"Off-Season" Planning - 2024 Jeep Projects

[bthomp]

Most of my favorite trails are closed now for the season, so now it's time to think about the new year that is upon us on what Jeep projects make sense. Back at the start of this year my wife and I decided to do local vacations only this summer and save money that we would have spent on flights, etc. As a result, we were able to invest in Jeep-stuff (lots of camping gear, winch, side steps, rear cargo bags), which was a great strategy and I'm thinking that next year I may try the same approach.

Curious what projects everyone is planning for next year.

Me - I am just starting to think about a roof rack and an awning. If I can find a rack that works on a SOT and is easily removable (so far not an easy item to locate, but I'm just getting started), that will be my next project. I've seen a lot of good looking low-profile racks on hard tops, but with the SOT, the rack is going to be taller, and so I don't want it on all the time. If anyone knows of a sleek roof rack that works with SOT, please call it out.

Also - do all awnings require a roof rack to mount to? And are there awnings that are made to / easy to remove during the off-season? I've found lots of threads on awnings, and which ones work well in the wind, etc, but I haven't found ones that talk about their ease of removability when not needed.

Thanks, as always.

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[Ratbert]

I'm not aware of a removable roof rack that works with the SOT. Technically the ARS system is removable, but you'd still have the mounting hardware attached. Do you have a large area set aside for the rack to be strapped to the roof of your garage or something?

Note that the ARS exoskeleton is significantly beefier (2") than the alternatives (Gobi, etc.).

 

[bthomp]

I'm not aware of a removable roof rack that works with the SOT. Technically the ARS system is removable, but you'd still have the mounting hardware attached. Do you have a large area set aside for the rack to be strapped to the roof of your garage or something?

Note that the ARS exoskeleton is significantly beefier (2") than the alternatives (Gobi, etc.).

Good info, thanks. The thought had been to hoist it up in my garage. I have 12 ft ceilings, so long as the support poles for the rack are removable it should be good.

 

[Ratbert]

Good info, thanks. The thought had been to hoist it up in my garage. I have 12 ft ceilings, so long as the support poles for the rack are removable it should be good.

I'd be happy to show it to you if you're considering it. I'll most likely be going to the Mile High Jeep Club meeting on Dec 21st.

 

[Heimkehr]

Curious what projects everyone is planning for next year.

2024 will be the fourth year with the original batteries in situ. If they reach the end of their practical service life during that calendar year, and if I decide to go all in, I'll be buying and installing the Genesis dual battery kit.

As for the intangibles, so to speak, I do hope to attend at least one or two Jeep-supported camp-and-ride long weekends.

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