Greetings, Thought I would share a write-up for an interior cargo rack I just finished. I recently installed a sub box and wanted to get back some space. I run with a hardtop on almost always so wanted it to work with the hardtop on. It would work with or without though. I purchased a HF atv cargo hitch / rack for $25 (coupon). Purchased (2) 3/4" square steel tubes from Lowes to match the tube size of the rack and cut to fit inside. I believe at 62". Purchased some screws and various threaded turn knobs. All harware is 1/4-20 in size. Drilled holes and cut away lower corners for seatbelt obstruction. Filled holes in tubing with furniture end caps. Assembled the rack but modified it by notching the bar so the rack would lay flat on the 2 rails. Also used 3/4" tube instead of the supplied cargo hitch center piece for the middle. Dry fit and drilled for hardware. Primed and bedlined. Installed with (4) thumbscrews on edges for easier removal. Installed and pleased thusfar. An honest $100 in the whole project. Will expand or add more to it when I get time. Thanks

Forgot to mention that I filled the rails with sprayfoam insulation so it wouldnt rattle after I primed it and before paint. Also used screw caps for the phillips head side of the hardware.

Well done. I am looking to do something similar. I just bought a basket for my roof rack and modified it to fit my application. :thumbsup:

Sweet.....

Nice. I am working in the same. I just want to make it that it can flip up as well...

Great idea. Looks like it will work well.

so, I typically fly under the wifeys radar when it comes to moddin' the JK....and when she finally notices something new--I deny, deny, deny!!:yup: (She still has yet to find out that I bought and installed my sPOD; although she has seen the switch panel, and I think she thinks I fabricated it) HA! :rotflmao2:

In any case, this one would be noticeable, and being I recently just put a basket on top of the JK and was criticized, I decided to let her know what the next mod was...and she APPROVED.:rock::beer::ya:

Nicely done! That looks great.

Nice job, I actually plan on picking one of these up today as to use as a hitch basket on my JKU. I also saw on another site where someone bolted two of them together and made a very economical roof rack.

That looks really good, I need to do something like this. :thumbsup:

Nice very nice :thumbsup:

Great idea! I am going to do this. For the area's you cut on the rack and the metal tubing, what did you use to cap the ends?

Thanks! I used 3/4" plastic furniture end caps. They are located in the odds and ends hardware drawers in Lowes. I think I may have snapped a photo...if so I'll post it.

Pretty sweet! Been looking at low cost options myself. Thanks for the write up!

Looks awesome will be doing this soon but for soft top. Wife stole the jeep with hardtop lol

This is exactly what I've been wanting to do. Now I just need to find one of those HF coupons.

My rack is about to come in the mail. Can you take some better pictures of how you bolted it to the hardtop. You had to drill new holes to secure it to the hardtop? Thanks for the post yours looks really good.

I initially wanted to use the existing holes for the hardtop attachment but their location prevents a straight bar on the holes nearest the back seat. In order to keep the rack design simpler I just drilled 4 new holes in the hardtop and tub rail. Just be mindfull of the wire loom under each lip of the tub on each side. The rack support rails are attached by a thumscrew knobs and flange bolts. If running a soft top just unscrew the 4 thumbscrews knobs and the rack is removed entirely. If running a hardtop use the 4 thumbscrew knobs to attach the support rails separately then screw the rack to the support rails. Just one extra step to put it in for hardtop.

I just order the same cargo rack but I'm hoping I can figure out a way to attach this without drilling any new holes. Maybe another bar that runs along the hardtop rail? I'll post up any successes I have.

Do share. Im sure I could have made it more thought out, but the overall concept is the same for anybody willing to experiment: HF rack for cheap to assemble as you see fit...3/4 steel tubing to match...a little paint. For $100 you cant beat it.

Ill put up some better photos shortly.

More closeups...

I just ran my 3/4" square tubing from left to right and matched it up to existing holes for the hardtop. Placed the rack on top and lined up a single piece of tubing parallel to the cross member on the rack and bolted them together. I used a pair of adjustable hose clamps to secure the other piece of tubing to another cross member that did not line up parallel.

Got any pics?

I just finished a similar DYI rack. Mine mounts to the roll cage, no new holes in the Jeep, well except for the roll bar cover.


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^^^^ very nice^^^^

^ where did you get the triangle brackets from? There are a perfect fit.

Sent from my recliner

x2 !!!

side plates on roll bar
 

where did you get side plates?

Magic

nice wracks

Op you spelled ragrets wrong in the tatoo....:doh:

Great job!

Could you please tell me where did you find the net which separates the cargo area from the rear seats? Which model is this?

Thanks a lot!

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods...

Thanks A'sJK for the idea and write-up! I made a few changes and happy with the result. I like being able to stow the freedom panels on the trail and keep some supplies organized.

^^^looks great

I did the same, but was able to use the same bolt holes the hardtop uses. Currently I'm running with my soft top so not sure what kind if modifications I'll need when I put the hardtop back on. I had a friend do the welding of the supports.

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Looks good. I'm still working on a way to hing mine so it folds up.

It is from a company called Safari Straps.


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Glad you like them, I made them from 18 awg sheet.

My siberian husky thanks you! :-)

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods...

Thanks to all
This is my version :cool::cool:

Thought I would post some pics of my storage setup. I had been running a JKU and switched back to a TJ for a while before going back to a JKUS a few months ago. I have finally gotten my rear storage set up done.

My 47qt ARB Fridge always seemed to become too high to look into and I decided this time I would keep it on the floor of the Jeep. I had an ARB slide and decided to install it on the passenger side of the rear compartment to be closer to the plugs. I made a custom bracket and installed the ARB HD wiring kit for the fridge as well as another 12-volt outlet tapped off of it. This mounts using one of the hardtop bolts and a Streamlight Flashlight mounts on top. This light utilizes the factory plug down low. My ARB LED light uses the other outlet and the ARB uses the HD wire.

I began by making a plywood floor the shape of the reversible Jeep floor mat. If I did it again I would make the left side the full width to protect the plastic. I had originally used ½” plywood and double it. I later just used one sheet which made the board lighter and still thick enough to use. I may just use ¾” if I did it again. I then stapled an $8 floor mat I purchased at Ollies to this. The back is not 100% covered. There is no hole down to the storage area. I secured the board to the floor by using a 1” ratchet strap fished through two holes which surround the factory tie downs. The end towards the tailgate is not tied down so that I can lift the board to gain access to the storage area if necessary.

This worked well for giving me easy access to the fridge, but I wanted a shelf above and the Bestop plastic storage tray would be great – if a kit was made to fit the JKU. Since I purchased the Bestop tray and tailgate mounting kit I had half of what I needed. I decided that I would just by the JK interior kit and make it work somehow.

The Bestop rear bar that goes close to the tailgate worked fine. It would keep the tray above the fridge. I just needed a way to keep the end close to the seats raised. When I measured it, it appeared I needed about 23” – the exact same length of round tubes that came with the tailgate kit. I decided I would rob these pieces. I installed the second Bestop brace to the forward part of the tray and then made vertical supports from these pieces. A bolt goes through them and then a Bestop support bracket underneath takes the shear load off the bolts. The bottom of these supports attaches to some brackets that I had. These are all secured to the board using some nutserts installed through the bottom of the plywood.

The forward part was secured, but the rear bar bolt holes needed to be redrilled to be vertical and line up with the tray holes. I flipped the rear bar 180 degrees to line up better and made my holes. The rack does not wiggle one bit. I then bolted some small aluminum trays I had built to the vertical supports over the wheel wells. These use 2” ARB straps to hold my AEV Jack Base, jumper cables, and rain gear.

The tray sits just above the back of the rear seats and does not interfere with their folding levers. Once the fridge is in place, there is room for 5-6 Pelican cases under and on the tray. I mounted to small gear bags underneath to carry incidentals. I replaced the tailgate tubes I stole with some 1” square aluminum tube and will use this to carry my Hi-Lift Jack 48” Bar –the rest of the jack is in the case.