Hey, I am tired of having my spare tire in my trunk blocking my view out of the rear driver side quarter panel window and would like to move it onto the roof. I have the stock roof rack system that came with the Jeep when I bought it and was wondering how some of you guys are putting your spare tire on the roof utilizing the two cross bars.

Are you just spacing the cross bars far enough apart to accomodate the spare tire and then strapping it down, if yes then what is your method for strapping it down?

How many of you think this may look dumb on a stock Cherokee?

 

I think it looks good. I know alot of guys put their spare on their roof racks and I used to too until I saw a picture of one that failed. I can't remember if it was on this forum or another, but in the picture the interia of the tire moving around pulled the attachment nuts right out of the roof. Heres a picture of what holds your roof rack on(at the end of the screwdriver):



They don't even have the bearing surface of a 1/4" bolt on its own. If I wanted my spare on the roof I'd either make, or invest in a gutter mounted roof rack. Sorry to be a pooper

 

I think that it would work if I moved the cross bars together to "squeeze" the tire and then use A strap to hold it in place in two different directions...

 

I wonder what kind of a hit you take on the MPG?

 

I don't know but my gas mileage isn't great anyway. I go through a tank in one week, and I can't figure out why.

 

I would grab some Emt tubing and build a rack for it to go into and and bolt it down to the rack because you don't want to ever take a chance of that coming off your roof. I built a rack for 100.00, looks good too

 

Have you looked at a rear bumper spare mount? I am thinking of doing that myself so I can go to a full size spare. The jury is still out on that one as it is somewhat costly.

BTW, I get 18-20 MPG in my 2000 XJ typically, depending on "how" I drive it.