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JL Sliding Roof Rack

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Bgs133

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I'll assume the question serious. Bill maybe I am missing something but racks like this one and the Gobi don't connect to the top.

Are you worried that the accumulation of fabric towards the back of the roof won't clear the rack when the power top is opened?

Apologies if I appear snide. I may be missing a very valid point at your end.
That's exactly my concern. It seems it may be a bit too much fabric to clear any type of rack when the top is fully open.
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RussJeep1

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@rkammer @Bgs133 : it would be a shame if the distance between the cross members can't be adjusted to accommodate this small section of roof space where open top fabric might accumulate: power or soft top alike
 

RussJeep1

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I don’t ge it. What’s the purpose? Slides and then what? Is it supported or just drops on the side of the car? Please someone enlighten me.
It would be nice if one or more of the cross members was a telescoping pole that could detach at the opposite end to the slide, and then the attached side rotated down 270 degrees and extended to support the rack horizontally when slid.
 

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It would be nice if one or more of the cross members was a telescoping pole that could detach at the opposite end to the slide, and then the attached side rotated down 270 degrees and extended to support the rack horizontally when slid.
Only needs to rotate 90•:giggle: if it goes the other direction, but yes, that would make more sense.
 

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RussJeep1

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Only needs to rotate 90•:giggle: if it goes the other direction, but yes, that would make more sense.
Fair point. Say you've pulled the rack out over the driver's side. You're seeing it as dropping the cross member 90 degrees to the ground, that's attached at the most distal side to the rig at this point...

yes..that would make more sense than flipping it 270 degrees in the other direction, up in the air (as came to my mind) to end up at the same place.

I hope it has such a feature, and I hope it's implemented the way you describe.
 
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RussJeep1

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I really like the concept, at least as some of us have wished it to be, and while I by no means can speak for @lodoffroad , I would like to say that sometimes it's hard for developers to answer specific questions prior to release given the nature of patents. So if he doesn't respond to specifics, I wouldn't conclude he doesn't want to, just that his patent council has advised against it until the patent office grants approval, and for what aspects of the design.

One of the best defenses against intellectual theft is for the patent applicant to NOT disclose what aspects of the design they've sought patent protection for: which they are not required to do. If the patent is approved, it then becomes a matter of public record.

Competitors, which @lodoffroad cannot be certain anyone reading here is not, are then left to risk the cost of developing similar designs, only, once the patent is granted to be at the receiving end of cease and desist orders if their designs infringe upon said approved patents.
 

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imapseudonym

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Will it work with a soft top and be able to fold the top back while rack is slid over to the side? Looks awesome so far
My main question as well! We're going soft top this time on the Jeep and finding a compatible roof rack for our tent is the biggest challenge. We're waiting for a gobi order which will probably take 10 months :p
 

Akbill

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My main question as well! We're going soft top this time on the Jeep and finding a compatible roof rack for our tent is the biggest challenge. We're waiting for a gobi order which will probably take 10 months :p
Not sure why the fellow who posted the concept drawing is not responding, but in another thread I provided some info after calling them. they had a similar sliding rack already for the JK that slid to the back; the new model slides to the side instead of out the back end. Believe it or not the old rack when slid all the way back and only 3-4 inches still in rack frame, could support 300#, go to their website and see! It was designed so you don't have to unload your cargo to open your soft top. they have pictures of an adult and two kids standing on the end of the rack pulled all the way out! This one will likely have the same spec at least since it has much less distance hanging out in the air due to it sliding sideways. I don't know if the rack cross bars are movable, but based on the instructions for the prior model, it should just be a matter of drilling two holes in the rack frame to relocate a cross bar, but hopefully LODO will answer the questions posted on this thread.
 

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RussJeep1

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Believe it or not the old rack when slid all the way back and only 3-4 inches still in rack frame, could support 300#, go to their website and see!
Bill, as much as it's a tribute to the engineer of this cantilever, this 3" on the JK may not be enough on the sideways slide of the JL version to open a soft top (we'll have to see). Then again, it looks like the JK version would have made such top opening possible, and I would be surprised to hear that the JL version of the roof rack lost such functionality available in the JK version (or else why not go with the JK slide back design--unless it was licensed.)

There are I believe Federal (and/or State) limits to how much things can be built out off the sides of vehicles and remain street legal: say 4" on either side. Unlike with the rear slide you point out in the JK design, if that rack top does not sufficiently clear the roof in sideways motion, getting a soft top open, let alone the clearance once open (say in Sunrider mode) to put the roof rack portion back in place may be troublesome.

Eventually, these answers will be available to us.
 
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Hey all, sorry for the delay, it is the weekend ya know:rock:. You're absolutely right, the purpose of the sliding rack is to allow full use of the soft top! And yes we intend to provide a two door version some time after the 4 door JL version is released. Keep posting your questions, needs and wants! We'll get to all the other questions on Monday. Have a great weekend!
 
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rkammer

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Hey all, sorry for the delay, it is the weekend ya know:rock:. Your absolutely right, the purpose of the sliding rack is to allow full use of the soft top! And yes we intend to provide a two door version some time after the 4 door JL version is released. Keep posting your questions, needs and wants! We'll get to all the other questions on Monday. Have a great weekend!
Would this work with the soft top in the sun rider position?
 
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