The Roof Rack List (JL / JLU Wrangler)

[baggio16]

@BrianB thanks for all the detail, and tips. It seems the low profile Maximus-3/Rhino Rack combo is a bit of a two-edged sword: Looks great, and keeps overall height down, but makes it a bear to get the tent on/off.

@baggio16 you mentioned maybe adding space between the hardtop and the rack. What about a tall mount that would add the space (although, more than you asked for) between the rack and the tent - like this one for $59 from Front Runner: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/rack-accessories/front-runner-tent-mount-kit-tall.html

Or if you really want to help stimulate the economy, a quick release system like this one for $299 also from Front Runner: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.c...es/quick-release-roof-top-tent-mount-kit.html

It’s pricey at three bills, and you’d have to confirm dimensions to see how the mounting holes line up on the Rhino Rack pioneer platform slats (extra drilling may be needed), and it leaves an ugly 3.7” gap between rack and rails on RTT, but man, it sure would streamline the mount/dismount process. I’m giving some serious thought to doing one of these two solutions myself.

I like these ideas! I don't mind the extra space on top of the rack if it means getting the tent on/off easier! It was a such an (insert expletive) to get the tent off with no space. These ideas once mounted, look like they'll save so much time.

That's why I come to this site. All the great advice. I also like the idea of the hoist linked earlier. I have a small city garage, so I'm always jealous of people that are able to build them in their garages.

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[spblat]

@BrianB and others, what's your height clearance with a rack and/or rooftop tent? I'm thinking my garage door opening isn't tall enough!

 

[Jeepmarkjl]

Maximus-3 Long rack with side rails. Guys at Max3 were great.

 

[OpsWest]

Maximus-3 Long rack with side rails. Guys at Max3 were great.

Would you be able to provide any close-up pics of how the rack mounts to the roof via the roof brackets? Can't seem to find any.

actually - found these from the installation guide in post #180

 

[Godzilla]

Jeepmarkjl - did you put the rails on after the platform was mounted? If so, was it a difficult install? I have my rails but have been waiting for a very long time for the hardware.... it's been an absolute goat rope getting all my parts from Rhino Rack - Maximus has been great though. I originally ordered in early June I think it was, and still have yet to have a full rack.

 

[BrianB]

@BrianB and others, what's your height clearance with a rack and/or rooftop tent? I'm thinking my garage door opening isn't tall enough!

It is about 7.5 feet tall with the rack and iKamper. I have the 2018 Rubicon with 33" tires.

 

[BrianB]

So you had the same problem I did trying to attach the tent to the rack. I wonder if there was someway to add around 3/4" to the space between the rack and the roof. Hmmm. I plan on taking my tent off during the winter, so I want to come up with a solution by then.

If you don't mind me asking, how far does that awning hang off the side of the Jeep? I really want an awning, but I don't think my tent would allow it.

Your tent looks like it hangs over the rack and I don't think the batwing awning will work for you. The awning attaches to the side rail of the rack. You can see one of my pics with my awning attached to the rack. It doesn't hang off the side too much.

 

[Jeepmarkjl]

Would you be able to provide any close-up pics of how the rack mounts to the roof via the roof brackets? Can't seem to find any.

actually - found these from the installation guide in post #180

Will take pics tonite and post

 

[Jeepmarkjl]

Jeepmarkjl - did you put the rails on after the platform was mounted? If so, was it a difficult install? I have my rails but have been waiting for a very long time for the hardware.... it's been an absolute goat rope getting all my parts from Rhino Rack - Maximus has been great though. I originally ordered in early June I think it was, and still have yet to have a full rack.

You mean the side rails on top? Yes I put them on after. But if I had to do all over again I’d put them on before going on top. Rhino rack as business in the US appears to be challenged on managing orders, inventory and shipping. They use some third party company that does their website too. Which needs some serious UX work. I look stuff up on their site then go buy from Amazon or now just finding stuff that can attach just stuff I d9nt have to order from RR. When u do get the rack it’s awesome.

 

[OpsWest]

Will take pics tonite and post

Ty - Was curious how the Rhino rack works mount.. I ordered and received the maximus-3 mount kit alone (no rack) and was going to install w/ w custom RTT bar for a specific tent.

 

[Jeepmarkjl]

Would you be able to provide any close-up pics of how the rack mounts to the roof via the roof brackets? Can't seem to find any.

actually - found these from the installation guide in post #180

Pics of the mount. The weird strips on the roof are sound deadening strips that will go under the hothead headliners that will cover the roof.

 

[OpsWest]

Pics of the mount. The weird strips on the roof are sound deadening strips that will go under the hothead headliners that will cover the roof.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Arkewn]

Got to test my camping cargo gear this weekend. Thule roof bars, sportrack cargo box, quadratec receiver cargo rack.

Seemed to work fairly well. Wind noise really kicks in with the roof box but otherwise no real complaints. Left the cargo box on (empty) while doing some light wheeling around and had no issues.

 

[bobzdar]

Hi all!
Can’t decide on what permanent rack I want yet so I’m wanting a removable solution for now. We’re new to the Jeep world and still seeing how we use it and what our needs are from a rack. One thing I know for sure is between a baby, an 80 lb dog, and my husband and I, we need more storage for even just basic camping trips. We’ve squeezed us all plus a tent and our bags, but there’s not room for the inflatable paddle board or any other extras.

SO! The guy at the local rack store sold me on Thule AeroBlades. Any thoughts on these vs. other non-permanent solutions? Also, deciding which basket to add? I’m asking because I just saw a Thule set up on another vehicle (not a Jeep) and didn’t love it. It looked like it sat up really high off the roof.

As of right now, it’s a very stock JLUR.

Would love your thoughts or experiences!

I have the Thule aeroblades on my wife's mini clubman along with a thule cargo carrier. So far we're pretty happy with them, unloaded they don't affect fuel mileage at all but make a little bit of noise. Not too bad, but she has a sunroof so if it's open it's noticeable. With it closed at certain speeds you can hear it faintly, but barely noticeable. They're unobtrusive enough that I don't bother taking them off.

I'm thinking about going with a Thule setup on the Jeep - I have the same as yours except with a black top - It's that or wait for the rhino rack JL backbone system. The JK system does require drilling the top, but you can still remove the roof bars and leave just the plates on the roof so, imo, very little downside while providing a decent amount more carrying capacity (264lbs for the 3 bar system). Given that you may want to go to a different rack in the future, I'm not sure it's worth paying the Thule premium. They're not cheap, though you can recoup a lot of it if you re-sell. Installation was pretty easy and their cargo carrier is great - opens from both sides, super easy to install and carries a lot while also not affecting fuel mileage appreciably, especially if mounted as far rear as possible. We were basically able to put everything that would fit in the trunk in the carrier (and it's the clubman, which is a wagon so a decent sized cargo area) to allow our dog to stretch out back there on long trips.

 

[Jeeperz Kreeperz]

Quoting myself below, as there are a few flaws in this idea - in case anyone else is considering it...

First, the slats for the Front Runner rack run side to side on a vehicle, and the slats on the Rhino Rack run front to back. This messes up the mounting method on the quick release mounts. At first, I thought, I could just slide the tent in from a direction that is 90 degrees different from the FR method. But as I look at the parts that mount to the rails on the underside of the RTT, I’m not sure that that would work. And I don’t have the guts to spend $299 to experiment on it!

Second, FR tells me the distance between the holes on the FR mounts is 8.0”. I have just assembled my RR pioneer platform (the long 76” version that Maximus-3 sells), and the slats are 9 1/8” apart (with the exception of the space between the outermost slat on side of vehicle and the next inboard slat - that spacing is less, at a little more than 6”). It appears as though the entire FR mount (whichever one you’re looking at) is only slightly longer than the distance between the holes. Not sure if there is enough meat there to drill holes that are 9 1/8” apart. Again, I’m not even willing to spend the $59 to experiment with the non-quick release version.

I plan to mount the rack to roof, and iKamper to the rack this weekend. I will dig out my cursometer, and measure the frequency of swears being uttered, and determine whether I need a solution to raise the tent off the rack a bit, and will report back!

@baggio16 you mentioned maybe adding space between the hardtop and the rack. What about a tall mount that would add the space (although, more than you asked for) between the rack and the tent - like this one for $59 from Front Runner: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/rack-accessories/front-runner-tent-mount-kit-tall.html

Or if you really want to help stimulate the economy, a quick release system like this one for $299 also from Front Runner: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.c...es/quick-release-roof-top-tent-mount-kit.html

It’s pricey at three bills, and you’d have to confirm dimensions to see how the mounting holes line up on the Rhino Rack pioneer platform slats (extra drilling may be needed), and it leaves an ugly 3.7” gap between rack and rails on RTT, but man, it sure would streamline the mount/dismount process. I’m giving some serious thought to doing one of these two solutions myself.

@BrianB thanks for all the detail, and tips. It seems the low profile Maximus-3/Rhino Rack combo is a bit of a two-edged sword: Looks great, and keeps overall height down, but makes it a bear to get the tent on/off.

@baggio16 you mentioned maybe adding space between the hardtop and the rack. What about a tall mount that would add the space (although, more than you asked for) between the rack and the tent - like this one for $59 from Front Runner: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.com/en/us/rack-accessories/front-runner-tent-mount-kit-tall.html

Or if you really want to help stimulate the economy, a quick release system like this one for $299 also from Front Runner: https://www.frontrunneroutfitters.c...es/quick-release-roof-top-tent-mount-kit.html

It’s pricey at three bills, and you’d have to confirm dimensions to see how the mounting holes line up on the Rhino Rack pioneer platform slats (extra drilling may be needed), and it leaves an ugly 3.7” gap between rack and rails on RTT, but man, it sure would streamline the mount/dismount process. I’m giving some serious thought to doing one of these two solutions myself.

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