DIY roof rack
 

Hey guys,

probably a dumb question, has anyone mounted some bars to their hardtops?

I was thinking of welding up some bars to go on my roof with a few mounting/weight distribution points and mounting them with a plate on top and a plate underneath for each (as big as I can make the plates). would this hold a hard shell roof top tent (~80kg) or would it be too much risk.

Before I put a set of Teraflex rails on I did the DIY thing by drilling holes in the roof and corner bracing plates on the roll bar. Mounted a rolla cage to carry spares and fuel. Used on a trip that included the Tanami and Gibb river roads. Weren't a lot of options when I did this. Worked well but the Teraflex option is pretty good with templates for holes. I'd recomend going fo one of the options that either pick up the roll cage or have bracing down to the tub.
80kg dynamic load is probably a bit much just mounted to fibreglass.

I don't believe it would be strong enough. You are relying on the strength of the fiberglass corners & side pieces.

There are some that have been done, but they run through to bolt to supports on the roll cage underneath the hardtop.

Remember, if it is a rooftop tent, then you also have to add the weight of you there as well, and the fiberglass is somewhat flexy...

From memory, the weight capacity of the hard top is only 35kg.

That's why if you look at all the heavy duty roof racks available for the Wrangler, they are either the exoskeleton type that doesn't touch the top or they are mounted through the top and fixed on the internal roll cage.

So what you propose would have several kilos of steel, the weight of the rooftop tent, plus 1 maybe 2 humans sleeping.

https://www.sevenslot.com.au/product/aev-jk-roof-rack/

This Is a perfect roof top tent platform. No lips or ridges anywhere so the tent sits flat on the rack

Thanks for the info guys, was just looking at the options and they were all so expensive, so kinda though about diy but I dont think i'll be able to avoid it by the sounds of it

Well, if you're keen I have a relatively well documented blog post you could follow: https://nerdsofsteal.wordpress.com/2...a-jk-wrangler/

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/ukntfdpl7l2...ift%20Jeep.jpg
(note the post is 3 pages in length)

It took a lot of doing but the end product is indeed serving me well.

bloody good effort, long post so i ended up just scanning the photos though!

What's the weight of somehting like this?

I've never weighed it specifically but if you position yourself correctly you can pick it up relatively easily with one hand, so I would estimate 20kg or so.

What ever it is, it's seems a fair bit lighter than the hardtop itself.

I was given an original backbone system before the newer version came out and welded up my own platform to mount to it....looks okay..... but this may not help your post.....

If anyone has the backbone system can you put up some pics of the inside how it mounts, wouldn't mind making my own system up!

youtube or google is your friend...

I can't understand why anyone would prefer the rhino backbone rack, rather than the Rhino/AEV rack.

The Jeep has a structural roll-cage, why would you want to add another flimsy looking frame to the inside of the hard top?

The AEV one bolts directly to the roll-cage and would be significantly stronger, especially under dynamic load/cornering/heavy braking.

Yes, I understand the roof can be removed with the backbone, but this justs highlights further weakness or another weak link in the structure. And also, I imagine the weight of the roof, combined with the rack is more thanmost people would want to lift without a pulley system.

Happy to be proven wrong if anyone has thoughts?

Well I have found mine to be more than sturdy as it rests on the roll cage on four designated and designed points as well as bolts to the tub frame on four points.The "Flimsy" steel that bolts on the inside has four bolts two on the top and two on the side, one weak point may be the joint.... as yet I havent heard or seen one fail yet... As for the weight, I havent noticed any change of lifting the roof off if the platform is off, no different to having to remove the AEV one.

If i had the choice as I was given one mine by a good mate, Id go for a system similar to the uneek on that bolts on the outside rather than onto the hard top so I can have a roof rack system with the soft top if I so choose...

Fair call, I do not have a soft top and I feel one like the MBRP system will be easiest to make up, any chance anyone knows the thickness of the steel on the inside? would like mine to be as strong as I can

Mine is a TJ but he makes them for JKs as wellhttp://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/...9b877c2bff.jpg

I haven't managed to have a close up look at one yet. I assume they're decent, but I do find it bizarre that Rhino Rack do two styles of rack.

Either way, the Rhino platforms are ideal for roof top tents because of the rail-free edges.

Sharp wrax are the same you just select the trays without rails. They are rated to take a roof top tent. On a LWB you can just select a front tray and mount the tent to the rack. They are not cheap but mine fitted well and I am very happy with strength, finish and look. You can also plumb all your wiring through the tube of the rack. I worked with a bloke that had Cheap imported external cage rack on his JK, it was that flimsy that it had bolts in the corners with rubber stops pushing hard up against the roof to spot it wracking around. My sharp wrax was 3k delivered (I do live in Darwin) and I fitted it myself. I made the wind deflector, rod tube, and custom awning brackets myself. I carry 40ltrs of fuel, swag, chair, solar panels, maxtrax and oz pig on the rack no worries at all.