"Roof load capacity"

[markleone22]

I caveat this post with the fact that I might possibly be a dumb idiot. I'm also not an "overlander," but I want to be when I grow up.

I have a 2020 Gladiator Sport S w/2 inch lift/Fox shocks upgrade. I want to put a hard shell tent on the roof (range of those I'm considering are around 100-150 lbs). The tent will be a one-person, and I'm 180 lbs. I'm thoroughly confused by how much weight I can put on a roof rack on this vehicle. If a particular rack says it can hold up to 150lbs (which can hold most tents), is that rack not strong enough to hold the tent with me in it? Does a Jeep Gladiator have a particular total weight capacity for the roof, regardless what rack you put on it? I told you I was dumb. Again, the quick and dirty question is: Can I put a tent on a rack on the ROOF (not the bed) of a 2020 Gladiator, and how do I calculate the maximum roof load weight? Also, wide open for badass roof rack reccomendations to support a RTT. Thanks for your patience.

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[Killroy Was Here]

Most all roof racks will clamp to the drip rails of the top.
I think you would be taking a big risk for stress cracking issues on the top at the drip rails with the kind of final load you are considering.
Not to mention your front cross bar would be mounted to the removable freedom top panels which would be a big no-go for me.
Just a couple thoughts for whatever it's worth.

Dave

 

[DarthAWM]

I caveat this post with the fact that I might possibly be a dumb idiot. I'm also not an "overlander," but I want to be when I grow up.

I have a 2020 Gladiator Sport S w/2 inch lift/Fox shocks upgrade. I want to put a hard shell tent on the roof (range of those I'm considering are around 100-150 lbs). The tent will be a one-person, and I'm 180 lbs. I'm thoroughly confused by how much weight I can put on a roof rack on this vehicle. If a particular rack says it can hold up to 150lbs (which can hold most tents), is that rack not strong enough to hold the tent with me in it? Does a Jeep Gladiator have a particular total weight capacity for the roof, regardless what rack you put on it? I told you I was dumb. Again, the quick and dirty question is: Can I put a tent on a rack on the ROOF (not the bed) of a 2020 Gladiator, and how do I calculate the maximum roof load weight? Also, wide open for badass roof rack reccomendations to support a RTT. Thanks for your patience.

You will most likely need a skeleton rack like Adventure Racks or Gobi, both of those are independent of the soft/hard top and will support the weight needed.

 

[Gvsukids]

Again, the quick and dirty question is: Can I put a tent on a rack on the ROOF (not the bed) of a 2020 Gladiator, and how do I calculate the maximum roof load weight?

Earlier discussion,
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/need-some-help-picking-a-roof-rack.38412/

 

[sharpsicle]

I also would not put a RTT secured only to the roof. A full-height bed rack to support the weight, with part of the RTT overlapping but not connected to the roof, is the right solution for something like that.

To keep the bed clear, you would need an over-cab rack system like @DarthAWM mentioned to get the support you need.

The roof is simply not built to be reliable enough for that type of use. Even Tacoma guys with a legitimate roof recommend a bed rack for the heavier load.

 

[HooliganActual]

I caveat this post with the fact that I might possibly be a dumb idiot. I'm also not an "overlander," but I want to be when I grow up.

I have a 2020 Gladiator Sport S w/2 inch lift/Fox shocks upgrade. I want to put a hard shell tent on the roof (range of those I'm considering are around 100-150 lbs). The tent will be a one-person, and I'm 180 lbs. I'm thoroughly confused by how much weight I can put on a roof rack on this vehicle. If a particular rack says it can hold up to 150lbs (which can hold most tents), is that rack not strong enough to hold the tent with me in it? Does a Jeep Gladiator have a particular total weight capacity for the roof, regardless what rack you put on it? I told you I was dumb. Again, the quick and dirty question is: Can I put a tent on a rack on the ROOF (not the bed) of a 2020 Gladiator, and how do I calculate the maximum roof load weight? Also, wide open for badass roof rack reccomendations to support a RTT. Thanks for your patience.

I agree with what others have said; I'll maybe expound on some things.

1) When looking at load ratings of the roof racks, you will typically see what is known as the "static" load rating. That is with the tent just sitting there on top, by itself, and the vehicle is not moving. What you really need to pay attention to is whether that rack provider calls out the "dynamic" rating, which is how much weight it can handle while it is being tossed side to side and back and forth while bouncing down the trail. 150# of weight sitting on a roof rack will exert more than 150# of force when being tossed around. Even the rack maker doesn't call this out then I would steer clear of that rack.

2) You are currently just looking at the rack's load rating, but now the Jeep's roof also has a load rating. I can't remember what it is but it's not enough for an RTT AND your weight. With the racks that just clip onto the rain gutters of the roof, you are more than likely to break those gutters when you put the RTT and the rack's weight on them and toss them around on the trail. Just don't....

3) As someone has already mentioned, you would really need one of those skeleton-style racks to do what you are wanting to do...OR...you could install the RhinoRack BackBone system which actually bolts through your top (prolly wouldn't want to do this with a soft top) and mounts to the sport cage and the tub. I currently have this on mine, and while I only have solar panels mounted on it, I also have one mounted on my 2016 Wrangler which ran a 130# RTT on it for years. Because the rack is mounted through to the Jeep's structure, it has an almost unlimited weight rating.

Here's some roof rack and RTT pr0n:

The Wrangler in Anza Borrego before I moved the RTT to the Gladiator

This pic is from when I installed sound deadening and the headliner in the Gladiator but you can see the two rear support brackets for the RhinoRack BackBone that are effectively mounted through to the tub

This is the portion external to the hardtop at the rear mounts and what the rack is actually attached to

I have a shorter platform so that there is still access to the Freedom Tops, but there are longer ones. FWIW, my RTT sits on top of an AluCab canopy...which is really the way to go...

 

[Rob_R]

From the Owners Manual Page 107 (for 2023)

NOTE: Roof rack applications are for Hard Top models ONLY. The Roof Luggage Rack is designed to allow for carrying an additional cargo load on vehicles equipped with a Hard Top. The load carried on the roof, when equipped with a luggage rack, must not exceed 100 lb (45 kg), this includes the weight of the crossbars, and it should be uniformly distributed over the cargo area. Crossbars should always be used whenever cargo is placed on the roof rack. Check the straps frequently to be sure that the load remains securely attached. NOTE: Crossbars can be purchased at an authorized dealer through Mopar® parts.

 

[markleone22]

Great feedback, Gents. I very much appreciate all the detailed responses. And very sweet rig, @HooliganActual.

It's now clear I need to go with a bed rack, in advance of a purchase of either an iKamper or Alu Cab (I'm all ears on those choices, btw). FWIW, the reason I was trying to avoid the bed rack was because I have the American Roll Cover from Truck Covers USA, which means I need a rack that installs via rails that sit on top of the roll cover, not inside the walls of the bed, the way almost all bed racks install. This limits my options considerably, outside of the Yakima/Truck Covers USA collab rack that was designed to fit my bed with the cover. Thanks again.

 

[Gvsukids]

From the Owners Manual Page 107 (for 2023)

NOTE: Roof rack applications are for Hard Top models ONLY. The Roof Luggage Rack is designed to allow for carrying an additional cargo load on vehicles equipped with a Hard Top. The load carried on the roof, when equipped with a luggage rack, must not exceed 100 lb (45 kg), this includes the weight of the crossbars, and it should be uniformly distributed over the cargo area. Crossbars should always be used whenever cargo is placed on the roof rack. Check the straps frequently to be sure that the load remains securely attached. NOTE: Crossbars can be purchased at an authorized dealer through Mopar® parts.

Manual to the rescue again!

 

[Animal]

I run a maximus-3 roof rack system, it requires drilling the hard top and the brackets mount directly to the roll bar. It is incredibly sturdy. They claim 1000-pound distributed static load and 350-pound dynamic. Bonus, you can run it with the top off. I've yet to put that much dynamic weight on it, but I trust it. The system is their brackets with a rhino rack pioneer platform. I've been very happy with mine.

https://maximus-3.com/jtgladiator-/maximus-3-jt-roof-rack-system

 

[nanook12]

The RTT on a canopy is the way to go for me…

 

[Maximus Gladius]

I have the American Roll Cover from Truck Covers USA, which means I need a rack that installs via rails that sit on top of the roll cover, not inside the walls of the bed

Does this company give you the option of swapping out the flat caps for T-groove caps? I have the Roll-N-Lock slide tonneau cover and changed out the flat caps for T-groove and then went with Billie Bars system.

 

[ArchEtech]

Personally, I don’t like the idea of any roof racks on the freedom tops because they all connect to the drip edge stuff as others have stated it just seems like a bad idea in general.

If you want to have a roof tent, get some kind of bed rack and put it on there.

 

[Free2roam]

Sorry for the bad news but you bought a Jeep Gladiator..... therefore you will never grow up. Plus there is no real overlanding in the US. It's an overused term and a marketing ploy IMO. We go camping off-road where most people don't venture because of their lack of abilities or lack of their vehicles abilities.

 

[sharpsicle]

Plus there is no real overlanding in the US. It's an overused term and a marketing ploy IMO.

I disagree with this. There's a decent amount of overlanding opportunities in the US and North America. Not saying it's the same as, say, Australia or something, but saying there is none is like some weird gatekeeping flex, and there's no reason to do that.

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