Rain gutter rack successfully carries 2x 10ft kayaks on highway

[KWin]

So I searched for someone else who might have done this before me forever, and found nothing. Turns out the kind of person who would run a rain gutter clamp roof rack from China doesn't post about it to online forums.
I figured I'd just take the risk and hope nothing cracks, and if it does fix it. I bought a knock off mopar rack for like 160 of amazon and it just held up for a 3 hour highway trip with no issues and two 55lb kayaks onto.
I'll update if anything changes, but it was solid the whole way so I expect it to last for awhile.

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[MPMB]

Well, the manual does state that the roof is not made to support any roofracks, building supplies, camping equipment, etc.

That said, I have a JCR halfrack and had traction boards on it, soon to order some small waterproof cases.

 

[KWin]

yea, I think that is a "dealers are not responsible for fixing your roof rack choices" language cause I saw that also.

 

[relapsekg]

Thank you for this research, I have a 12 ft kayak and my wife’s stand up paddle board. Guess it’s worth a shot.

 

[RCKLNDR]

I say more power to ya as long as you have the bow and stern fastened to something in case of worst case scenario (which I see you do). I always thought the specifications on those was understated.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I don’t subscribe to that philosophy. A grand Cherokee with factory rails and a thule rack is only rated around 140lbs if I remember correctly. And those factory rails are attached to the structural unibody. There’s a ton or force on roof loads at highway speeds. Putting 110lbs, plus the weight of the racks themselves, onto a plastic roof that is rated for 80lbs, is putting others on the road at risk. A catastrophic failure could easily cause an accident on the interstate. Owning a gladiator myself, if I see one in front of me with two kayaks on it at highway speeds, I’m either backing off or passing them. Obviously a steel bolt on rack is much different. I do have thule cross bars on my rain gutters, but either out tiny kids bikes up there, or a single carbon road bike at around 25lbs.

 

[Ankh]

So I searched for someone else who might have done this before me forever, and found nothing. Turns out the kind of person who would run a rain gutter clamp roof rack from China doesn't post about it to online forums.
I figured I'd just take the risk and hope nothing cracks, and if it does fix it. I bought a knock off mopar rack for like 160 of amazon and it just held up for a 3 hour highway trip with no issues and two 55lb kayaks onto.
I'll update if anything changes, but it was solid the whole way so I expect it to last for awhile.

Can you remove the back portion of your top with these attached or do they need to be removed first?

 

[KWin]

you can remove the top without issue. These litterally clamp to the rain gutter and have no other attachment, which is why I was a little worried about their strength.

 

[Ankh]

you can remove the top without issue. These litterally clamp to the rain gutter and have no other attachment, which is why I was a little worried about their strength.

Thanks for the info. Do you think they are secured enough to attach my hoist hooks to the crossbars to lift top off? I'm not a lawyer, just looking for an opinion.

 

[booneja]

who makes these?

 

[WILDHOBO]

Thanks for the info. Do you think they are secured enough to attach my hoist hooks to the crossbars to lift top off? I'm not a lawyer, just looking for an opinion.

I wouldn’t hesitate to do it with mine.

 

[FitfulGoat]

I wouldn’t hesitate to do it with mine.

Agreed with this. The hardtop on the gladiator and JLU weigh roughly 100-120lbs. If the rack can support 150lbs dynamic I wouldn’t hesitate to lift a 100lb top off of the Jeep with the same attachment points. I would just be sure they are placed in a way that you aren’t unbalanced.

 

[KWin]

I would feel safe hoisting the top from these. I have not do it yet.

I bought

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08K7H7LT7?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

[l8rg8r]

I have mounted Thule aero type bars and rain gutter foot mounts and have been carrying 2 boats for two summers now. No problem at all. BUT- I also tie down the bow and stern to lower the forces to the roof and rack while driving over 45 mph.

 

[Wilber7]

I don’t subscribe to that philosophy. A grand Cherokee with factory rails and a thule rack is only rated around 140lbs if I remember correctly. And those factory rails are attached to the structural unibody. There’s a ton or force on roof loads at highway speeds. Putting 110lbs, plus the weight of the racks themselves, onto a plastic roof that is rated for 80lbs, is putting others on the road at risk. A catastrophic failure could easily cause an accident on the interstate. Owning a gladiator myself, if I see one in front of me with two kayaks on it at highway speeds, I’m either backing off or passing them. Obviously a steel bolt on rack is much different. I do have thule cross bars on my rain gutters, but either out tiny kids bikes up there, or a single carbon road bike at around 25lbs.

I agree. At byway speeds a kayak will easily kill and change your life forever. The roof gutters are fragil.

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