Roof cargo basket on a bed rack

[Tomentose]

Hey all,

I want to put a cargo basket on my bed rack but am trying to find the best way to mount them together. I want to order the Rugged Ridge roof rack pictured below but am thinking the only way is to bolt strainght through the cross bars in the basket and into the t-slots on the rack - i just hope they dont slide. Has anyone does this to their Gladiator and if so pictures would be appreciated!

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[GOCAMPN]

Deleted because I misread what you meant, I don't think sliding would be much of a problem if you use multiple bolts on each side.

 

[GOCAMPN]

I have this rack by the way, well I have the shorter JT version rather than the JL you have pictured. Not sure if the advertisment shows the top view:

Figured maybe it can help you plan!

 

[Tomentose]

I have this rack by the way, well I have the shorter JT version rather than the JL you have pictured. Not sure if the advertisment shows the top view:

Figured maybe it can help you plan!

That is actually very helpful. The stock photos are really quite shitty. Guess ill probably have to drill through the piece between those oval openings to get a good grip.
And fyi i actually went balls to the wall and ordered the short roof rack you have for the cab as well as the full size for the bed rack. Lights and storage everywhere! Cant wait to show it off when they get here Lol

 

[Tomentose]

I have this rack by the way, well I have the shorter JT version rather than the JL you have pictured. Not sure if the advertisment shows the top view:

Figured maybe it can help you plan!

Hey man, can you show me how you did the wiring for you aux lights on the rack there? I like the tubing concept to protect the wires but im not super electronically inclined. Any help you could offer would be appreciated!

 

[GOCAMPN]

The 2 lights on the outside are linked and the 2 lights on the inside are linked so I can use them independently from each other (2 are white, 2 are amber). The wires on these were long enough I just tied them together nothing fancy or extra needed. Then I just used like 50ft of red and 50ft of black 18 gauge if I remember right.

Ran the wires around the frame of the rack and down the seam of the rear door, it's just taped in the seam so I just check it every so often but I don't really use that door much. Then it runs under the roof lip by the door and down between the bed, I just chose that spot because it's mostly hidden/protected. The wires then just run along the inside of the pinch seam and into the engine compartment. In the passenger fender there is a gap between the air box and the fender liner that everything can run through, most guides say remove the liner to wire but feeding it through was pretty easy.

The little black tubing protecting the wires from weather is called wire conduit, you can get it at Autozone or Lowes etc. Then just be sure to use heat wrap tape for all the wires in the engine area, it's silver in color and pretty thick due to the materials used, I really can't think of what it's called at the moment. Lol

I also have rock lights mounted underneathe the Jeep so you'll see my wires are running all over the place. It's not the safest placement and I know eventually I'm going the snag something so just be very precise on where you route the wires down there.

 

[Tomentose]

The 2 lights on the outside are linked and the 2 lights on the inside are linked so I can use them independently from each other (2 are white, 2 are amber). The wires on these were long enough I just tied them together nothing fancy or extra needed. Then I just used like 50ft of red and 50ft of black 18 gauge if I remember right.

Ran the wires around the frame of the rack and down the seam of the rear door, it's just taped in the seam so I just check it every so often but I don't really use that door much. Then it runs under the roof lip by the door and down between the bed, I just chose that spot because it's mostly hidden/protected. The wires then just run along the inside of the pinch seam and into the engine compartment. In the passenger fender there is a gap between the air box and the fender liner that everything can run through, most guides say remove the liner to wire but feeding it through was pretty easy.

The little black tubing protecting the wires from weather is called wire conduit, you can get it at Autozone or Lowes etc. Then just be sure to use heat wrap tape for all the wires in the engine area, it's silver in color and pretty thick due to the materials used, I really can't think of what it's called at the moment. Lol

I also have rock lights mounted underneathe the Jeep so you'll see my wires are running all over the place. It's not the safest placement and I know eventually I'm going the snag something so just be very precise on where you route the wires down there.

This is rediculously helpful and is going to save me a ton to time and money! thank you for this!

The silver tape you mention, is it the same as the metallic ducting tape used around dryer vent hoses or is that something different?

Fortunately I have a bed rack so i think i would run the wire conduit to that and strap it to the inside to keep it hidden. Might have to make sure it doesn't snag on anything but I use the rear doors a lot for the kids so I'm worried about the potential damage to the wires. Might invest in a quick disconnect for this area to be safe.

On a side note, i see how far forward the rack sits on your roof and am worried that the freedom panel top soft top replacement I got wont be able to flip open properly... i gues you can sit the roof rack a few more inches back but it wont line up properly with the back of the cab. Ohh well, my problem to figure out i guess!

Thank again for this and the photos!

 

[GOCAMPN]

This is rediculously helpful and is going to save me a ton to time and money! thank you for this!

The silver tape you mention, is it the same as the metallic ducting tape used around dryer vent hoses or is that something different?

Fortunately I have a bed rack so i think i would run the wire conduit to that and strap it to the inside to keep it hidden. Might have to make sure it doesn't snag on anything but I use the rear doors a lot for the kids so I'm worried about the potential damage to the wires. Might invest in a quick disconnect for this area to be safe.

On a side note, i see how far forward the rack sits on your roof and am worried that the freedom panel top soft top replacement I got wont be able to flip open properly... i gues you can sit the roof rack a few more inches back but it wont line up properly with the back of the cab. Ohh well, my problem to figure out i guess!

Thank again for this and the photos!

Here's an example of the tape I used,

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...oLCVStbj6aPHPd-9y9RoCGwgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

The rack does sit a little far forward, I could probably afford to back it up another inch without looking off but yes you will likely have issues with fold back tops.

 

[Tomentose]

Here's an example of the tape I used,

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...oLCVStbj6aPHPd-9y9RoCGwgQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

The rack does sit a little far forward, I could probably afford to back it up another inch without looking off but yes you will likely have issues with fold back tops.

guess i will be returning that item as i think the roof rack has so much more versatility and the freedom panels take like 5 min to remove and store which isnt a big deal.

thanks again man.

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