After much anticipation my MBRP Roof Rack arrived last week so naturally I immediately took to installing it (pics to follow of the finished product soon, the JK is at the shop getting paint on the new AEV hood). Here are the suggestions I have if you're planning on installing the MBRP rack.

I followed the install instructions on the drivers side and had an issue with the rack matching up to the holes/brackets. After following the install instructions on the drivers side this is what I did on the passenger side....

-Loosely install the brackets with the hard top bolts nearly hand tight
-Using the templates and brackets mark the lower holes only.
-Remove brackets.
-Drill lower holes.
-Loosely install the rack with lower bolts to hand tight.
-Mark the top holes from the exterior.
-Remove rack.
-Drill top holes.
-Reinstall rack and all hardware.
-Return to instructions.

 

Thanks for the info...I also recieved my rack but am waiting to install it because the brackets have not arrived yet. I bet it looks good, I will take pictures as well when I get mine on

 

Good advice. This rack is on my list of future mods. If you get a chance, post some pics.

 

ok i promised pics of my rack installed as soon as she came back from paint but then NW FL was hit by a freak monsoon....so after much delay here they are









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Looks cool!!

 

i spent a total of probably 3 hours to install the MBRP rack....not too bad....had some issues with the brackets and templates lining up but other than that pretty straight forward....it does help to have a second pair of hands around (mainly for holding things in place).

 

Not fair at all.. they need to come up with something for my soft top. Rack looks great.

 

if i hadnt gone with the MBRP rack id have gone for a Garvin Wilderness Rack (i had one on my 2dr JK and loved it)....they are pricey but worth it in my opinion (much like the MBRP rack)

 

I love the look of the MBRP rack, I may have to get one of those, I am nervous about drilling through the top in multiple places though

 

i completely understand youre feelings....i went as far as to buy the AEV heat reduction hood so that i wouldnt have to drill into the hood for my snorkel.......but with roof racks you really only have three options 1) drill into the hard top 2) drill into the tub 3) buy a rack that is a direct bolt on (i think the GOBI racks are that way) of course there are goods and bads to each

1) hard tops are replaceable (+), rack is permanently fixed to top and if you remove the top you also remove the rack - (although if you run a hard top with no intentions of removing it then thats not a (+/-) depending on the bracing system may not hold as much as tub mount - (MBRP's bracket system actually distributes the load to the tub so (+)

2) with most body mount racks hard top is still removable while allowing the rack to stay on (+). you have to drill into the tub (-) making the rack a permanent part of your jeep (potential -)

3) hard to find (-), and usually expensive (-), not permanent (+)