Affordable roof rack for JK Unlimited

[The Swiss]

The search function did not really give me any good answers.

I am looking for an affordable roofrack for my JK Unlimited to mount my Maggiolina RTT. So I don't want/need any basket or anything, just the side bars and cross bars.

I know that some members on this board fabbed their own; unluckily that is out of the question for me. What can be recommended? What not?

Thanks.

 

[WFTW]

I had the Wild Boar Products roof rack and Maggiolina roof top tent mounted on my JK. Didn't use the basket part of the roof rack.

 

[DMK]

Your only option for the JK with the freedom top is a rack similar to the wild boar rack or Gobi. The hard top isn't structural enough to mount something as heavy as a RTT. I mounted tracks and a Yakima system to mine first hoping that it would work, but I wasn’t happy with the amount of flex the top had so I looked into a body mount rack. I went with the Gobi rack over the wild boar; it mounts to the front window and the frame. It is solid and I was really impressed with the quality. The rack is lower profile then most of the big basket types and It doesn’t require any drilling to mount it. I am now looking into tent options and haven’t found one that I really like yet. Good luck with your searching, I had a hard time pulling the trigger purchasing the Gobi, but without a way to carry gear on top, the jeep would’ve had to be replaced with something else.

 

[LUISJG]

kargo master congo cage

 

[Zeero]

Best bang for your buck, for simply just the frame, is by far the Congo Cage....

Highest weight capacities both dynamically and statically for the lowest price.

An outstanding product as far as I am concerned. Half the price and double the strength of anything else out there to.

 

[XXXpedition]

build your own. for me it was way cheaper than anything on the market AND exactly the way i want it!
i can't weld either, but i found somebody who was willing to help...

more pics also in thread Project XXX

 

[Zeero]

Thats a way to do it as well.... nice work.

 

[The Swiss]

I looked at the Congo Cage; looks very well made. What I did not like is the predominant hoop in front; I would prefer not having a cross bar until behind the opening of the freedom top to keep wind noise at a minimum. The design of the Congo Cage does not really offers itself to modify it and move the front bar further back.

I like the Smittybilt SRC roof rack because its cross bars can be removed but they currently do not offer a rack for the JK. I talked to them today; they are working on one that should be on the market by mid summer. I guess I will wait for a couple weeks before making a decision.

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: The MBRP roof rack, I've got one coming in two weeks

They will support 1000 lbs and attach to the HARDTOP, with internal truss

Check out MBRP.inc and click on the roof rack, for JK unlimited

:victory::wings::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

 

[grahamfitter]

I looked at the Congo Cage; looks very well made. What I did not like is the predominant hoop in front; I would prefer not having a cross bar until behind the opening of the freedom top to keep wind noise at a minimum. The design of the Congo Cage does not really offers itself to modify it and move the front bar further back.

I like the Smittybilt SRC roof rack because its cross bars can be removed but they currently do not offer a rack for the JK. I talked to them today; they are working on one that should be on the market by mid summer. I guess I will wait for a couple weeks before making a decision.

I looked at the SRC rack for my '05 LJ Unlimited. The only problem I see with it is its not easily removable because the mounting brackets aren't separate and the rack is mounted between the rear bumper and the frame. This may not be a problem for some but I remove the congo cage off my '97 TJ if I'm not going to be using it for a while. That involves removing just four bolts and only takes a couple of minutes.

Of course the JK rack may be completely different; The JK congo cage is very different to the TJ version -- no drilling required. As they say, YMMV.

Cheers,
Graham

 

[The Swiss]

:sombrero: The MBRP roof rack, I've got one coming in two weeks

They will support 1000 lbs and attach to the HARDTOP, with internal truss

Check out MBRP.inc and click on the roof rack, for JK unlimited

:victory::wings::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

Any links to their Website?

I looked at the SRC rack for my '05 LJ Unlimited. The only problem I see with it is its not easily removable because the mounting brackets aren't separate and the rack is mounted between the rear bumper and the frame. This may not be a problem for some but I remove the congo cage off my '97 TJ if I'm not going to be using it for a while. That involves removing just four bolts and only takes a couple of minutes.

Of course the JK rack may be completely different; The JK congo cage is very different to the TJ version -- no drilling required. As they say, YMMV.

Cheers,
Graham

Very good point! I do not plan on removing my cage often, mainly due to lack of storage space. Same reason why I keep my hardtop on most of the year even though my JK came with the dual top option.

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: I was probably a little generous with the 1000 lb carrying limit, but it's between 800 an 1000 lbs

The only link I have, is internet MBRP inc and look for the roof rack !!

:costumed-smiley-007:removeredX::coffeedrink::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

 

[The Swiss]

Here's the link: http://www.mbrp.com/?page=products&part=130717&make=Jeep

Looks interesting; at over $800 not really a bargain though ...

 

[grahamfitter]

Here's the link: http://www.mbrp.com/?page=products&part=130717&make=Jeep

Looks interesting; at over $800 not really a bargain though ...

Its definitely interesting though -- one of the few racks that doesn't extend forwards and mount to the windshield support.

I think if I had a JK I'd be talking to XXXpedition!

Cheers,
Graham

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero:Yea, thats the reason I bought it, I didn't want tubes sticking all around the outside of the windows and rear of the jeep

Its definitely interesting though -- one of the few racks that doesn't extend forwards and mount to the windshield support.

I think if I had a JK I'd be talking to XXXpedition!

Cheers,
Graham

I also have NO INTENTION ,of mounting forward lights on the roof, I don't plan on doing any BAJA racing for a while

The rack has provisions for the REAR BACK-UP LIGHTS and those are a positive addition !!!

The price is normal, there ain't no more free lunch's

CHEERS

:costumed-smiley-007:victory::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO