Sky one touch with rack

[FORDGURU]

So I’m set on another JL rubi

i want diesel, my wife likes the sky roof
we will be somewhat over landing and need the interior space (kids and dog) so I will most likely do a rack

question, will a rack work with sky and anyone currently have one

should I scrap the sky idea?
or just take a rack on and off?
thanks all

Sponsored

 

[Jeep Wick]

So I’m set on another JL rubi

i want diesel, my wife likes the sky roof
we will be somewhat over landing and need the interior space (kids and dog) so I will most likely do a rack

question, will a rack work with sky and anyone currently have one

should I scrap the sky idea?
or just take a rack on and off?
thanks all

I know Gobi makes a nice external rack that should clear. What about a hitch mounted cargo carrier or is that too small?

 

[AndySpill]

A fair number of vendors have out racks or rails with higher clearance--either by general design or expressly built for the Sky One Touch--to accomodate the Sky One Touch's need for more vertical space in the folds it creates when opening.

http://tinyurl.com/yps762y4

 

[ROK HEMI]

I really enjoyed the sky one touch. It is quiet. It is watertight. It is reliable, it opens and closes quickly, and really gives you a window to the world. It is very nice to have a wide open top, and be able to close it within 10 seconds if you need to.

I often wonder about the roof rack as well. I have not needed that much space yet and like to avoid putting weight up high, but if I had to do it, I would get the sky one touch and just not use it when I needed to have the rack on, and I would remove the rack one not necessary. If you think you're gonna need the rack on a daily basis, then the sky one touche is out.

 

[John VonJeep]

The Sunrider for Hardtop is an outstanding alternative to Sky One Touch. Yes, I realize it doesn’t open as far, but you can open and close it in about 7 seconds each direction. Gives a nice open-air feel.

And when you want the total hardtop experience, you just pop it out and reinsert the Freedom Panels. It’s the best of all worlds and will work with most any roof rack that works with Freedom Panels (which is many of them).

 

[AndySpill]

The Sunrider for Hardtop is an outstanding alternative to Sky One Touch. Yes, I realize it doesn’t open as far, but you can open and close it in about 7 seconds each direction. Give a nice open-air feel.

And when you want the total hardtop experience, you just pop it out and reinsert the Freedom Panels. It’s the best of all worlds and will work with most any roof rack that works with Freedom Panels (which is many of them).

John, @John VonJeep the Sunrider by Bestop is an awesome product and suggestion on your part, I think.

That said, I'm not sure that all racks, even ones when Freedom top openings exist, allow it to fully open. For example, Bestop's rack (no surprise) does:

https://www.bestop.com/products/gra...eep-2018-2023-wrangler-jl-4-door/?sku=4147101

John @FORDGURU I have no horse in this race. I own the product, and this complementary one https://www.bestop.com/products/the...2018-current-wrangler-jl-2020-2023-gladiator/

and this one for the hard top, no less a concern for racks than John's @John VonJeep suggestion:



Then there's this: https://www.clearlidz.com/products/...MI5KDztaaIhAMVxE9HAR07ZwATEAAYASABEgJur_D_BwE

The issue is money, not options!

 

[manapiko]

I love our SOT. Wouldn't change it for anything.

Know that you will find only one or two gutter mounted racks that will let you open the top ,while they are mounted. They are the extended height legs and then your cross bar of choice.

There are a few exo racks that also clear, I think maybe 3 total. If you want a full length rack with some higher levels of weight, this is the way to go.

Also know that the side profile of the SOT roof is thicker than the standard roof. So a lot of gutter mounted racks dont work at all, let alone being able to open the top.


Edit: my experience is that I've tried a few racks on our SOT.

 

[Ratbert]

Something like this from Adventure Rack Systems? Note that their tubes are 2" and are significantly beefier than the 1.5" stuff that Gobi uses.

That was on the Rubicon Trail.

 

[Westymike]

yes, Adventure Rack Systems has one for SOT. From experience, just keep in mind that anything on top of the SOT JL's can cause weird wind stuff (buffering).
https://adventureracksystems.com/jl-wrangler-4door-pro-rack-system-sky-top-edition.html

 

[Gruffid]

I found that DeeZee has a high capacity rack that might work with the SOT. It has support feet that are situated to put the load on the roof, rather than the gutter. I don’t know if they are positioned to touch on the fiberglass sides or if they’ll touch the SOT fabric.

https://www.deezee.com/product/roof-rack/

 

[tegorman]

I absolutely love my SOT! I don't know that I would have another jeep without it. I have also looked at racks. But my question to you is what do you intend to put on it? If you are thinking a RTT, then my suggestion is to get something like the Gobi Rack which is like an exoskeleton. I wouldn't want to ask the rain rails to support several hundred pounds.

 

[AndySpill]

I absolutely love my SOT! I don't know that I would have another jeep without it. I have also looked at racks. But my question to you is what do you intend to put on it? If you are thinking a RTT, then my suggestion is to get something like the Gobi Rack which is like an exoskeleton. I wouldn't want to ask the rain rails to support several hundred pounds.

..and to further Tom's point, it's not just weight of the objects you wish to place on top but, their shape.

To point, stick a surfboard on a rack, say, which nobody denies is on the lighter side of things in weight you could stick on top, secure it down well, and take the vehicle at significant speeds and expect the board's tendency to want to lift in the wind to apply torsional forces to rain gutter based rack systems.

I'm not suggesting that a rain gutter based rack like Bestop's with its significant number of attachment points can't handle that, but a two cross rail system might be put under strain.

Contrast that with an Adventure Rack System, as highlighted prior, and if you had the super human strength, you could practically lift your Wrangler up over your head, upsidedown, by grabbing on to that rack it's so sturdy.

 

[greige]

In order to put an awning and hub tent on my roof, I got the below, which works very well. I take it all when out of camping season and hang it in my garage.

Thule Wingbar Evo 150 (60”), Black https://a.co/d/3b1KkS9

Thule Rapid Gutter Foot Pack https://a.co/d/8w9xqvx

The aero bars make a little more noise, but not bad. Sky top never seemed affected by the bars.

 

[Gruffid]

Check out the deezee roof rack. It’s got a really high capacity (compared to other gutter mount racks) and a member recently successfully tested it with the SOT.

 

[1BadDad]

Sponsored