TJ Hardtop Roof Racks?

Hey everyone,

I'm thinking of getting a TJ with a hardtop, but have a bit of a
problem. I need to be able to carry two Ocean Kayaks on top - with the
top on. Does anybody make a roof rack for the TJ's hardtop and how much
can it carry? If not, does anybody know of a hitch mount goal post type
thing for the back with something that uses the windshield frame for the
front or another goalpost setup for the front? Anybody got any pictures
of how you do it?

Thanks for any help.

-Clappy

Clap Trap wrote:

> Hey everyone,
>
> I'm thinking of getting a TJ with a hardtop, but have a bit of a
> problem. I need to be able to carry two Ocean Kayaks on top - with the
> top on. Does anybody make a roof rack for the TJ's hardtop and how much
> can it carry? If not, does anybody know of a hitch mount goal post type
> thing for the back with something that uses the windshield frame for the
> front or another goalpost setup for the front? Anybody got any pictures
> of how you do it?
>
> Thanks for any help.
>
> -Clappy

TJ hard tops have a hard enough time holding themselves up without
adding weight. They tend to sink in the middle. I'm not sure I'd put
much on top of them.

tw

> TJ hard tops have a hard enough time holding themselves up without
> adding weight. They tend to sink in the middle. I'm not sure I'd put
> much on top of them.
>
> tw

The two kayaks together weigh around 120lbs so I expect to have to put
some reinforcement on the inside. Maybe some aluminum channels or
something. I could probably make a block that would fit between the top
and the roll bar so that the fiberglass didn't actually carry any load.
Hmm - maybe I'm onto something there...

Clap Trap > wrote:

>
>> TJ hard tops have a hard enough time holding themselves up
>> without adding weight. They tend to sink in the middle. I'm not
>> sure I'd put much on top of them.
>>
>> tw
>
> The two kayaks together weigh around 120lbs so I expect to have to
> put some reinforcement on the inside. Maybe some aluminum
> channels or something. I could probably make a block that would
> fit between the top and the roll bar so that the fiberglass didn't
> actually carry any load.
> Hmm - maybe I'm onto something there...

You'd mentioned a hitch mount device, that could support the rear of
the kayaks and the front could be supported by the windshield frame.
It shouldn't take much to design something like that....


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>> TJ hard tops have a hard enough time holding themselves up without
>> adding weight. They tend to sink in the middle. I'm not sure I'd put
>> much on top of them.
>>
>> tw
>
>
> The two kayaks together weigh around 120lbs so I expect to have to put
> some reinforcement on the inside. Maybe some aluminum channels or
> something. I could probably make a block that would fit between the top
> and the roll bar so that the fiberglass didn't actually carry any load.
> Hmm - maybe I'm onto something there...

I would recommend something like this:

http://www.garvin-industries.com/

tw

I had a Kargo Master Safari rack on top of my 99 TJ. Mounts on the rear
lights and on the front windshield frame. Very sturdy.

Carl

"Clap Trap" > wrote in message
...
> Hey everyone,
>
> I'm thinking of getting a TJ with a hardtop, but have a bit of a problem.
> I need to be able to carry two Ocean Kayaks on top - with the top on.
> Does anybody make a roof rack for the TJ's hardtop and how much can it
> carry? If not, does anybody know of a hitch mount goal post type thing
> for the back with something that uses the windshield frame for the front
> or another goalpost setup for the front? Anybody got any pictures of how
> you do it?
>
> Thanks for any help.
>
> -Clappy