Alpha Expedition: Gobi Roof Rack.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Central, IL
Running about a 5" lift, 37" tires inflated to 30psi, Gobi Roof Rack, all on what's probably the heaviest JK on this site, I average right at 10mpg.....sucks but I enjoy the thing too much to care. Really can't wait for the air damn to cut some wind noise.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 0
From: Beachside, FL
AHHHHHHH...I'm gonna storm the gates of Colorado and demand it now!!!
Haha, I fabricated one out of aluminum flashing and zipties in the interim; not too bad, noticed it has cut down on the windnoise at the header significantly, but now I'm getting wind flap in the rear cargo hold area of the soft top from changing the aero.
I haven't noticed any increase in MPG either...but I'm back to being able to have a normal level convo with a passenger at 60mph.
Can't wait until the actual fairing is out...I love that rack.
Haha, I fabricated one out of aluminum flashing and zipties in the interim; not too bad, noticed it has cut down on the windnoise at the header significantly, but now I'm getting wind flap in the rear cargo hold area of the soft top from changing the aero.
I haven't noticed any increase in MPG either...but I'm back to being able to have a normal level convo with a passenger at 60mph.
Can't wait until the actual fairing is out...I love that rack.
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
Got my Gobi rack on Friday. I got a rack because I fish and hunt and my last truck was a Suburban and I needed to haul my "Stuff", float tubes, pontoon boats and canoes. David and Gobi made shipping real easy to a different location than my apartment for assembly.
The unit was to be delivered within a time period and it came a little early which was great. Actual packaging of the unit was good but the cardboard box was almost destroyed. Inspection of unit showed the breakage of one of the plastic knobs on the front panel insert. I have called Gobi on this and I will let you know when they call back. We installed the rack and it looks great and it is almost over designed. Installation requires that you know how to read and follow instructions
My friends and I are in our 60's so we needed a "Party" of three and the beer to go around
Every thing fits remarkably. I see nothing to suggest it will not perform the functions it was designed to do. When I had finished I realized what a great time I actually had!
Random thoughts.
Yes it is noisy but I knew that coming in. Put a pipe out the window of a moving vehicle and it will make noise. Is the noise intolerable? Not for me….I own a Jeep!
Did I lose gas mileage? ( Think about that pipe
) Sure I did... maybe a mile per gallon or so at a cost of less that $200 in a normal driving year( 12000 miles). I will just forgo those new sunglasses. 4 wheel drive costs me more a year and I don't use it every day but... I own a Jeep
My satellite radio does not seem to affected but it never works that well in the deep forest anyway. I may have to turn up the volume. I guess I got lucky on that one but … I own a Jeep
I am concerned about the paint. The rack got a little scratched during instillation and it will probably rust at some point but I am sure it will last as long as I keep the Jeep. I average 12 years a vehicle although I have a 43year old car I bought new sitting in the garage. I keep things a long time and this is a quality product that met with all my expectations and besides … I own a Jeep
The unit was to be delivered within a time period and it came a little early which was great. Actual packaging of the unit was good but the cardboard box was almost destroyed. Inspection of unit showed the breakage of one of the plastic knobs on the front panel insert. I have called Gobi on this and I will let you know when they call back. We installed the rack and it looks great and it is almost over designed. Installation requires that you know how to read and follow instructions My friends and I are in our 60's so we needed a "Party" of three and the beer to go around Every thing fits remarkably. I see nothing to suggest it will not perform the functions it was designed to do. When I had finished I realized what a great time I actually had!Random thoughts.
Yes it is noisy but I knew that coming in. Put a pipe out the window of a moving vehicle and it will make noise. Is the noise intolerable? Not for me….I own a Jeep!
Did I lose gas mileage? ( Think about that pipe
) Sure I did... maybe a mile per gallon or so at a cost of less that $200 in a normal driving year( 12000 miles). I will just forgo those new sunglasses. 4 wheel drive costs me more a year and I don't use it every day but... I own a Jeep My satellite radio does not seem to affected but it never works that well in the deep forest anyway. I may have to turn up the volume. I guess I got lucky on that one but … I own a Jeep
I am concerned about the paint. The rack got a little scratched during instillation and it will probably rust at some point but I am sure it will last as long as I keep the Jeep. I average 12 years a vehicle although I have a 43year old car I bought new sitting in the garage. I keep things a long time and this is a quality product that met with all my expectations and besides … I own a Jeep
JK Super Freak
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clara, CA
I am concerned about the paint. The rack got a little scratched during instillation and it will probably rust at some point but I am sure it will last as long as I keep the Jeep. I average 12 years a vehicle although I have a 43year old car I bought new sitting in the garage. I keep things a long time and this is a quality product that met with all my expectations and besides … I own a Jeep
JK Super Freak
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 0
From: Beachside, FL
JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Southwest CT
Bingo! I made one out of some semi-rigid back plastic (and zip ties) with the same effect - much quieter up front, now flapping in back. I'm thinking I need a second strip of the stuff about half way back, maybe 1.5 or 2" high, just enough to get the wind over the cargo area.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 0
From: Beachside, FL
Bingo! I made one out of some semi-rigid back plastic (and zip ties) with the same effect - much quieter up front, now flapping in back. I'm thinking I need a second strip of the stuff about half way back, maybe 1.5 or 2" high, just enough to get the wind over the cargo area.
Hopefully someone there with an engineering degree developed something super amazing that completely eliminates wind/drag...or at least doesn't cause the back of the soft top to flap around.
JK Newbie
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Ellicott City MD
Quick Disconnects/Ladder
Banessi, I see you've got a hard top, but have you tried to tilt your rack back with those RR taillight guards?
As a heads up, I almost ripped my taillight off today. I put my quick disconnects on so I can put my soft top down and the bolt that attaches the ladder to the driverside vertical bar is catching on the top of the driverside taillight guard. I was able to minimize the problem by flipping the bolt head around to the other side, but still need to come up with a better fix, maybe a flatheaded bolt.
OFF TO LOWES.
As a heads up, I almost ripped my taillight off today. I put my quick disconnects on so I can put my soft top down and the bolt that attaches the ladder to the driverside vertical bar is catching on the top of the driverside taillight guard. I was able to minimize the problem by flipping the bolt head around to the other side, but still need to come up with a better fix, maybe a flatheaded bolt.
OFF TO LOWES.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,102
Likes: 0
From: Beachside, FL
Thanks again for the warning on this. I easily could have damaged something if I wasn't looking for this. I did find that the bolts that originally attached the rack to the light bar were a perfect substitute for that bolt of you just put it in backwards. It is round and perfectly avoids hitting the light guard. Thought you might like to know.
