Hooke Road Trunk Cargo Rack

[hambone44]

I'm looking at pulling the trigger on one of these cargo racks. It should help me better organize the gear that I carry often (storage box, compressor, tackle box, ruck, etc.) One aspect that I am hesitant about is I think I will lose the ability to store my roof panels behind the rear seat.

Does anyone have any experience with this type of rack? Any insights are appreciated.

https://www.amazon.com/Hooke-Road-Interior-2007-2023-Unlimited/dp/B0BKG1QTTQ/

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[AndySpill]

Given your listed needs, perhaps, rather than one of these fixed-in-place racks you might be interested in a GPCA Cargo Cover Pro: https://gpca.com/products/gpca-jeep-wrangler-jl-unlimited-cargo-cover-pro

I say this because the ballistic fabric can hold significant weight, and one side of the cover (it's reversible) has tie down points for the things you might want to keep secured above it.

Undoing this cover to fit your Freedom Panels, or even the occasional items that take up the majority of the cargo area's vertical space is much easier than unbolting a device like that you've linked.

(I own and like this cover but in no way profit anyone's purchase of it.)

Good luck!

 

[jludave]

Does anyone have any experience with this type of rack?

I love mine. Installed it a couple of months ago. Piece is well built and super simple to install. I run with a Sunrider for Hardtop year round, so I have no need for freedom panel storage in the back.

I had the GPCA cover mentioned above. Hated it. It never fit 100% right and always sagged no matter what I did. I don’t know if I had a defective cover, but I wouldn’t use one again even if they gave one to me for free.

 

[AndySpill]

I love mine. Installed it a couple of months ago. Piece is well built and super simple to install. I run with a Sunrider for Hardtop year round, so I have no need from freedom panel storage in the back.

I had the GPCA cover mentioned above. Hated it. It never fit 100% right and always sagged no matter what I did. I don’t know if I had a defective cover, but I wouldn’t use one again even if they gave one to me for free.

Dave is one of my favorite posters here and I respect him no less when we draw different conclusions.

I was thinking about a compromise:

https://ez4x4.com/EZ-Trunk/

Here's a non-sagging shelf that easily folds down for Freedom Panel and other vertically larger cargo area storage items...

 

[RatZero]

I've got one installed. Not the Hooke road but same design. If you intend on always having stuff stored in your Jeep that can fit on the rack, it's useful. Overlanding, camping type uses like being able to slide a fridge and a camp kitchen setup in and have a shelf over top for gear is my intention. I also intend on installing my radio gear to it as it's wireless and saves front cabin clutter.

That said, it does inhibit putting anything tall and long (New TV, furniture) in through the back. With the rear seats folded, it's manageable to get some things in through the rear passenger doors but you lose some access from the top to the rack. It's also not removable without taking the whole thing apart as it's a solid piece around each rear bar secured to the hard top base and the rack.

 

[Great Pumpkin]

The Hooke Road shelf is well worth it. It’s not the most expensive one out there, but it is well built and very strong. I believe you’ll like it a lot once you install it. One of the most practical things I’ve installed on the Jeep since I paid it off.​

 

[SherpaJeep]

I'm looking at pulling the trigger on one of these cargo racks. It should help me better organize the gear that I carry often (storage box, compressor, tackle box, ruck, etc.) One aspect that I am hesitant about is I think I will lose the ability to store my roof panels behind the rear seat.

Does anyone have any experience with this type of rack? Any insights are appreciated.

https://www.amazon.com/Hooke-Road-Interior-2007-2023-Unlimited/dp/B0BKG1QTTQ/

I have the Hooke Road one in my JLU Sport and love it! It’s the best option for a shelf in my opinion as it mounts to the roll bar and not on top of the factory roof mounts like the one in your picture. The one that mounts to the roll bar will still allow you to take the top off without any issues where the ones that mount to the side mount on top of the hard-top lip you will have to take it apart to take off your top. I had one that mounted to the side and it was too much work to take off my hard-top so I replaced it with the Hooke Road one that mounts to the roll bar. It’s very solid and I just finished doing three days camping trip on the rubicon and had lots of stuff strapped down to it with no issues. I will note that I need a cargo net in front of any of them to keep loose stuff from flying on those steep down angles…. Here is the one I bought: https://a.co/d/09ZWyEqp

 

[hambone44]

Thanks for all of the options. I have some decisions to make. I like the versatility of the GPCA, but I worry about sagging. Looks like the price of the Hooke Road rack increased by $30 on Amazon so I have some time to think about the options or just wait until the price comes back down. At $165, I like the value. I appreciate all the input!

 

[dlong1119]

I also have the alternate style Hooke Road shelf that mounts to the roll bar and am quite happy with it. I added a piece of rubber mat in it so that things didn't slide or rattle. It occasionally is in the way of loading something large, but I can have it removed in about 2 minutes if needed.

The best way to remove/install that I've found is to put a bucket underneath it with a folded towel or moving blanket wedged between them for support, then I use my impact driver to zip out the 4 screws securing it to the roll bar and you can then carefully slide it right out the back with the brackets still attached. Install of just the reverse of that.

 

[John VonJeep]

I have the AAL rack and it is built like a brick shithouse. Feels like you could hang the Jeep off of it. It also doesn’t have the legs that this one has, thus freeing up more space. I’m a buy-one-cry-once kind of guy, but I totally understand the value prospect of this rack.

https://americanadventurelab.com/product/jeep-jl-mass-cargo-shelf/

 

[BXFXJeep]

I also have the alternate style Hooke Road shelf that mounts to the roll bar and am quite happy with it. I added a piece of rubber mat in it so that things didn't slide or rattle. It occasionally is in the way of loading something large, but I can have it removed in about 2 minutes if needed.

The best way to remove/install that I've found is to put a bucket underneath it with a folded towel or moving blanket wedged between them for support, then I use my impact driver to zip out the 4 screws securing it to the roll bar and you can then carefully slide it right out the back with the brackets still attached. Install of just the reverse of that.

Rubber mat, thanks for the tip, I have the Hooke Road cargo rack for the SOT, zero complaints.

 

[rcadden]

If you get a Sunrider then you wouldn't have to worry about where to store your Freedom Panels.

 

[dlong1119]

Rubber mat, thanks for the tip, I have the Hooke Road cargo rack for the SOT, zero complaints.

Yup, rattles in my vehicles drive me absolutely insane! I forgot they market this one as for the SOT specifically, but I think it's a better design and don't see why it won't fit a standard hardtop Jeep either.

 

[BXFXJeep]

Yup, rattles in my vehicles drive me absolutely insane! I forgot they market this one as for the SOT specifically, but I think it's a better design and don't see why it won't fit a standard hardtop Jeep either.

It will fit any Wrangler, but the bracket uses the soft top mounting points, so with the SOT those points would not be needed, but with a hardtop, people doing softtop swap, it would be an issue.

 

[rdfact]

I have the Hooke Road rack OP linked and the freedom panels do not fit standing up behind the rear seat. But they will fit if you lay them down flat in the storage bag.

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