Surco Safari Roof basket

jmichaelsjeep · **Posted:** Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:30 pm

I have the surco that is 45x60 and I really like it. It drags down fuel economy by roughly 2-3mpg though. I have it mounted with the brackets that come with it that mount to the roof rails. This puts it a little taller than I'd like, but I can remove it in less than 5 minutes and install it in about 7 minutes. So I can use it only when I need it and save myself 2-3 mpg. Given I drive 20k miles a year, that adds up.

I'll try and get a picture of it soon mounted.

riptricket:
You could probably just put a plate of metal and run a u-bolt around the basket (or drill through the solid plates that are used as stiffeners and mount it there). I don't think I would mount one there anyway though, but that's up to you.

LibertyFever:
Did your lights stick up higher than your spare up there? It seems odd they'd have a problem with the lights, but not the tire? Or did you just not have the tire up there when you found out? I've never heard of a height restriction like that. Or was it because they were uncovered? I had a friend you got sited for having the covers off his lights once, but never for them being too high. I totally understand your other reasons though.

riptricket · **Posted:** Sat Mar 13, 2010 1:24 am

jmichaelsjeep wrote:

I have it mounted with the brackets that come with it that mount to the roof rails. This puts it a little taller than I'd like, but I can remove it in less than 5 minutes and install it in about 7 minutes.

Do you have pictures of what this looks like?

Also, has anyone had problems with strength issues?
I bent the aluminum center piece by standing on it... oops!

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Sat Mar 13, 2010 7:02 am

riptricket wrote:

What do you use in order to attach a CB antenna to the Surco?

Putting a CB antenna on the roof basket would give you great transmission/reception however if you drive through a heavily wooded trail you'll likely snap it off. If you drive mostly highway & deserts than go for it. The mount should be simple through one of the rails on the roof basket.

I do have a magnet mount K30 antenna on my roof but it will simply flop over if it hits a low branch.

jmichaelsjeep · **Posted:** Sun Mar 14, 2010 11:15 pm

riptricket wrote:

jmichaelsjeep wrote:

I have it mounted with the brackets that come with it that mount to the roof rails. This puts it a little taller than I'd like, but I can remove it in less than 5 minutes and install it in about 7 minutes.

Do you have pictures of what this looks like?

Also, has anyone had problems with strength issues?
I bent the aluminum center piece by standing on it... oops!

The soonest I'll be able to get some pictures will be Tuesday, I'll try and get them taken and uploaded for you then.

As I've seen mentioned on other threads on this board a quite a bit, the factory rails aren't real strong, so no matter how you mount it to the factory rails, you are limited to the amount of weight those plastic rails can hold. However, with that being said, I've made many 5 hour trips with the rack loaded up with upwards of 200-250lbs and I don't have any sign of stress on my factory rails. The factory brackets are kind of a clamp type that clamps together onto the rails and then it slides into the cross bars that are part of the basket. It seems pretty sturdy and spreads the weight out pretty good.

Like I said, I'll get pics on Tues. and post them up.

riptricket · **Posted:** Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:11 am

cool I would really appreciate it.
also, I am having a hard time trying to make a cb bracket for up there... Storm season is coming up and I really need NOAA for my tornado alerts.

riptricket · **Posted:** Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:30 am

does anyone know the best place to buy surco attachments for cheaper... I really can't justify 40 on a light mount... and hilift price... etc... Thanks

jmichaelsjeep · **Posted:** Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:58 am

As far as mounts go, did you try Auto Anything? That's where I've found a lot of things for all my vehicles for cheaper than most places. It is online only, but so far I've had really good luck with them. They have a quite a few accessories listed for the Surco rack. I don't know how the light mount and hi-lift mount compares, but it wouldn't hurt to check.

jmichaelsjeep · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 11:17 am

jeepmedic46 wrote:

I like that rack, Would it be able to handle a 60" hi lift jack?

Yes, it should, if you go to www.autoanything.com they have the lift mount accessories for this rack. It would stick out a little on the 50 inch, but not the 60" like the one I have.

jmichaelsjeep · **Posted:** Tue Mar 16, 2010 11:25 am

riptricket wrote:

cool I would really appreciate it.
also, I am having a hard time trying to make a cb bracket for up there... Storm season is coming up and I really need NOAA for my tornado alerts.

Here are some pics of mine installed with the Surco atttachment brackets:

Surco Safari Roof basket

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