The Roof Rack List (JL / JLU Wrangler)

[Jeeperz Kreeperz]

Without the side rails how much height does the rack add to the roof? (Without the tent)

The Maximus-3 website says: “Rack adds 2.25” (rail kit adds another 2.5”)”

Although, it will be good to have @baggio16 provide some real world measurements.

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[Jeepmarkjl]

ordered the Maximus-3 rack. Had to peel the Hothead Headliners off to prepare for the install. Called Hothead and they can make a special panel that accommodates the rack bracket. its just more money and less to spend in retirement.

 

[baggio16]

The Maximus-3 website says: “Rack adds 2.25” (rail kit adds another 2.5”)”

Although, it will be good to have @baggio16 provide some real world measurements.

Here’s what I got in the back. Looks like just over 3.5”

 

[Jeeperz Kreeperz]

Here’s what I got in the back. Looks like just over 3.5”

Or, just under 3.5”, from where I sit (although that may be due to parallax error). Thanks @baggio16. This proves once again how important it is to have ‘real world’ measurements.

When I looked at the Maximus-3 website photos, I thought - “Man, that looks like more than 2.25 inches!”. That’s because it was! I’m guessing that 2.25” spec is applicable in certain other vehicles - but not the Wrangler with its taller ‘through the roof’ mounting system. Or maybe they recycled the JK spec and forgot to update it for the JL. Who knows.

If someone’s garage height was right on the cusp, this is kind of an important measurement to get right!

 

[Jeeperz Kreeperz]

ordered the Maximus-3 rack. Had to peel the Hothead Headliners off to prepare for the install. Called Hothead and they can make a special panel that accommodates the rack bracket. its just more money and less to spend in retirement.

Thanks for diverting some of your retirement nest egg to the collective R&D department here on the JL forum! I was looking at both the Maximus-3 and the Hothead liners, so this is REALLY good to know.

 

[Jeeperz Kreeperz]

I couldn't get my hand under the rack to tighten the clamps on the tent

@baggio16, so what would it take to remove the tent, and leave the rack on? I’m thinking of using this rack 365 days/year, and only mounting the tent for trips. But now I’m wondering how tough that will be to accomplish!

 

[Purity’sPa]

Leaving the rack on wouldn’t bother me unless it cut down on destinations I am used to frequenting. I think the rack looks awesome. I think it especially looks good on the green and tan jeeps I’ve seen. Very Sharp. Y’all take care.

 

[baggio16]

@baggio16, so what would it take to remove the tent, and leave the rack on? I’m thinking of using this rack 365 days/year, and only mounting the tent for trips. But now I’m wondering how tough that will be to accomplish!

It took us a little longer to install (since we hadn't installed it before). I think about two hours total.

Had to undo the bolts from the inside of the Jeep and lift the rack up about a half an inch. We always left one of the brackets attached, so that we didn't lose alignment. It wasn't too terrible, but I'm looking to in have my Jeep shop guys help me fabricate a lift to help in the process.

Make sense? (Coffee isn't working this morning).

 

[TIDALWAVE]

Are the Rhino Back Bone stanchions made with two parts above the roof?
I was hoping that I could lift off the Gobi Platform along with the upper half of the stanchions without having to mess with the under roof part of the bolt downs.

 

[s.i JEEP]

Just ordered it. Was trying to decide between this and the Teraflex but since this is available - it won. I need a rack by the end of the month hahahahaha. I got the long with full side rails and a ladder. With 10% military discount it ended up at $1502 and everything should arrive my house within 10 days.

Ordered one as well. Did you get everything at once? I received the mounting bracket but not the pioneer roof rack. How long after did you receive the roof rack?

 

[Godzilla]

Its been quite the goat rope really. The guys at Maximus 3 are a good bunch and really are trying. I ordered my stuff on June 15th. I got the pioneer flat rack fairly quickly and the mounting hardware came at the same time. I ordered the ladder as well and paid for it, but they called me a a few hours later and told me that they had sold the last ladder the day before and the new batch wasn't due out for another 7-10 days (they still aren't out yet). I didn't get around to installing the pioneer rack for about 7 days, and when I did, I didn't find the rails in the box. I called and spoke to Tyler... he called Rhino Rack to inquire and found out that they hadn't been shipped yet but that they would send them out to me asap. A few days later, Tyler called me again to tell me that RR had shipped the rails to Maximus-3, so he had to send them out to me. I got the rails 7 days ago... I was out of town til Sunday but when I got home they were there - I opened the box the next morning to install and there was no hardware. Called and spoke to Tyler and he said that they hardware should have been in the Pioneer Rack box - it wasn't. So he called RR and they said they would send a hardware kit. I await it's arrival with baited breath.

I'm Kind of pissed about the situation as I have needed the rack numerous times over the last 5 weeks - but I'm not pissed at M3 - more at RR as I think they dropped the ball each time and left M3 to pick up the pieces. The platform is a good piece of kit, no doubt, and it'll be great when I get the rail kit hahahaha.

Patience seems to be a virtue - I've had mirrors on order through Quadratech for about a month as well.

 

[Jeeperz Kreeperz]

Question: Are there any cross bar only type racks that have the static/dynamic weight ratings to handle a roof top tent? I read somewhere that Rhino Rack Vortex series had a 220 pound dynamic limit - which is more than almost all roof top tents. I see pics all over the web of smaller cars with just two cross bars and a RTT (not that that proves it’s being done properly). But I assume anything that mounts just to the rain gutters isn’t going to be strong enough for a RTT, correct?

If one exists for the JL, I’d love to know about it. Got a trip coming up soon, and would love to put the whole kit together before we leave!

 

[Jeepmarkjl]

Having the similar issues. Ordered rack thru Maximus-3. Got the Maximus 3 made parts within a day! I figured they screwed up the order since there was no Pioneer Platform with the Max3 parts. Called. Turns out Rhino rack fulfills that part of the equation as Maximus doesnt stock the Rhino rack parts (not unusual). BTW I ordered something separate for the rack direct from Rhino Rack within 5 minutes of the Max3 order. Heard nothing from Rhino rack. Crickets. Finally got a hold of someone at RR who said when you order direct thru them or through a partner like Maximus - all the orders go thru an un-named 3rd party company first - and then THEY send the order to Rhino rack.

So it took 5 days to send my order from this 3rd party company to Rhino rack. Huh? 5 Days.

According to them: Then it takes time for Rhino rack to accept the order, and PRINT IT OUT AND PUT THE PIECE OF PAPER WITH THE ORDER INFO ON IT IN A BOX IN THE WAREHOUSE. They have no way of electronically tracking the status of an order. Also found out that Rhino rack will always charge the highest price if you order from them. Order thru a partner and it will cost less.

Was thinking about ordering their Sunseeker or Batwing awning but man I don't know.

The Maximus-3 guys have been great though.

 

[MixmasterST]

anyone have any pics of 2 doors with any of the roof racks attached? skimmed through the thread and could not find any

 

[JK47]

Having the similar issues. Ordered rack thru Maximus-3. Got the Maximus 3 made parts within a day! I figured they screwed up the order since there was no Pioneer Platform with the Max3 parts. Called. Turns out Rhino rack fulfills that part of the equation as Maximus doesnt stock the Rhino rack parts (not unusual). BTW I ordered something separate for the rack direct from Rhino Rack within 5 minutes of the Max3 order. Heard nothing from Rhino rack. Crickets. Finally got a hold of someone at RR who said when you order direct thru them or through a partner like Maximus - all the orders go thru an un-named 3rd party company first - and then THEY send the order to Rhino rack.

So it took 5 days to send my order from this 3rd party company to Rhino rack. Huh? 5 Days.

According to them: Then it takes time for Rhino rack to accept the order, and PRINT IT OUT AND PUT THE PIECE OF PAPER WITH THE ORDER INFO ON IT IN A BOX IN THE WAREHOUSE. They have no way of electronically tracking the status of an order. Also found out that Rhino rack will always charge the highest price if you order from them. Order thru a partner and it will cost less.

Was thinking about ordering their Sunseeker or Batwing awning but man I don't know.

The Maximus-3 guys have been great though.

On that premise alone, I will hold out for a better solution... weaksauce

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