How good is your roof rack?

[Jim SoG]

I an buying one and would like some reviews/advice on a quality rack. I do not ever plan on taking my tops off if that is a factor.
I would be carrying (on trips) maybe a couple hundred pounds of stuff.....

Jim

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[brookie0907]

I just purchased a Trailrax 1/2 rack but have not installed yet. It has good reviews from youtube and others and I have seen it in person. It has a higher capacity that others, such as Sherpa. The rack comes in a full and 1/2 length.
https://trailrax.com/collections/gl...for-the-jeep-gladiator?variant=43144226111655

 

[ArchEtech]

I have the original Leitner Designs (newer is the forged). I found it for $500 with the cans and the waterproof box used. It’s very solid, good finish. It’s not too tacticheezy. Pretty easy to remove once you know how. I have a fishing rod vault on it and it’s great for securing a bike.

This is fine for now for what I paid. Ultimately I want something that works with a bed cover but I’m not spending $4000. Many that work with bed covers look too tactical and cheapy or are much lower and I want a cab height rack. What I REALLY want is a bed cover and a roll/chase bar rack just up by the cab, but I haven’t found a solution for that yet.

 

[MattK]

When you say roof rack, where are you mounting it to? The actual roof rain gutter rails on the hard top? A camper shell? Etc.

 

[RudeJeepin]

I an buying one and would like some reviews/advice on a quality rack. I do not ever plan on taking my tops off if that is a factor.
I would be carrying (on trips) maybe a couple hundred pounds of stuff.....

Jim

You might do a little snooping around on the JL site. They are using roof racks and alot of them will work on the Gladiator also.
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/

 

[Jim SoG]

When you say roof rack, where are you mounting it to? The actual roof rain gutter rails on the hard top? A camper shell? Etc.

Mount to rain gutter I think is how they mostly mount.....

 

[Jim SoG]

I have the original Leitner Designs (newer is the forged). I found it for $500 with the cans and the waterproof box used. It’s very solid, good finish. It’s not too tacticheezy. Pretty easy to remove once you know how. I have a fishing rod vault on it and it’s great for securing a bike.

This is fine for now for what I paid. Ultimately I want something that works with a bed cover but I’m not spending $4000. Many that work with bed covers look too tactical and cheapy or are much lower and I want a cab height rack. What I REALLY want is a bed cover and a roll/chase bar rack just up by the cab, but I haven’t found a solution for that yet.

Appreciate it but I am asking about roof racks......

Jim

 

[MattK]

Mount to rain gutter I think is how they mostly mount.....

Okay, I'm not trying to tell you what to do but putting 200 pounds on the fiberglass rain gutters is not the best idea. Rhino Rack makes a "Backbone" system for the Gladiator roof however it involves drilling through the roof top and it then connects to mounts that are secured internally using the hard top bolts.

EDIT for video example of installation:

 

[chorky]

Okay, I'm not trying to tell you what to do but putting 200 pounds on the fiberglass rain gutters is not the best idea. Rhino Rack makes a "Backbone" system for the Gladiator roof however it involves drilling through the roof top and it then connects to mounts that are secured internally using the hard top bolts.

EDIT for video example of installation:

I think this is only rated even at 150 or 180 pounds? And is the highest rated option there is. 200 pounds on a fiberglass roof is asking a lot. Dynamic load would be at least double that.

Mount to rain gutter I think is how they mostly mount.....

The other thing to consider is size of the rack. Jeep and most roof rack manufacturers say to not put any rack component on the freedom panels. I went against that rule for a cross bar as I am only carrying 2 100w solar panels. But with dynamic loads and things I can't imagine having or wanting much weight up there. The JL's are a little different because they have more real estate to option for a physically longer rack. With the bed on the Gladiator, the fiberglass roof portion is quite a bit shorter.

 

[mpsoldier]

I an buying one and would like some reviews/advice on a quality rack. I do not ever plan on taking my tops off if that is a factor.
I would be carrying (on trips) maybe a couple hundred pounds of stuff.....

Jim

Metal Cloak / Adventure Rack Systems sells overcab racks that are rock solid and are able to tie into a bed rack if you want to expand later.

https://adventureracksystems.com/jt-gladiator-over-the-cab-rack-system.html

They have a Mojave version of the rack linked. You can add a rear rack "Backpak" if you decide a rear rack is needed.

I have both front and rear racks. Far sturdier than most other racks I've seen out there and if you decide to pop the top off you can do that with that rack.

 

[Blade1668]

I've got a set of low buck Hoalk roof rack bars from Amazon, but like CHORKY only have 2 100w solar panels on them.

 

[MattHamilton]

I've a friend who uses a Gobi similar to this on his JLU, and he loves it. Personally, I do not have a roof rack.
https://gobiracks.com/product/jeep-gladiator-stealth-rack·-multi-light-setup/

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