Alpha Expedition: Gobi Roof Rack.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 306
Likes: 1
From: Cedar City, Utah
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 15,170
Likes: 0
From: .
I bought a Gobi Stealth last September 2010 and I do a lot of desert expeditions with top loads of around 300 lb (which is the load limit set by the manufacturer). The rack is very well built but I have noticed several issues that I would like to share with All Gobi owners to know if u have a solution for it or I might be doing things wrong.
1. With the rack loaded, a clear sway on the high way is evident. Swaing from left to right in bumpy roads that makes the ESP system of the car blink. I need to find a cure for this swaying, may be adding more support on the rain gutters of the roof to prevent the swaying.
2. When loaded the support towers tend to lean backwards causing the top rack to touch and lean on the hard top causing damage.
I will be attaching a photo of the towers leaning backwards and away from the car body and the rack touching the roof. I might be doing something wrong with the installation.
Should anyone experienced this before and found a solution please let me know.
Other than that the Rack is awsome.
1. With the rack loaded, a clear sway on the high way is evident. Swaing from left to right in bumpy roads that makes the ESP system of the car blink. I need to find a cure for this swaying, may be adding more support on the rain gutters of the roof to prevent the swaying.
2. When loaded the support towers tend to lean backwards causing the top rack to touch and lean on the hard top causing damage.
I will be attaching a photo of the towers leaning backwards and away from the car body and the rack touching the roof. I might be doing something wrong with the installation.
Should anyone experienced this before and found a solution please let me know.
Other than that the Rack is awsome.
The towers should not lean. Something needs to be tightened or reinstalled. The Gobi should not shift or lean once it's installed.
JK Newbie
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Cairo
Sliding Support Towers for the GOBI
I was planning on buying the HD OME suspension lift, which I think will solve the swaying problem.
Attached is a picture of how the passenger side tower tend to slide backward when the rack is loaded. I reinstalled the rack after my first trip and the sliding was less however the rack still touches the roof top.
Attached is a picture of how the passenger side tower tend to slide backward when the rack is loaded. I reinstalled the rack after my first trip and the sliding was less however the rack still touches the roof top.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 15,170
Likes: 0
From: .
I was planning on buying the HD OME suspension lift, which I think will solve the swaying problem.
Attached is a picture of how the passenger side tower tend to slide backward when the rack is loaded. I reinstalled the rack after my first trip and the sliding was less however the rack still touches the roof top.
Attached is a picture of how the passenger side tower tend to slide backward when the rack is loaded. I reinstalled the rack after my first trip and the sliding was less however the rack still touches the roof top.
JK Newbie
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Cairo
I will reinstall the towers next weekend again, one thing I have noticed is that if the tower on the passenger side is properly aligned with the car seam, the underneath support bracket holes would not aligne with the 2 holes in the car frame and it would need to be moved a little bit forward to align the frame holes with the support holes, in that case the support towers will deviate slightly from the seam and hence when loaded it slides as shown.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 15,170
Likes: 0
From: .
I will reinstall the towers next weekend again, one thing I have noticed is that if the tower on the passenger side is properly aligned with the car seam, the underneath support bracket holes would not aligne with the 2 holes in the car frame and it would need to be moved a little bit forward to align the frame holes with the support holes, in that case the support towers will deviate slightly from the seam and hence when loaded it slides as shown.
JK Newbie
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Cairo
You are probably right as I think that I might have switched the passenger and driver support plates, but I think it should not matter right? But then again I might be wrong, but this is the only thing I can think of that could be wrong with the installations since it would not be possible to switch the vertical towers as this will be physically impossible due to their orientation structure. I will unscrew it all again and switch the plates and see how it will work.
Thread Starter
Sponsoring Vendor
Alpha Expedition
Alpha Expedition
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, Texas
YES the towel support it is indeed installed incorrectly. I assume the dealer you purchased from has already contacted with Paul at Gobi already based on the conversation I had with Paul?
JK Newbie
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: Cairo
I am in direct contact with Paul at Gobi as I bought it directly from them . He should be able to walk me through the problem as I will send him detailed pictures from underneath the car. I hope this will work, as I load the rack to its maximum and cannot afford it to break in the middle of the desert with all the fuel and water jerrycans on top.
Thread Starter
Sponsoring Vendor
Alpha Expedition
Alpha Expedition
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, Texas
Hey folks, starting Feb 1st, 2011 there will be a price increase of $100 to the racks, and free quick disconnects promotion will end. Place order from now till Jan 31th to lock in your lower cost before the price increase!
