mounting directly to the roof. I would want it to mount to the stock rails.

Thats a darn clean zj for spininng in all that mud!!

_________________
LIBERTY or DEATH

2005 Sport with "STUFF"

Is bolting it to the roof a bad idea? I thought that the stock rails are a weak point. Seems I heard that someonebroke theirs while hitting a branch on a trail while it was loaded. I may be wrong and it may be the mounting points on the roof that are weak. Please explain. Thanks!

Dave

_________________
2005 Black CRD Sport
All J CRD Frankenlift with 500 fronts, Boulderbars, and Superskid
Kilby Gas Skid
Yukon Rear Axles
265/75 16 TrXus M/T's and Bridgestone Revo's
Fumoto Valve
Aero Turbine 2525
Rock Lizard Komodo Bumper
Sundance Custom's Front Bumper

Bolting to the roof is fine and it is how i designed my first rack which is still in use by Nanette. I think the price is what is scaring away interest. While it is a cool rack and is loaded with features it is pricey. I also don't think everyone needs a roof rack. Those of us w/ 2 kids accompanying them on trips pretty much Have to have one to load stuff into but most seem to use them only occasionally and for small loads. I know that once my kids are driving their own vehicles to events that we will have much less need for one and will probably remove them.

_________________
99 TJ
71 C101
04 KJ
03 SFA KJ Sport
LOST JEEPS So-Cal

Thanks for the clarification JJ. Yeah...the price was throwing me off as well. It's one of those things that make the Jeep look cool, but it would depend on the individual as to whether it would be more function than form. It still looks pretty though...

Dave

_________________
2005 Black CRD Sport
All J CRD Frankenlift with 500 fronts, Boulderbars, and Superskid
Kilby Gas Skid
Yukon Rear Axles
265/75 16 TrXus M/T's and Bridgestone Revo's
Fumoto Valve
Aero Turbine 2525
Rock Lizard Komodo Bumper
Sundance Custom's Front Bumper

My roofrack bolts to the roof at the factory mounting points. That's a goot lookin rack. $700 is alot of money, but when you think about how much everything has gone up it does'nt sound that bad. I own my own small business and I realize this guy has alot he puts into these racks, and I'm sure he's not makin a fortune off of these. Just my 2 cents.

Oh by the way, Chemguy built my roof rack. It is Rhino Lined as well.

_________________
'13 JK Unlimited
'07 Goat 4x4
Old School L.O.S.T. Member
L.O.S.T. #DA050656
Republica de Tejas

I am firmly in JJ's camp --- two kids and a dog My rack is a lovechild, actually. The rack itself was built by the eBay guy and All-J welded on the feet made from JJ's original design.

_________________
DIRTY KJ :: flickr photostream
"Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is fairly rare ... some would say it has yet to occur on Earth" --- Stephen Hawking

I'm a little cheaper. I went with cross rails and a hitch hauler.

_________________
2006 Sport CRD

Could the Aztecs have known, that in 2012 after a 4 year experiment, our country would cease to exist?

Not a bad rack, even though it takes a lot of load capacity from the stock rails.

_________________
No one knows as much as all of us.