Roof Rack Build Question

[ExpoMike]

Hi everyone,

I am getting close to building my roof rack for our Cherokee. I am trying to keep this fairly low profile and have some thing cool for the floor rails, which I really haven't seen done.

My usage is for the spare, HiLift when not on the trailer and for lights. Have a GoLight for the rear and 4 IPF 6" lights for the front.

What I am trying to decide, since I have seen it done both ways is, do I build just a single rail type similar to this,

or a double rail setup similar to this,

I like the low profile and less drag of the single rail type but it seems to me to make any lights put on look a little out of place. I am thinking of doing a flip down light bar or hinged light cover that would make the front more aerodynamic when not needed.

Any pro's or con's one way or the other? Other thoughts or ideas?

 

[Maximus Ram]

I like the lo-pro style one. But if your concerned about the lights, how about building a lo-pro one with a "light guard" at the front.. kind of gobi style lo-pro

 

[BIGdaddy]

Hi everyone,

I am getting close to building my roof rack for our Cherokee. I am trying to keep this fairly low profile and have some thing cool for the floor rails, which I really haven't seen done.

My usage is for the spare, HiLift when not on the trailer and for lights. Have a GoLight for the rear and 4 IPF 6" lights for the front.

What I am trying to decide, since I have seen it done both ways is, do I build just a single rail type similar to this,



Any pro's or con's one way or the other? Other thoughts or ideas?

bye, bye,:Wow1: mpgs...

 

[ExpoMike]

bye, bye,:Wow1: mpgs...

Ah, wait young grasshopper.... :ylsmoke:

 

[brianjwilson]

I would go with a double rail type rack personally. If you spare is going to be up there anyway, use a fairing in front to throw most of the air over the top.
Plus it is much easier to throw things up there and secure them with a higher rail.
Either place the lights in front of the fairing, or make a flip-up light bar that allows the lights to fold down behind the fairing. I had a yakima megawarrior on my sport trac with a 33 on top, and had planned on mounted a flip-up light bar behind the fairing but never got around to it.
My mileage wasn't good to begin with since I was lifted with 33's, 4.88 gears, etc., somewhere around 14mpg. It didn't change with the rack on or off, for what it's worth. If I cared about mileage I wouldn't be driving a truck in the first place.

If you are by chance considering a megawarrior, it was plenty strong for me to stand up there even with the tire, with almost no deflection.

 

[Fergie]

.75" .065 wall square tube.
1/8" mounting tabs with Grade 8 hardware
4 Yakima 1A mount per side, with SKS lock
74"x52" with 4" sides
.75" Expanded metal flooring

One of my deisgn criteria was to have a rack that was very close to the roof, minimizing wind resistance and all that stuff.

From the gutters, I think the rack only sat 9" to the top of the side rails. If you go with a single rail, it would be 4.5" inches.

The expanded metal was a pain, both cutting and welding, but the ease of tie down points, and the ability to walk on the thing was awesome.