Dkretden
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- David
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2019
- Threads
- 57
- Messages
- 2,533
- Reaction score
- 3,527
- Location
- Denver, CO
- Vehicle(s)
- 2020 JLUR 3.6L
I have received some positive feedback in mother thread.I'm in EXACTLY this same boat.
We did 70 miles in death Valley NP yesterday. Hardly challenging on Saline Rd, as our mildly lifted, aggressively-tired Rubicon did the first half in 2wd. (Tires aired at 39 psi - so not really aired down at all...)
When we reached the half-way point and began to back track (our plan was an in-out run to test the new suspension (installed the day before) and new tires (installed 2 days prior), and see a bit of the back country.
Saline Rd isn't difficult by any means, BUT, it's rough in parts - like 3 mph or things are bouncing around like crazy, rough. Sandy bits, rocks, broken, ancient asphalt, ruts, washboard - it's all there. One minute you're doing 50 mph through the desert, the next it's 8 mph picking your way around rocks and over washouts.
And at maximum desolation, I decided to add a set of these racks for added fuel capacity. One video I watched on a white Rubicon, the scratching was clearly because the guy kept sliding metal on paint - his lack of skill installing them is what made the scratches happen - so I'm not really concerned about that one individual's experience with paint issues.
What does concern me is... static v. dynamic weight management. And is the fiberglass of the drip rails and bottom edge of our hardtops going to handle the weight of the rack and fuel with long-term, actual offroad use? I'm 100% certain it WILL work...for a time.
I'm less concerned about snagging the rotopax on things. The Jeep is wider at the mirrors, and frankly, if it's THAT close on the trail, I'm probably already looking for a bypass anyway. Nothing to prove, and exploring is exploring, I figure.
Bigger issue is loss on the sight-lines over my right shoulder when driving if I block that window. I prefer more open sight lines - again, a personal call.
But the single biggest issue I have is my recollection that there is a fairly small weight limit for mounting racks on our drip rails, and if these clamps hold only on the fiberglass, this solution is in the same boat as a roof rack, I think. Not that I need these racks to hold hundreds of pounds, obviously, but repeated stress of metal against fiberglass will see the fiberglass fail at some point.
If these mounted up and under the hardtop, to the body of the Jeep, this whole thing would be moot and take my money!!!
For now, I may go the Draco mount and carry a bit less extra fuel. But hey, if someone has real world experience, that would be ideal!!!
as to weight, the racks are rated at 60 pounds (each) only. That is more than enough for rotopax and 4 gals of fuel though.
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