B. Lee's fully welded roof rack
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 845
Likes: 2
From: near Chattanooga, TN
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
No-weld, some weld, some screws, bolted-together, nah, I'll weld 'er up!
I also figured, why build a tiny rack? I may find out why one day, but this one's big. 71" long and 50" wide, 1/4" thick gutter mount brackets, and tough as nails. Frame is 1" tube, small uprights are 3/4" tube. Plenty of room for a 36" spare tire (mount coming soon), a high lift (mount coming soon), and a couple coolers, a tent, etc. Why go small?
I'll get some better pics as soon as a I can, but here's the general idea...
It's also for sale, thread in the For Sale forum.
I also figured, why build a tiny rack? I may find out why one day, but this one's big. 71" long and 50" wide, 1/4" thick gutter mount brackets, and tough as nails. Frame is 1" tube, small uprights are 3/4" tube. Plenty of room for a 36" spare tire (mount coming soon), a high lift (mount coming soon), and a couple coolers, a tent, etc. Why go small?
I'll get some better pics as soon as a I can, but here's the general idea...
It's also for sale, thread in the For Sale forum.
Last edited by b. lee; Nov 16, 2011 at 10:57 AM. Reason: better pics
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 845
Likes: 2
From: near Chattanooga, TN
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
Pics in the rain are better than pics at night, right?




Last edited by b. lee; Nov 16, 2011 at 12:08 PM. Reason: fixed picture alignment
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 845
Likes: 2
From: near Chattanooga, TN
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
Thank guys, I still haven't ruled out another set of mount brackets, but it seems pretty stout like it is.
I'd have to imagine that if I overload it with these mounts, 1. I'm carrying too much crap, and 2. I'm carrying too much crap!
It should easily hold a tire, a cooler, and some other lightweight stuff like a tent, and still take a beating on the trail.
I'd have to imagine that if I overload it with these mounts, 1. I'm carrying too much crap, and 2. I'm carrying too much crap!
It should easily hold a tire, a cooler, and some other lightweight stuff like a tent, and still take a beating on the trail.
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Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 50
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From: Canton MI
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
So im in process figuring out how to do my rack. Ur mounts 1 side goes into the channel and other grabs the outside and is notched to slides and bolted up to hold it tight? Is that how u have it rigged? Thanks ahead of time!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 845
Likes: 2
From: near Chattanooga, TN
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
Not sure what you mean about notches and slides. Yes, the main bracket sits in the channel, the clamp is "L" shaped and clamps to outside of channel and bottom of "L" catches underside of gutter channel. All clamped together with a single bolt. 1/4" in this pic, I've since upgraded to 5/16" bolts.
Hey man, who bent the pipe for you?? What kind of pipe did u use?? I'm fairly savvy fab wise, just unsure of how to bend pipe so perfectly without a bender (which maybe that's the only way...). This is exactly the kind of rack I'm looking to make for my rig. Thanking you in advance.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 845
Likes: 2
From: near Chattanooga, TN
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
Tex, I bent it, and yes, a bender helps! 
I built this thing initially to make up for my lack of a truck bed, being a new convert to a Cherokee and needing a family wheeler. That was a big reason for these dimensions, to fit a piece of plywood IN it, vs. strapping in on the roof. (I also build plywood boats & need to still haul some lumber and plywood around)
Well, it works perfectly for this! Of course my pics are on my other computer, so i'll post them in the AM, but it'll haul all the plywood you feel like hoisting up on it!

I built this thing initially to make up for my lack of a truck bed, being a new convert to a Cherokee and needing a family wheeler. That was a big reason for these dimensions, to fit a piece of plywood IN it, vs. strapping in on the roof. (I also build plywood boats & need to still haul some lumber and plywood around)
Well, it works perfectly for this! Of course my pics are on my other computer, so i'll post them in the AM, but it'll haul all the plywood you feel like hoisting up on it!

Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Canton MI
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Hey man, who bent the pipe for you?? What kind of pipe did u use?? I'm fairly savvy fab wise, just unsure of how to bend pipe so perfectly without a bender (which maybe that's the only way...). This is exactly the kind of rack I'm looking to make for my rig. Thanking you in advance.


