man that's a cool way to carry your bikes.
Great Job.
____________________________________

1988 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer 4x4

 

Here is what I ended up with. Cheap and super easy.

 

I have to ratchet my Kona Stinky to the roof, downhill bikes are a new story

 

I about bought a kona fire mtn..went diamondback instead.

 

yup, i know what you mean.
i have a 65lb gravity rig too.

 

I like that idea and I've got two of those mounts laying around from a previous setup. I also have two bikes, one is a road bike with a carbon fork. Do you think that would be too much stress on the fork hanging it like that?

 

My preferred way:


but I have been known to :

 

$12 used at SAVERS, can pull a trailer while hauling 3 bikes, and not get my bike ripped off the roof when I drive into my garage.

Hardly "advanced" tech. Old school tech maybe

Real bikes are built, not bought

 

Those are great mounts... if you hook the straps on right, you can still raise your hatch with the bike on too... just have to make sure your struts are up to par.

 

I have Thule feet and load bars on my old daily driver which I am selling to the next guy who will be putting his kayaks on top, so I am left with the challenge of somehow mounting my Thule Peleton 517 bike trays to the stock XJ roof bars which are wide and flat compared to the Thule square tube load bars. I do not want to spent $400 bucks on a Cherokee specific foot pack and new 58 inch load bars, and really want to use the stock jeep roof rack bars on my 01 XJ.

Not sure if there is an adapter kit for this, or if I will be making my own U bolts or brackets to get the bike tray mounted up there and have it be nice and snug.

Thanks for any help or ideas,
Squelchtone

[EDIT: I just went out side and put the Thule bike tray on top of the factory rack bars and I have an idea. I could use the stock U bolt and carriage bolts and plates IF I drill a hole for one of the bolts in the front and rear factory roof rack bars. Would water and eventual rust be of any concern if I make these holes? I dont want to end up buying new factory load bars but drilling them and maybe putting in silicone caulking into the holes as I insert the bolts sure would make quick work of this small project.]

 

There's always a concern with rust on exposed metal. If you use a good sealant like a marine-grade silicone or seam sealer, you should be fine. I have a hole drilled through my roof for my roof-light wiring and I have a plastic wire grommet as well as some heavy duty GE marine-grade silicon. Been up there for about 1.5-2 years now... Hasn't leaked the first time and no rust!