JKU as a family overland vehicle

[Yarjammer]

With regards to which roof racks are the quickest to remove I couldn't tell you from personal experience. I think why you want to remove it quickly is equally important. If you are wanting to be able to remove it for when the top is off, I'd go with the MBRP (permanently attached to hard top) or Frontrunner (does involve putting holes in hard top). If you want the option of being able to run the rack with the top off I'd say Gobi, Front Runner, or Rugged Ridge/Congo Cage. The latter style is kind of a piecemeal setup where you have to buy a basket separately. The Gobi would allow you to retain the light bar and still remove the rack part at the rear hinge. Garvin is a similar option, but you would also need to remove the windshield mount since the light bar area is attached to the basket (horrible design IMHO).

Aside from the MBRB option if you are using a hard top hoist, removing the rack is an additional two person evolution and quick may be a very relative term.

 

[alaska101]

Gobi. I can remove the rack in about 10 minutes. And just leave the light bar on. Maybe another 3 minutes for the light bar if I wanted to remove it too.

 

[kojackJKU]

Best part about the Gobi is you can run your soft top, and raise and lower it.

Sent from my A210 using Tapatalk

 

[Omar Brannstrom]

Howdy

One way is to reduce the size of some stuff to get more space.

For instance exchange the 4 chairs to less bulky folded chairs like the Helinox Chair one.

To the left my old, to the right the new helinox

It goes almost about three Helinox chair one on regular chair.

Here is my Helinox chairs with a small alu table

As a kitchen table I use the Trailgater from Outback Adventure Products

On the front seat I have a lot of storage with smittybilt seatcovers

Want to mension that JKU have a rather large storage space under the backseat.


Multiply this with four, for four people.

To the left my new, that will give me much space saving.

Sleeping madress
Sleeping bag
Chair

To the right my old stuff in the same order

 

[tarditi]

The dutch oven is putting you over the edge...

How about a trailer hitch rack - put a rolling toolbox on that and detach when you're at camp?

 

[Hilldweller]

The dutch oven is putting you over the edge...

I carry two Dutch ovens, both aluminum, and they nest.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/118339-Banks-Fry-Bake
Together they weigh less than one cast iron. Pretty much can do all of my cooking with just them, a teapot, & a ceramic wok. All clean up with hot water and a paper towel too. :sombrero:

 

[uberhahn]

I had a 2012 jku Rubi with a manual trans.

I loved driving a jeep and having a manual trans (not debating manual or auto).

I also have 3 kids. Twins were 6, little one was 4.

Getting three car seats, or a combination of car seat and booster three across in the rear seat was not fun.

The rear storage with full family was not fun. The subwoofer takes up a lot of space.

It's a matter of sacrifice. I would drive one again, without question. My son and I, he'll we could sleep on it.

With 3 kids, wife... It just isn't comfortable. You can make it work, but you'll wish for more room.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hilldweller]

Let's vote.
I vote trailer...

 

[p nut]

I'm wondering if simply getting some Yakima crossbars for the hardtop, then mounting my Megawarrior would do the job. I'll most likely put the lighter stuff up there, like sleeping bags, mattress, chairs, etc, and heavier stuff inside. Full length rack may still be necessary, which then I guess I'll go Gobi.

Thanks for the pics, Omar. Gives me good ideas, and I've already been researching some smaller camping cribs. There is a Jeep rental place in Moab, so maybe I'll have to head down there soon to try it out.

RE: Dutch oven; Nothing beats fresh hot biscuits in the morning, or peach cobbler in the cool evenings! I could maybe do without the either the pot or pan, but not the dutch oven.

 

[Yarjammer]

I'd be wary of doing Yakima crossbars attached to hard top mounted rail. Help a buddy remove it and you'll see what I mean; it truly is just for weather protection. Keep in mind that the rack is dynamically loaded while vehicle is in motion and the fasteners holding those rails on are going to be slowly enlarging those holes. I'd play it safe and start scouring Craigslist for a m416 trailer project. It could end up being cheaper than a Gobi while saving you from having to downsize your gear or needing to leave something at home that could have made the difference between happy kids or not.

 

[alaska101]

Dont mount the cross bars. The top is just plastic... it will damage it. You would have better luck mounting to the soft top...lol..

 

[Hondarider]

I'm planning a big cross-country trip with the wife and 2 kids this summer. I just traded in my 2 door JK for a Rubicon JKU for the trip.

We'll be hopping from hotel to hotel...National Park to National Park...no camping this time around...so we'll be traveling fairly light. No need to drag the M416 along.

I'm not really in favor of a roof rack so I've been looking for a receiver mount rack or box of some sort. I finally set my sights on a Thule 665C box. Unfortunately, they seem to run about $600. Craigslist to the rescue! I found one in New York City for $300...a fashion-forward gentleman named Yuri in a gated community used it a couple times behind his European sedan. I think it will carry just about all of our luggage for the trip.

 

[GFA]

I had the same thoughts as others about crossbars on the hard top until I damaged it near the lift gate when I back into it with a trailer. After that I didn't care anymore and figured I'd try them. Thousands of miles later with 150lbs of kayaks, a thule 21CF roof box, treated 2x4's etc and there is no damage to be found...

We found kids cots at walmart to replace the pack and play's

http://www.walmart.com/ip/4433186?w...33274630&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=34188990550&veh=sem

They work perfect and take up 1/2 the space of the pack and play.

I also have an M416 with a lid and there is definitely no replacement for it when on a camping trip whether its a week or weekend long one. I'm making a 6k+ mile cross country trip this summer with 5 of us in the JKU but Im leaving the trailer behind for this one. The wife has nixed the idea of camping since she's terrified of being in bear country with only canvas between us and them so it's hotels and lodges. Like you, I'd really like to be able to drop the top while in Glacier and Yellowstone so I'm considering a cheap roof rack as I know I don't want one full time.

http://www.extremeterrain.com/barricade-roof-rack-black-jk-j100173.html

It will still be a pain to take off the Thule box each time to raise and lower the top but it will at least give me the option to do so while also having tons of dry storage.

 

[Lazy Hiker]

Like you, I'd really like to be able to drop the top while in Glacier and Yellowstone so I'm considering a cheap roof rack as I know I don't want one full time.

My soft top is very noisy on the highway with my Gobi rack installed...so much so that we will be traveling with the hardtop when we drive to Colorado this summer. No matter which rack you decide on, I would buy it well enough in advance that you have plenty of "shake-down" time to make sure it will not create a problem during your trip.

BTW- great looking pair. I too plan to eventually find an M-416 and color match to my Rescue Green

 

[hikingff77]

Ironically enough I'll be doing a week long camping/cabin trip with two young ones and my wife, so four total. The way I see it, right now it equates to packing smaller and less comfort stuff. You cannot change how much food you're going to need, or basic camping supplies, but you just got to not over pack.