So my roof rack was recently ripped off my Jeep in the garage I park in at my building. Long story short, I narrowed down the day/time, but not the person. The rack was ripped off and placed in the closet where my doors were, in the back..

Anyway, I'm going to be putting it back on. The roof rack holes on the roof itself are stretched/rip. I'm wondering what I should use this time. It had long u-bolts with wing nuts, but it was torn off. I was thinking stronger bolts, but also getting a different type of u-bolt, and putting that at each corner of the rack, bolting it to the roof. I'm also considering mounting my spare up there, I just have to check the height of the garage door. I'm also contemplating wrapping barbed wire around it. For looks and a purpose. The guy who did it, did it within a 4 hour window, during the day, at a busy time. So I feel barbed wire would have slowed it down or made it harder.. If another guy comes prepared with gloves or something, then he can have it. But I'm wondering how legal that'd be.. I'd also of course carry gloves and thick blankets if I ever needed to haul something haha.



Any thoughts?

 

Buy a gun.

 

Park it near cameras if you can. The only thing I could say is put more bolts on to make it take longer.

 

Fender washers.

 

I would definitely be carrying, but Chicago/Illinois doesn't allow us to protect ourselves.

Unfortunately it's a garage with attendants to park our cars, and it was one of them that did it, so they have access to my keys whenever it's there. I'm going to be trying to get a spot next to their office, which is on camera (one of two cameras in the entire place), and I'll hold onto my keys.

I'll keep that in mind!





Does anyone know the legality of barbed wire on the roof rack? Aside from possibly inconveniencing me a little, since I'd need to carry gloves/thick blankets, do you think I'd get away with it? I mean it's only on top of a lifted Jeep, so it's not like someone can accidentally touch it.

 

Any other ideas? I'm also still wondering how legal barbed wire on my rack would be haha.

 

You have contacted the police of course?

Welding is a good way to keep it attached. If you need to remove the rack, weld some loops next to the rack, then have a lock system (like those kryptonite locks).

You can also put in a security camera...which is extreme, but if you want security, there are meansto have it. Think baby monitor style!

 

Well, I was initially going to, but I ended up finding the rack next to my doors an hour after I found it was missing. It's a long story, but I park in a garage at an apartment building that has 24 hour valet/attendant service. I know most of the guys since I see them often, always nice to them. I believe one of them had to have done it, since I saw on the security cameras it was done in late June, during a 4 hour window, since I came home from the store, then left later that day to go out, I came in with it, left without it.. The boss of the garage, and the boss' boss questioned the employees, and of course, no one knows anything... I was told going to the police wouldn't do much, since technically the rack wasn't "stolen"..

And I thought about welding it, but I don't want to do that right away. Since I have plans to expand the rack to cover my full roof, I think welding would make it more difficult, but once it's expanded, I'll weld it for good. For the time being, I'm thinking of cutting the bottom of the rack so my 33x12.50 spare fits into the garage (6'9'' door), then maybe bolt that to the roof itself, trapping the roof rack between it. Then I kind of want to add barbed wire for looks and of course to prevent people from touching it..

 

If it happen again, before the rack modifications. I would claim a lot more was missing from your vehicle. If they are the only other people with keys. I personally think they where screwing with you.

 

Well that's the thing, nothing else appears to be missing. I don't keep much in there anyway. My radio faceplate was plugged in still, my old tool box with a few select older tools are there, as well as my various parts I've swapped from my XJ.

 

As long as you are considering running a bolt through the roof for a spare anyhow, run a giant eye hook or u-bolt through with a plate underneath and top, tack weld the bolts on the top side to the plate so they can't be turned and use an eye-catching heavy bike lock. Then they can move on to screwing with someone else's car.

I understand the appeal of barbed wire or high voltage, but you run the risk of being sued if someone hurts themselves ("oh, I was reaching up there to retrieve some trash and I cut my arm wide open")

 

That sounds like a good option. And as far as the barbed wire, I thought about adding little disclaimers near it.. Might end up being more of a hassle than it's worth. Now high voltage on the other hand.. haha. I'll definitely look into what you mentioned though. Sounds like the best thing to do.