Roof Stuff

mawlkrawler · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 3:28 pm

So I'm trying to figure out a way to rig up a basket, however, I have a sky slider. So I found a yakama load-warrior which fits perfectly (width and length wise) when the sky slider is open or closed. However, in order to open it I would either need to disattach it or create some sort of "Hinge" thing. First things first though. I need roof rails. I was looking at Rocky Road's steel rail kit. $179 seems pretty good for rails. Anyone have any experience with them? Is there a way to mount rails closer to the windshield rather than towards the rear?

cgass · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 3:35 pm

Most people go with the Rocky Road roof rails. Rock Lizard makes some too but I'm not sure if he's taking new orders at this moment. They don't come all the way to the start of the Sky Slider though. Rocky Road also makes this system for the Sky Slider

mawlkrawler · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 3:39 pm

I don't think I'd be able to handle driving if my jeep got any taller lol. I thought I've seen those before but I wasn't sure where. I was trying to somehow make a rack that was more low-profile while still being able to open my sky slider. Any ideas? My best guess was to make a hinge in the front and a locking mechanism in the back of the rack.

cgass · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 3:44 pm

I would say take a look at some of the hinged racks for Wranglers that allow them to take off the top. I'm not sure if there would be anyway to make one work with a KK, but it could be used for inspiration. Check out the MOPAR Jeep Cherokee Overland from Easter Jeep Safari 2011 too. It had a kind of fake roof basket with uprights all the way around, but nothing in the middle allowing the sky slider to be used. Something like that would give you a place in the font and rear to attach a real roof basket.

mawlkrawler · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 3:59 pm

That thing is so cool. I like how it doesn't have a middle. Seems kinda counterproductive since I wanted a basket to put coolers and extra fuel, or my spare. It does appear that the rack is mounted very far forward on the roof. As long as I can just put rails towards the front of the roof I can work with that.

cgass · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 4:03 pm

That's an ARB rack. They don't come from the factory with nothing in the middle, you can choose between steel bars and steel mesh. Thy make them in a bunch of different sizes with a bunch of different mounting kits. I'm sure one of them could be made to fit a KK, it would be a custom job though.

hrogi · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 6:35 pm

I like that look. White and black stripes...

Gives me an idea, after I win the lottery...

isomswim · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2012 7:57 pm

I understand why you might want a roof rack but if you had the trailer hitch you could get one of the baskets that goes on the hitch, which are also less drag than being on the roof. If still set on roof then maybe look into modified yakima or thule kits some companies do custom work with said kits. :2cents:

musclezmarinara · **Posted:** Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:55 pm

basket with thule cross rails

Ill be adding the basket soon

mawlkrawler · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:01 pm

I figured it'd have to be a custom job. My only problem is finding a place to start. I need to pull up the plastic where the rails would mount too. From what I've read, there are like hidden mounting holes but I don't know how far towards the front of the roof they are. For what I've designed, they'd have to be pretty close to the opening of the sky slider. I'll post some sketches when I'm done with em.

Scar0 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:14 am

Here you go, KK roof rail bolt locations.

Sport · **Posted:** Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:39 am

mawlkrawler wrote:

Oh wow, that KK is perfect! Best one I have seen ever. I wonder if I should paint my grill black??

cgass · **Posted:** Thu Apr 12, 2012 1:29 pm

Sport wrote:

mawlkrawler wrote:

Oh wow, that KK is perfect! Best one I have seen ever. I wonder if I should paint my grill black??

That's what happens when you hand something over to Mopar and say "Go nuts"

btalyor218 · **Joined:** Mon May 10, 2010 7:18 am **Posts:** 9

It is very possible to fabricate your own rails, thats what I did to mount the ARB roof cage cage I got.

The bolts are only pressed into the roof structure, so be careful not to snap them off when making it.

cgass · **Posted:** Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:22 pm

That is one great looking KK. I love the bumper. Make it yourself?

Back on topic, what did you make the rails out of?

Butt_Tighthole · **Joined:** Mon Feb 13, 2012 12:44 am **Posts:** 9

mawlkrawler wrote:

That thing is so cool. I like how it doesn't have a middle. Seems kinda counterproductive since I wanted a basket to put coolers and extra fuel, or my spare. It does appear that the rack is mounted very far forward on the roof. As long as I can just put rails towards the front of the roof I can work with that.

which rack is this? it doesn't look like there'd be clearance to open the skyslider

btalyor218 · **Joined:** Mon May 10, 2010 7:18 am **Posts:** 9

cgass wrote:

That is one great looking KK. I love the bumper. Make it yourself?

Back on topic, what did you make the rails out of?

Why, Thankyou!

The bar is a TJM bar for a KJ - but don't get your hopes up, cause it's discontinued... Sorry.... :furious:

I made the rails out of 1 inch duragal, the base feet out of 1 x 1/4 inch steel, and the mounts for the cage out of 4 x 1/4 inch steel. Then had it all powdercoated black.

This is a link to the forum on Ausjeepoffroad.com that has more info on it;
http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111882

mawlkrawler · **Posted:** Sun Apr 22, 2012 2:12 pm

Butt_Tighthole wrote:

mawlkrawler wrote:

That thing is so cool. I like how it doesn't have a middle. Seems kinda counterproductive since I wanted a basket to put coolers and extra fuel, or my spare. It does appear that the rack is mounted very far forward on the roof. As long as I can just put rails towards the front of the roof I can work with that.

which rack is this? it doesn't look like there'd be clearance to open the skyslider

On that particular roof system the Sky Slider can open. the cage has no bed so its entirely open on the bottom, allowing the sky slider to move. Btalyor, did you mount ur rails in a different spot than the stock holes? I mean did you drill your own? I'm just not sure how to go about that since you obviously dont want to drill through the interior.

btalyor218 · **Joined:** Mon May 10, 2010 7:18 am **Posts:** 9

mawlkrawler wrote:

Btalyor, did you mount ur rails in a different spot than the stock holes? I mean did you drill your own? I'm just not sure how to go about that since you obviously dont want to drill through the interior.

I used the factory bolts in the roof - I did not drill into the roof. There is overhang at the front to support the front of the rack, and there was a bit of mucking around to get the angles right, to ensure the rack sat square.

If I had to, I could just remove my custom rails and put the OEM Jeep rails back on.

Roof Stuff

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