Alright yall, i'm at the point with my XJ that i'm using my roof rack a lot more and we all know how em factory ones are. I have plans to build a new more "heavier duty" one with the rail style, i'm not a fan of the "basket" style racks. I'm running into the problem of fabricatin a mount that'll go on the rain gutter trim pieces. Has anyone ever made mounts the the gutters? If so how, what did ya use, gotta thread i over looked on it?

Thanks in advance,
Redwolf

 

You could buy gutter mounts. A few companies make them. Pretty simple to make as well. I'm going to make some soon using 1/4 inch steel for my plates and angle iron for the lip of the rail. Drill a hole in each one and put a short bolt with a nut on the back side. Tighten it down to clamp it to the rail.

 

JCR Offroad made the ones I used. Total fire and forget system. Once I put them on, I never worried about them moving or loosening; heavy duty and affordable as well.

 

Both above options work the second is not that much cost for the quality of mount. Or I opted to use a Olympic base for my homemade rack because I liked it and was fast to just buy one.


My rack cost me about $40 made from EMT and part of a used sheet of expanded metal. The base was quite a bit more.


It does attach to the stock roof rails and the stock rack can be left on.

 

got any step by step picture intructions? i've never actually seen how other jeepers mount their gutter mounts
i know JCR makes em, i've looked at em already but can't afford to buy anyones gutter mounts right now. Plus i have scrap metal layin around the house that i could make some out of for next to nothing,

Redwolf

 

I would suggest looking at the store bought mounts for ideas on how to build your own .

 

pictures

 

The JCR fab ones are sweet. Welded right on no problems. You could bolt them on too if you wanted.