Roof Racks

vxla · **Posted:** Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:49 pm

On the topic of roof racks, which ones are long enough to fit a hi-lift?

MULE · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:02 am

Can't tell you much about the others, so I'll talk about the system that top's my KJ. I like my THULE very much. Had it on my last two trucks. I picked Thule's Playpen w/it's 18inch extention, to carry my gear. A total lenght of 62 inches long. It fits. Thule also has two other roof racks, the Xpedition (two sizes) and the M.O.A.B. w/extention. Last two ^$$$. www.thuleracks.com. The Hi-Lift comes in several sizes, 42, 48, and 60inch long. Mine's a 48 inch. It handled a full size Blazer, it will handle the KJ with no problem. Primary use for the Hi-Lift is for pulling. I have the accessory kit, chains, and straps for the job (if needed). The jack is mounted to two 4x10 inch pieces of diamond plate. I bolt Hi-Lifts 4xRAC to the diamond plate and connect the diamond plate to the upper bar of the Thule and the original factory roof rack-bar support using 4 Ubolts per plate. Very sturdy mount. Before I mounted my Thule, I painted the rack to match my trim and the diamond plate adds a little flash. Commenting on another post from you vxla, I also mounted a 3 ft. Fire- Stick to my Thule on a SS tubular mirror mount, with a heavy duty spring and a 90 degree fold-down. Up on the highway, and folds down and protected inside the Thule for off-road and under the trees. When up it has outstanding 360 degree reception standing so tall. And when down its still connected in the fold down stage and still kicks out and recieves for shorter distances. I mounted it close to the driver side, so reaching up is not a big problem.Ialso needed to ground the rack to the Jeeps roof. Remember, your CB is only as good as the attention you pay in mounting the attenna. I have also bolted back to back, centered and near the rear of the Thule, two Jerry can holders. Good Luck!!

0311_DoC · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:06 am

I remember reading somewhere that some racks wont fit a renegade if it has the factory lightbar on. I dont see why some wouldnt fit? the rack is only gonna go up as far as the rear doors in most cases. can someone shed some light on this :?:

priell3 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:11 am

Rakcmei has a roof rack and hi-lift mount for sale.
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=6642

MULE · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:18 am

You need to check the lenght you need with or without any extention on the rack. The rear window of the KJ does not go straight up at a 90 degree angle. So the rack can extend back alittle. I don't have a Renne. But I do have the factory roof bars the Thule mounts to.

0311_DoC · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:23 am

well the reason I ask, I am highly considering the renne lightbar. but if I recall most standard racks are 62 in. long. but thanks for the input. But I still dont see how it would reach all the way to the front of the roof and not fit. I also dont have a moon roof, so that isnt an issue.

kj in a tight spot · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:37 pm

I have a custom roof rack from All J and it fits the 60" Hi-Lift just fine. Pics on the Cardomain page link in my sig.

vxla · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 12:53 pm

Cool, looks good. I'll probably find something that I can just fit the hi-lift into and put in my own cross rails .. I see no point in wasting $70 on cross rails.

Nice jeep! You should come to the midwest sometime, we always get muddy

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:53 pm

Where can you buy rails that are $70? Also, where can you buy the mopar rails at?

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 6:39 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Where can you buy rails that are $70? Also, where can you buy the mopar rails at?

jparts has the best price on the mopar rails. if you can't find them on the site, email them and they will add it for you. They are a jeep dealer in NC and can get any mopar part you want for 15% off.

I got the '05-'06 renegade cross rails for $146 shipped, but had to ask them to add it to the site for me.

fish eye · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:13 pm

Jeez, I really want a roof basket, but with my lift and bigger tires, I certainly will not be able to park in my garage. But I really love the way they look, not to mention, so much extra room on those camping trips. Maybe my motorcycle will get a bigger parking spot!!

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:24 pm

fish eye wrote:

Jeez, I really want a roof basket, but with my lift and bigger tires, I certainly will not be able to park in my garage. But I really love the way they look, not to mention, so much extra room on those camping trips. Maybe my motorcycle will get a bigger parking spot!!

ya, with my cross bars on, i have less than a half inch to the door when I pull in. When I use the roof rack, it's gotta go on outside and the jeep stays there until i take it off.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:14 pm

pixeldzn wrote:

fish eye wrote:

Jeez, I really want a roof basket, but with my lift and bigger tires, I certainly will not be able to park in my garage. But I really love the way they look, not to mention, so much extra room on those camping trips. Maybe my motorcycle will get a bigger parking spot!!

ya, with my cross bars on, i have less than a half inch to the door when I pull in. When I use the roof rack, it's gotta go on outside and the jeep stays there until i take it off.

Well that sucks. Cant you adjust the opener to make it open further? I have over 3in of clearance with my lift, but I do not have the rails yet. The only thing I have to take off is my cb antenna.

What size is your door?

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:37 pm

Even if I adjusted, the door opening isn't gonna let a roof rack in. I will have to measure the opening and see how high it is.

fish eye · **Posted:** Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:21 am

pixeldzn wrote:

Even if I adjusted, the door opening isn't gonna let a roof rack in. I will have to measure the opening and see how high it is.

Seems like you and I are rowing the same boat. My door opens past the opening, but the actual opening is too short for the bigger/taller vehicles. Sad thing is, I actually contemplated making the garage opening bigger. However, I am quite certain that my wife will nix that proposal!!

m0th · **Posted:** Sat Mar 25, 2006 2:24 pm

You may squeeze in. I have a couple of inches (well, maybe an inch and a bit) of clearance still on mine, even with my Garvin rack. My Jeep's overall height is now somewhere around 6' 8" or 6' 9".

CaKJFreedom · **Posted:** Mon Mar 27, 2006 6:16 pm

"I am quite certain that my wife will nix that proposal!!"

So you're saying she wouldn't approve of a Looney Tunes style cutout in the shape of the Jeep?

There are a few garages in San Jose I can't go in anymore. The ones I do fit in kind of scare my passengers and they duck. Could be my driving too I guess.

kj in a tight spot · **Posted:** Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:44 pm

CaKJFreedom wrote:

"I am quite certain that my wife will nix that proposal!!"

So you're saying she wouldn't approve of a Looney Tunes style cutout in the shape of the Jeep?

There are a few garages in San Jose I can't go in anymore. The ones I do fit in kind of scare my passengers and they duck. Could be my driving too I guess.

I have the same problem whenever I go to the coast and try to park in garages. My tires screws that possibility. Plus the CB antenna scrapes as well...although the Wilson flexes well and does not break :wink:

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Mon Mar 27, 2006 9:49 pm

It does seem scary driving in parking garages. No matter how much I know I won't hit, it looks so much like I will. I have never tried it with my MTR's though. Only wearing the stock SR/A's. I should remind myself the next time I do go to a parking garage when I wear my MTR's. I see those big Suburbans driving through and they sit pretty high. I think the one I have been in has a clearance of 6'10". I'll have to measure with my MTR's on.

XJMA · **Posted:** Tue Mar 28, 2006 12:12 am

I wouldn't recommend putting a hi-lift on the roof or anywhere outside the jeep...other than just temporarily for wheelin. The mechanism likes to get all rusty and then it doesn't want to work. YOu can WD-40 it, but they work much nicer when you keep them inside the vehicle, IMO.

Roof Racks

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