Looooong time lurker - infrequent poster here - I think I'm posting in the right place so hold the flames if not please.....

That said feel free to flame my style choices here. Homebrew platform rack 1.5x.75 rectangular tube steel. I'm torn on the rack paint color. I love the body color matched mounts....and was really confident in the silver paint on the rack when I installed it. Now having second thoughts and wife and brother think I should black it out. My pops likes it silver. Second two pics I photoshopped to see what black would look like in a couple of combinations. I think blacking the wheels is a mistake - these classic teardrops just don't catch the blacked-out vibe imo.

For anyone who cares: 98 Limited in Boss Green Pearl (yeah I said it - best XJ/TJ color ever), Selec-Trac, 8.25, d30HP, 4.0 of course... 2 or 2.5" of OME front and rear, full springs and shocks set. The thing is 99% rust-free (soon to be 100% rust-free) aside from surface stuff here and there. It has 2 problems - hood needs to be replaced or repainted (boo) and it has 240k miles. Everything except suspension is OEM and I did the big 5 or big 7 wiring upgrade. I guess tires are slightly up from stock - 235s.... It runs like a champion, compression test is A+. Long story but this was a State Farm insurance 'evaluation' vehicle, and then spent its life in Arizona until I bought it with 180k... for 3500.00 That was 7 years ago and I am more in love with this thing today than I was then.

ANYhooo - what say you about the roof rack color? And if the rack should be black then how bouts the wheels?





As it sits now with silver rack (same paint color as on wheels)

Blacked Rack w/Wheels to match

Black rack only

 

The way it is now looks fine to me.

Personally I am not a fan of black wheels 99% of the time.

 

Thanks, appreciate it.

 

I like the black wheels.

What about a compromise? Accent the wheels with some black...

 

My rule of thumb is it has to have contrast. If the color of the body is darker, go with lighter wheels. If the color of the body is lighter, go with darker wheels.

 

I like the silver rims, keep it classic. As for the roof rack both silver and black look great, I'd probably stick with the silver if it was me. Never thought about colour matching the rack mounts before but after seeing how well it works on your xj I might have to try that too, whenever I get around to building a roof rack that is

 

This is an excellent point. Thanks

 

Thanks - I don't hate the black wheels, and an accent is a cool idea.

Actually, I have been wanting to do a two-tone with the silver and then the body color in the 'wells' of the teardrops - if that makes sense. I had a 99 WJ that had gold/silver like that...but black would look good as well. I have added just a little bit of black already, in the lower rocker area for instance.

 

Thanks - keeping it 'classic' is more my style for sure and just feels right on this particular example. The wheels have been refinished once since I bought it, cheap but well-prepped rattle can job with Duplicolor Wheel paint. I am stunned at how well it's held up, but on close inspection, they are due now. I will probably have them properly blasted and powder coated this time around.

 

Have you thought about painting the rack the body color? That would be different for sure. Otherwise, I prefer black to help it disappear. I have never understood people who bring attention to the parts that make a vehicle functional but don't add to the aesthetics(like hinges on wranglers, door handles and lock cylinders).

As far as the wheels, what about painting the painted insets black and leaving the raw aluminum on the "spokes"? I can't totally picture it but maybe someone and photoshop up a pic.

 

So this is exactly what the wifey thinks and actually 60% of the time I agree 100% of the time. Her words were "it doesn't look like it came that way" and I agree it doesn't quite look factory and black probably would look more 'oem' - which is typically what I'm going for... I'm starting to lean toward painting it black. Definitely going to keep the wheels silver, and likely body match the insets, which would give a similar effect as using black I think....pop the teardrop shape a bit more. They did this on same era Grand Cherokees and it was pretty sharp, although I wasn't a fan of the gold.

I was chatting with a random guy today in the parking lot at Menards who stopped to compliment the Jeep and he thought the whole rack including the mounts should be the same color either way. I thought that was an interesting take and makes sense. The whole thing same color, silver, green or black, might make seem less diy....

And honestly, that roof box is only on there about 6 weekends a year, just happened to be the picture I used in this case - and the silver is even more obvious when there is nothing on it.

Yeah.... leaning toward black. I did like that it's 'different' than every rack out there, BUT that is in direct conflict with it looking factory, like I have been going for all this time.

One bonus would be I could use a tougher finish. The silver was prepped and sprayed right - it's holding up amazing actually (Duplicolor Wheel Paint - what you see on the wheels is almost 6 years wear on the same stuff) - but there is this nagging 'don't scratch it up' feeling when I throw stuff up there - and this jeep sees action so it's going to take abuse. I'm not trying to baby it or anything but touching up that silver coating just to prevent rust will get old fast.




Just for funsies. This was a few days after I removed the factory rack and was testing the new mounts and planning out the rack that is on it now with materials I had laying around.

 

I think the decision is made... Black rack. Thanks yall. I couldn't very well just go with what the wife said just because she said it. My son is actually the one that will be most disappointed. He is still firmly in the silver rack camp!

Next project - the world's most minimal and stock-looking overland capable bumpers with receivers and a 'portable' winch plate. I saw some that looked good, they shape right into the stock fenders very seamlessly on the front and the rear...., and IIRC the front one actually fit with the front end caps.... can't remember exactly, but they were very pricey and I'm ready for another fabrication project. I'm not looking ram down trees or zombies. Just want to have stout recovery on both ends and the ability to put a winch on in the worst of cases or for very select/rare situations like hitting an offroad park and getting stuck on purpose. For what we do, if we can't get out with traction boards, or a pull from a friend - then we've seriously miscalculated something.

 

I really like the idea of body matching the insets. That would look cool!

 

Those wheels were available in various colours, I have some that are all silver & some that are grey & silver, but they also came in gold, red, white and, yes, green. That would be my choice - but replicating the factory finish would be a real pitta.

 

I'll try to remember and post some pics if I get it done any time soon. Wifey used to drive a 99 wj limited, it was I think emerald green or some kind of forest green, and the wheels had the gold insets. I actually still have one that I use on my spare, but I painted it like the others in the pics. So your saying they made these silver with green insets from the factory? And red?? I've seen the silver and gray ones all.over the place.