Roof top tent on a Liberty?

[Victorian]

Anyone with a roof top tent on a 2005 Liberty? Wondering what racks you used and how much the weight of the tent effects the handling of the jeep.

Cheers
A

 

[matthewp]

Rock Lizard Fabrications' Gecko Rails or Basket rack would be the only way to go right now (and it's a good way to go too!). http://www.rocklizardfabrications.com/Liberty_gecko_accessories.htm
.
I have a one-piece aluminum rack built by a guy on L.O.S.T. Jeeps, but apparently he and his products have dropped off the radar (Tommudd on this forum may be able to get a hold of him).http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=47811
.
DO NOT try to use the factory roof rails, they are plastic and will fail, ask me how I know!

 

[JDaPP]

I used the factory rails, but I only used it like a dozen times and was looking at the Rocky Road outfitters rails as I don't think the factory rails would last very long. I have heard good things about the Rock lizard rails, but they were in a transition phase when I was looking. As far as handling, I could tell it was up there but it wasn't too bad. I usually put it into Full time 4wd (ie AWD) and it felt like normal. I did lose ~2mpg on the highway. Moved to a J30 because I couldn't fit into the garage with the RTT.

 

[tommudd]

Rock Lizard Fabrications' Gecko Rails or Basket rack would be the only way to go right now (and it's a good way to go too!). http://www.rocklizardfabrications.com/Liberty_gecko_accessories.htm
.
I have a one-piece aluminum rack built by a guy on L.O.S.T. Jeeps, but apparently he and his products have dropped off the radar (Tommudd on this forum may be able to get a hold of him).http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=47811
.
DO NOT try to use the factory roof rails, they are plastic and will fail, ask me how I know!

Boilers not doing any racks etc any more . So he's out
RL is the best bet

 

[Victorian]

What about a yakima or thule rack?

 

[ihatemybike]

Yakima and Thule only make cross bars that attach to the factory rails, leaving the weak link in the system.

 

[JDaPP]

Yakima and Thule only make cross bars that attach to the factory rails, leaving the weak link in the system.

What he said. This what you are worried about:

 

[matthewp]

What he said. This what you are worried about:

Or this (a roof basket with 150lbs of gear ripped the rails off, rippingthe nutzerts right out of the roof panels!):

 

[Victorian]

Thanks for all that info! I just checked the yakima website and apparently you can fit a proper roofrack on the KJ. I already have a rack kicking around, just need new clips to make it fit. Will keep you posted. btw, they state a weight limit of 150lb.

Cheers

 

[JDaPP]

That is dynamic weight i.e. 150 lbs with all the wind force from driving, etc. Static weight is usually much higher I have always applied a factor of 3 (don't remember where I read that, but was someone else's number in regards to a RTT)

 

[matthewp]

That is dynamic weight i.e. 150 lbs with all the wind force from driving, etc. Static weight is usually much higher I have always applied a factor of 3 (don't remember where I read that, but was someone else's number in regards to a RTT)

That's a good point! When I removed my headliner to install the new roof rack (3/8" Grade 8 Hardware through the holes where the nutserts tore out) I found plates (about 1/8" thick) for loadbearing under the roof skin at the rack mount points... Down side? they only help with vertical loadbearing. They are connected to the inner (more heavy duty, load bearing) unit-body and will NOT help dynamic weight-bearing unless you bolt through those plates (like I did).

 

[Verbal]

I have had pretty good success with my factory rails. Two cross country treks with our basket filled. The first time we had bikes too. I think its about good distribution of weight. I am going to a different setup simply because the height after installing cross bars is beginning to wear on me. :beer: