What do you use your roof rack for?

hakujin · Oct 21, 2011

Hello felow Pat owners!

Still enjoying my Pat, and was wondering... what are people typically doing with their roof racks?

Luggage?
Bike?
Surfboard/Paddleboard?

What do you find is the most practical or effective use of it? Of the 3 that pop into mind, I would think a road or mountain bike would be the practical than a rear mount system where it's easy to get it on and off quickly while not adding height to the Jeep.

Do tell!!!!

epper:

I've never had a rack before, but would think bikes would be more

NHPATRIOT · Oct 21, 2011

Absolutely nothing. They won't be used on my vehicle.

jlobaugh · Oct 21, 2011

I got a set of cross-bars on eBay and a roof basket. I have used it quite a bit for all manner of cargo.

the_jeep_now · Oct 22, 2011

I use mine to for camping gear: chairs, table, sleeping bags, etc.

joesjeeps · Oct 22, 2011

So far, an extension ladder and my kayak. The bikes go on a hitch haul platform.

MoeBucks · Oct 22, 2011

Nothing. If I planned on keeping the car for years and years, I'd probably remove my rails.

Doogals · Oct 22, 2011

NHPATRIOT said:
Absolutely nothing. They won't be used on my vehicle.

MoeBucks said:
Nothing. If I planned on keeping the car for years and years, I'd probably remove my rails.

Just wondering, what’s with the aversion to using the roof racks? Don’t have my patriot yet but they seem like they will be pretty useful?

Earthworm51 · Oct 22, 2011

I'm doing nothing with my roof rack, I took it off and put it in the Garage.

MoeBucks · Oct 22, 2011

Doogals said:
Just wondering, what’s with the aversion to using the roof racks? Don’t have my patriot yet but they seem like they will be pretty useful?

Nothing really. I just don't need or use them. I know a lot of SUV owners can't wait to get roof racks, so having it stock on the Patriot can be seen as a bonus, but it just serves no purpose for me. I'm never going to throw anything on the roof.

neilcrichton · Oct 22, 2011

I've used it for carrying a ladder, and bringing home small amounts of lumber that won't fit inside... longer than eight feet. I hold everything down with bungy cords.

Ken Brent · Oct 22, 2011

I have a roof basket that I use to take my kids stuff to college and back. I don't leave the basket up there all the time, I store it when it's not in use.

deejayMB · Oct 22, 2011

mmm lumber, doors, extension ladders, pvc and copper pipe.

Paddler Adam · Oct 22, 2011

kayaks lots and lots of kayaks well whitewater kayaks!!! i have 8 foot cross bars made from steel i can put 8 across and my record boat stack is 13 boats! with 13 boats on the roof that 2.4L engin cant even pull 100km/h

the_jeep_now · Oct 22, 2011

Do you know the total weight of those 13 kayaks? The reason I'm asking is that the cross bars weight load rating is up to 150lbs.

NHPATRIOT · Oct 22, 2011

MoeBucks said:
Nothing really. I just don't need or use them. I know a lot of SUV owners can't wait to get roof racks, so having it stock on the Patriot can be seen as a bonus, but it just serves no purpose for me. I'm never going to throw anything on the roof.

Same here. I don't like to put things on the roof. If I need to haul something that won't fit inside I will use a trailer.

Overland · Oct 22, 2011

Anything you don't care if it gets wet or dirty, and anything that could cause issues inside the vehicle (gas cans, 2nd spare tire).

Personally I would recommend AGAINST personal items such as luggage and clothing and shelter pieces and food.

hakujin · Oct 22, 2011

jlobaugh said:
I got a set of cross-bars on eBay and a roof basket. I have used it quite a bit for all manner of cargo.

Nice!!!!

I have the crossbars from Jeep. Put 'em on, but interesting that the capacity (as somebody else mentioned) is 150lbs... I didn't know that. The basket looks handy.

MoeBucks said:
Nothing. If I planned on keeping the car for years and years, I'd probably remove my rails.

how's come? just curious. I don't forsee using mine anytime soon, but then again, may get a kayak to which i hope the stock one is capable of holding down well. But if I didn't, I just assume leave them up there. doesn't cause any issues in the carwash so...

Overland · Oct 23, 2011

Also...

Before putting a cage or any gear up there, check the payload capacity, and be sure to check the two different capacities, dynamic and static.

Most racks and cages have a fairly large degree of difference between dynamic and static, so be sure to know yours.

Dynamic weight (when vehicle is moving), is usually alot less than static (vehicle is parked) due to wind and turbulence and suspension "bounce".

A downwards "bounce" can multiply the weight substantially of whatever you have up there very suddenly and snap the rails or even go as far as warping the pillars in the body of the vehicle.

An example; a common brand roof rack can only hold by recommendation about 200 lbs dynamically, but nearly 800 lbs statically.

SOmething to consider....

kb1gig · Oct 23, 2011

I haven't put anything on the roof racks yet, and I don't forsee using them in the near future. I'm short and can't reach them anyway, so chucking something up top there really isn't appealing to me. Everything I carry fits inside with the seats folded. I do have a bike rack for the back, though.

dixiedawg · Oct 23, 2011

I can see the basket for stuff like, shovel, farm jack, skis, canoe, paddles, deer, and maybe a pod if you wanted to have clothes, or groceries. I would want to limit the weight, especially on the highway, to avoid rollovers.

What do you guys who have them use them for?

What do you use your roof rack for?

hakujin

NHPATRIOT

jlobaugh

the_jeep_now

joesjeeps

MoeBucks

Doogals

Earthworm51

MoeBucks

neilcrichton

Ken Brent

deejayMB

Paddler Adam

the_jeep_now

NHPATRIOT

Overland

hakujin

Overland

kb1gig

dixiedawg

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