Yakima Raingutter mount to 2 Dr Hardtop
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,154
Likes: 0
From: Forest Hill, Maryland
I was going to go with the hitch rack, but you have to have bick hitch rack and then you have to buy the ski/snowboard add on, right? I think each costs about $200, so the total cost ends up about $400. If you go with the roof rack, I thik it's going to be about $350. This is the reason why I am leaning toward the roof rack, not the hitch rack. I really like the hitch rack as it seems to be easier to load and unload, though.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,907
Likes: 185
From: Maine
I am surprised no one has mentioned how bad an idea it is to mount a rack to the removable freedom top panels, especially with BOTH cross bars on the panels, as suggested in a previous post.
There isn't much holding those panels on. Yeah, a snow board doesn't weigh much, but there will be a tremendous buffeting wind load on the board, or on anything else you decide to put on the rack.
I bring this up as food for thought for the OP, since this point had not been addressed.
JKjunkie2009's solution is best for a 2dr. It is mounted on the solid portion of the top, not the removable panels.
There isn't much holding those panels on. Yeah, a snow board doesn't weigh much, but there will be a tremendous buffeting wind load on the board, or on anything else you decide to put on the rack.
I bring this up as food for thought for the OP, since this point had not been addressed.
JKjunkie2009's solution is best for a 2dr. It is mounted on the solid portion of the top, not the removable panels.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Boise, ID
I have a Thule setup on my Unlimited and it does very well. I bought the towers off EBay last year for a really low price and got the crossbars locally for the market price. I have had them on through freezing weather without problems at all. One thing I did was take off the Thule bolts that secure it and replace them with stainless hardware to make them more secure, since my towers are the older ones without the locking bolts. Let me know if you want pictures.
The total cost of this setup altogether was less than $100.
The total cost of this setup altogether was less than $100.
Yes, I would like to see the pictures!
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Boise, ID
You stated that your not handy enough, but I promise you its not a hard task!!!
I went to the local junk yard and pulled some tracks off a Isuzu Trooper, and cross bars off a Jeep Cherokee and made sure it all fit together! With some tinkering, i got the parts i needed. Then I headed to the Hard wear store to pick up some nuts, bolts, washers, and rubber gaskets! Roof Rack= 26$ Hardware- 13$.
I went to the local junk yard and pulled some tracks off a Isuzu Trooper, and cross bars off a Jeep Cherokee and made sure it all fit together! With some tinkering, i got the parts i needed. Then I headed to the Hard wear store to pick up some nuts, bolts, washers, and rubber gaskets! Roof Rack= 26$ Hardware- 13$.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Boise, ID
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Boise, ID
I am surprised no one has mentioned how bad an idea it is to mount a rack to the removable freedom top panels, especially with BOTH cross bars on the panels, as suggested in a previous post.
There isn't much holding those panels on. Yeah, a snow board doesn't weigh much, but there will be a tremendous buffeting wind load on the board, or on anything else you decide to put on the rack.
I bring this up as food for thought for the OP, since this point had not been addressed.
JKjunkie2009's solution is best for a 2dr. It is mounted on the solid portion of the top, not the removable panels.
There isn't much holding those panels on. Yeah, a snow board doesn't weigh much, but there will be a tremendous buffeting wind load on the board, or on anything else you decide to put on the rack.
I bring this up as food for thought for the OP, since this point had not been addressed.
JKjunkie2009's solution is best for a 2dr. It is mounted on the solid portion of the top, not the removable panels.
Yes, if I were to carry larger stuff, I should put bars to the rear of the hardtop. Right now, I am thinking I would just carry snowboards and skis, I might just go rain gutter.
If I want to carry more stuff on top, I might have to drill holes to the top..
JK Newbie
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: mississauga, ontario
my setup was very simple and easy to install. i purchased the thule rain gutters and 50'load bars off of craigslist for $50 and i got the Thule 925 roof rack for another $100.
the setup took about 20 minutes to install without any instructions. i wouldn't put the gutters on the freedom panels as it puts to much stress on it. i secured mine to the rear of the hard top.
check mine out. i still need to buy a fairing to reduce wind noise and drag. i drive about 150 km's to get to the hills and worked fine.
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/atta...1&d=1264794513
the setup took about 20 minutes to install without any instructions. i wouldn't put the gutters on the freedom panels as it puts to much stress on it. i secured mine to the rear of the hard top.
check mine out. i still need to buy a fairing to reduce wind noise and drag. i drive about 150 km's to get to the hills and worked fine.
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/atta...1&d=1264794513
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Boise, ID
Just an update
So I went with rain gutter mounts with the 2 door. Both sets are sitting on the fron freedom panel. It has been working very for last two months. I've even done a four hour high way round trip with two snowboards sitting on the rack. The only problem is the wind noise.
It has been working well.
It has been working well.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Toledo, OH
I have a bad habit of pushing things beyond what I reasonably should. I once ran three bikes on a yakima raingutter mount on my 4 door hard top. Like a previous poster mentioned, I ran them a few inches from the ends and expected to crack the gutters, but they survived (two hours of mixed highway and country roads).
The forces generated at the gutters by the height of the cg's of the the three bikes worried me. I would not hesitate to run a snowboard or three. I'd try to keep the boards located behind the windshield as much as possible to minimize the effect of buffeting by the wind spilling over the windshield if you can.
That said, I agree the rear mount looks like the way to go.
-Joel
The forces generated at the gutters by the height of the cg's of the the three bikes worried me. I would not hesitate to run a snowboard or three. I'd try to keep the boards located behind the windshield as much as possible to minimize the effect of buffeting by the wind spilling over the windshield if you can.
That said, I agree the rear mount looks like the way to go.
-Joel
JK Newbie
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Lincoln Park, NJ
You stated that your not handy enough, but I promise you its not a hard task!!!
I went to the local junk yard and pulled some tracks off a Isuzu Trooper, and cross bars off a Jeep Cherokee and made sure it all fit together! With some tinkering, i got the parts i needed. Then I headed to the Hard wear store to pick up some nuts, bolts, washers, and rubber gaskets! Roof Rack= 26$ Hardware- 13$.
I went to the local junk yard and pulled some tracks off a Isuzu Trooper, and cross bars off a Jeep Cherokee and made sure it all fit together! With some tinkering, i got the parts i needed. Then I headed to the Hard wear store to pick up some nuts, bolts, washers, and rubber gaskets! Roof Rack= 26$ Hardware- 13$.