Roof rack gutter mount "WARNING!!!!!
 

If you have a roof rack with gutter mounts WATCH YOUR GUTTERS
Here's what happened to mine after 4 yrs of my rack being in use my drivers side gutter failed. Here are pics of the way mine was set up and what happened.

My roof rack with tire and high lift mounted on drivers side.

http://thumb10.webshots.net/t/58/158...0uWNkBj_th.jpg

The rear mount came through the gutter opening the body above & below the gutter.

http://thumb10.webshots.net/t/77/77/...0kRZhhV_th.jpg

http://thumb10.webshots.net/t/77/77/...0VlxQoO_th.jpg

http://thumb10.webshots.net/t/90/90/...0ISgeva_th.jpg

And it was starting to do it at the front mount too.

http://thumb10.webshots.net/t/90/90/...0jKTnyt_th.jpg

CHECK YOUR GUTTERS OFTEN !!!!!!!

WOW!
that's some hefty damage :(

That sucks! Won't be having gutter rack mounts

Yep I'm going to have to modify the mounts to spread the contact area out.

Not my best repair job but I only had 1 day to get it done in.

http://thumb10.webshots.net/t/96/196...0QgcvGJ_th.jpg

http://thumb10.webshots.net/t/96/196...0FYZVSy_th.jpg

That wouldn't be the first time I've seen a roof rack cause that, That is the reason I wont run a roof rack

A rack that has been properly loaded and mounted shouldn't have that problem.

Weight distribution goes a long way.

Gutter mount racks are much stronger than roof mounted ones. I pity the fool who decides to mount a rack, carrying a spare, directly to the roof, instead of properly mounting it to the gutter.

Some versions of the ARB rack (and probably others as well) have a full length "insert" that connects all of the mounting feet together but distributes the load over the entire length of the gutter. And for good reason. Should be easy to replicate.

Just something to consider.

x2

Full length, that gives me 2 ideas a solid pc of 3/8" round stock welded to the bottoms of the mount feet to fit in the gutter or a pc of 3/8" - 1/2" pipe with 2 slots cut in the to fit the mount feet ,that should spread it out.

I would like to hear how this is so?

I have always avoided gutter mounted anything.

The factory roof rails are bolted to nutserts that are installed in (relatively) thin gauge sheet metal.

The gutters are twice the thickness as they are made up of 2 sheets that are spot welded together and gutter mounts clamp around the gutter.
The only downside to how cherokee gutters are formed is that the lip is simply a piece of molding held on by 4 clips. would be better if the lip were part of the formed sheet metal.

If given the choice I would always go gutter mount vs. factory cherokee roof rail.

Of course, if the roof rack is poorly- or over-loaded then it doesn't really matter how it's attached. a few years of driving washboards and flexing the hell out of the unibody is going to work harden the sheet metal around the mounts and they WILL fail.

Wow, that's a new one on me!

To share a couple thoughts...

Looks like you have 2 mounts per side? Probably a bit light given the load you're carrying up there. Also, how think are your mounts? Too thin and they'll act like a chisel with each bump you hit until they cut through like this.

There's not a lot of space behind the gutter trim pieces and the roof for fatter mounts. I use 1/4" thick gutter brackets, and they're tight. I also use 6 per side on my bigger racks, and have never seen this type of damage, even hauling some pretty heavy stuff up there.

Again, take it or leave it, just sharing my roof rack thoughts and experience with you. Gutter mounting isn't bad if done properly! Roof mounting isn't neccesarily bad either for the right application. Never say never, there's always an exception to every rule!

hmm im going to order a couple more mounts for my nates4x4 rack after seeing this...

Mounted my surco straight to the factory crossbars. Surco sent fukd up gutter mounts anyways. Kinda glad now

LOL.

Factory crossbar mounting a rack carrying spare will fail far before gutter mounts will. Sorry, but if you fail to realize this -- I applaud when misfortune befalls you with the crossbars.

Actually the owners manual notes it is rated to 150 lbs.

I agree with b .lee my mounts are thin maybe 3/16" and that doesn't spread out the weight much. Im going to look for pipe that will fit in the gutter and cut slots for the mount feet to slide into ,that will give extra thickness and spread out the weight.

Hell I need some mounts that will fit my 88

The previous owner of my 89 had a gutter mounted rack, and thats the way my gutters look as well. I am getting kinda skeptics about the gutters being the strongest place to mount a rack. I'm currently fabricating beefed up mounts for my stock roof rails. I will post a link when I'm finished with them, probably this weekend.

pics are dead...man I hate that.

:redx:

No reason to be a jerk about it. Wtf.

I have the "rock ratz" spare tire carrier on mine. It mounts to the factory rack and even though it has been bashed on a few branches, driven all over wash-board roads, and been covered in snow and ice it has had no problems. The rock ratz uses a few of the factory bars to help stabalize the tire but once you get it tight, there is no movement up there.

Just my 2c. I have had 0 problems mounting to the factory rack.

As promised here is the link to my beefed up rail mounts. Ended up working pretty good so far.