ive got the old style plastic roof rack but the rummers are metal and bolted to the roof. if i weld up a lightweight frame with a way to mount it inside the old tracks will it be strong enough to hold??

 

thats how i mounted my home made roof rack. i am running to the junk yard to pull 2 more cross bars to throw up there. i think with 4 crossbars it will be fine.....i dont carry any thing over 100 lbs up there anyways. just makes your center of gravity way higher. i think spares on the roof is just stupid.

 

I dont have any roof rack simply because it changes your center of gravity. however if you keep it light (a sleeping bag and tent when you go camping, that kind of thing) i wouldnt worry about it too much.
i agree that spares on the roof is not a very smart idea for anyone. making a rack strong enough to hold a spare is just going to make it even more top heavy.

 

I have a full top hat rack(drip rail mount)& have had it full with no problems. I don't store my spare up there but I've hauled plenty of stuff up there across many states at a time with no worries. I've carried a full set of 33" tires & wheels, tool box, totes ect. I've had it stacked 2' high & no room for another item! I don't wheel with anything up there but I definitely wouldn't worry bout hauling anything up there on a highway or interstate.

 

i made mine out of 1'' galv electrical conduit i couldnt break it if i tried

 

I just made one out of 1" and 3/4" EMT, it's cheap and surprisingly strong!

 

If you find yourself in a position where a flop might occur, I highly doubt the weight of a 35 lb spare on the roof rack is really going to factor in, just my 2 cents. XJ = 3500 lbs aprox., you based on an average 200#, all at a lower cog than the tire on the rack. If your gonna flop, your gonna flop, if you get in that situation I really dont think it would be the tire on the roof rack making the difference.

 

I'd have to agree with this logic.

 

like i said couldnt break it if i tried...and i tried