DOM roof rack/platform
#76
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Finally installed a gas strut. It's a blown factory one left over from recently swapping out the hatch's. The action of it is kind of funny since it's mounted to it. Just as the hatch would feel when it opens, so does this ladder now. The support begins to take over lifting the ladder approximately half way through the swing - just before it's feather lite. As you then go to open the hatch (ladder all the way up), the ladder rises slightly and then begins to fall at about the same time the hatch reaches the top. This makes for a little drop of the ladder onto the hatch, I guess I need to make a little pad or something, because essentially the ladder is "closed" at this point (ya know, both open). Follow me? If you try to shut the hatch, the ladder will ride down with it and they'll both latch home simultaneously. You can stop the ladder from following the hatch closed and it'll return open unassisted. I guess that's what I meant for it to do; lol. I think it looks cool.
#78
No, I don't lick fish.
Nice man! I wasn't quite following your vision, but it makes perfect sense now. You gonna just roll with the one strut or do another one on the other side?
#79
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
Right?! Makes me wonder what the rest of the world is thinking when they're behind me in traffic.
Thanks! Probably just the one for now. The strut shown in the pictures is actually a tired one I pulled from my hatch after replacing those. I actually threw a brand new one on there yesterday and one is DEFINITELY enough. That thing picks up now! I had considered making a bracket that would "grab" the rungs of the ladder and provide me a place to mount a spare tire, so I would probably need two for that. I'm not sure how it would behave when both the hatch and ladder are in the open position though...
Thanks! Probably just the one for now. The strut shown in the pictures is actually a tired one I pulled from my hatch after replacing those. I actually threw a brand new one on there yesterday and one is DEFINITELY enough. That thing picks up now! I had considered making a bracket that would "grab" the rungs of the ladder and provide me a place to mount a spare tire, so I would probably need two for that. I'm not sure how it would behave when both the hatch and ladder are in the open position though...
#80
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Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Pasquotank, NC
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Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I recall from previous pages you mentioning hanging a tire from the rungs of the ladder with the option to hang it high for trail use and low for street use. But how will you then use the ladder as a ladder with a tire in the middle of it? I think the rear hatch will struggle to hold up the hatch, ladder, and spare tire together. It looks to me the lifter on the ladder isn't doing much when both hatch and ladder are in the open position. I'm no engineer though.
If I haven't said it yet, excellent execution of a well thought out plan. That platform and ladder setup looks good.
If I haven't said it yet, excellent execution of a well thought out plan. That platform and ladder setup looks good.
#81
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
I recall from previous pages you mentioning hanging a tire from the rungs of the ladder with the option to hang it high for trail use and low for street use. But how will you then use the ladder as a ladder with a tire in the middle of it? I think the rear hatch will struggle to hold up the hatch, ladder, and spare tire together. It looks to me the lifter on the ladder isn't doing much when both hatch and ladder are in the open position. I'm no engineer though.
If I haven't said it yet, excellent execution of a well thought out plan. That platform and ladder setup looks good.
If I haven't said it yet, excellent execution of a well thought out plan. That platform and ladder setup looks good.
Thanks for the compliment though, I'm super happy with it.
#82
No, I don't lick fish.
Oh, I thought the whole purpose of it was a spare tire carrier anyway with the ladder as a side-benefit. Yeah if you're doin' the ladder only without the tire on it, I could DEFINITELY see 1 strut being enough.
#83
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Location: Pasquotank, NC
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Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Platform solution figured out! Here's what you're gonna wanna do. Get some aluminum diamond deck and weld tabs to DOM frame work to inset decking to be flush with top of pipe. Fit up right, I think it would look and function well.
#84
CF Veteran
Thread Starter
That's been my backup plan, but ya know, you got me thinking... Maybe I do something like dzus fasteners so that it's easily removable? It would be cool to see the tubes between segmented panels with it all flush. Not to mention, I may not always want to have all three on there (two cross tubes currently).
Last edited by s14unimog; 04-26-2017 at 03:12 PM.
#88
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Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Houston, Texas
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Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
this is awesome!! way to go.
i had some basic ideas but might borrow some of these..
it is still a long ways off for me to start on mine though
i had some basic ideas but might borrow some of these..
it is still a long ways off for me to start on mine though
#90
CF Veteran
This is awesome! Now you mentally spent my monies on a tube bender instead of upgrades...Thanks IMO this is much better/safer than a hatch mounted even reinforced like the other company does. Ever flexed a cherokee now you have trouble opening and closing the hatch? Yeah I have frame stiffeners to install...lol