Thanks Dave. New site looks great!

 

Saw this rack today for the first time in person on HammonTroy's JK...thing is SOLID...definitely on the list of things to do...damn list keeps growing.

 

OK, got the axe and shovel on. Hi-Lift arriving any day now. Got the first kayak installed and figured out proper Yakima cross bar length needed (ordered). Functionality for us is really starting to come along. Just need to finish with other kayak install, rack lights, and CB radio and we will be just about there.

Well, except for the power thing. I definitely need a supercharger to make this vehicle truly functional and driveable. Going over Teton Pass yesterday was outright embarrassing. I'm talking downright pitiful and pathetic. I'm pretty serious about the supercharger and am fairly committed to the RIPP after initial research. Just worried about implications on warranty.

I took the extra (optional) panel out to see if it made satellite radio reception better. No dice. Too much crap on the roof so will have to relocate Sirius antenna.

Here is updated gallery showing the Jeep's progression. I absolutely love this Gobi rack and could not imagine putting anything other on my Jeep.

http://gallery.me.com/jerrykessler/100520

Jerry

 

I picked up an XM antenna for $20 on the open box table at Best Buy, and ran the wire through the driver's side dash pass-through. Reception is pretty much back to where it was without the rack, which is to say barely passable.

 

Nice looking Jeep Jerry San. The Sirius antenna is located on the passenger side almost directly under the mid-rack trianglular tubing support brace. The good news is that it is easily movable. The better news is that once moved, it gets better reception than before I even installed my Gobi rack.

With the top off, I unzipped and peeled back the roll bar cover from the passenger side, just forward of the sound bar. You'll see the current antenna at this point. I determined that due to it's shape and mounting requirements it was easier to replace than move but you may be more resourceful.

Using a 13mm socket, remove the four bolts holding the steel roll bar gusset plate to access the under side of the existing antenna. Carefully lift and flip it over, feeling for the antenna wire that runs back down the B pillar. There's enough slack to pull it out and expose the yellow connection to the extension wire.

Unplug the wire and plug in a magnetic Sirius low profile antenna - runs about $20 at Best Buy. You now have an extra 21' of wire to run anywhere you want. I simply moved mine over 14" and up 2" to the front of the steel on the top of the sport bar.

Replace the roll bar gusset plate, zip up the cover and done in 15 minutes!

Scott

 

OK, using a piece of scrap luan and a strip of vinyl weatherstripping I made a prototype wind deflector that eliminates almost all wind noise with the top off at 40 mph and about 75% at 50 mph and higher. Worked well enough that I could clearly hear my wife bitch about having to drive around with plywood on the front of the Jeep...

54 1/2" across at the bottom, 54" at the top, (bottom arc scribed to match windshield), 6 1/2" high and just zip tied to the Gobi frame at this point.

So, if Gobi isn't making anything, at least I know it is possible and well worth some fabrication time. Maybe smoked plexi, maybe painted 12 gauge steel or aluminum. My only worry is it won't be finished looking enough for the wife. Might spoil her "Jeep mojo"...

 

Lets see a pic.

 

 

Just had conversations with Paul & Sandra @ Gobi.

Paul tells me they will be producing an aluminum fairing but not until fall. I think that with that knowledge, I'm just going to get a strip of 3/8" or 1/4" smoked plexiglas and zip tie it on temporarily and hold out for the production piece.

He also indicated that the quick releases are done, and Sandra later called to confirm my address to ship one out today.

Once it's all together, I'll take pics and try and figure out how to post them.

Scott

 

That is great news!!!!!!!