Roof Rack Crossbar Questions...

[kb0nly]

Ok, i was scouting the yards again... Came across a KJ that got totaled and it had a single roof rack crossbar on it, mine had none, so i snagged that one for cheap and they even had a key for it in the center console compartment. Asked them about the other one and they said someone else bought that and the other key, guess it had two keys originally, anyway here is the questions...

Are they all keyed differently?? I would assume so for security sake but had to ask.

Since the front and rear widths are different, mine came off the front end, do i have to look for one especially for the rear or are they adjustable enough to be interchangeable?

And last but not least, anyone got a spare one laying around that can help out a guy find another one??

These are as rare as can be around here. The guy at the yard said the other dude bought one because he wanted three crossbars on his Jeep. I guess that would make good sense, spread the load out more. Anyway that kinda annoyed me cause i wanted a pair but hey i got one cheap one!

 

[kb0nly]

It's the OEM crossbar looking at pics online, and its like new, still has the stickers on it telling you which way is forward, etc.

 

[kj924]

Check ebay of course....I saw 1 single cross rail on there last week...to late I know but they do pop up on there.

 

[kb0nly]

Yeah that single one on there, i saw that. Going to keep watching!

Are they both the same though? I did some searching on there and i saw one set of cross bars and they looked to be different lengths.

 

[kj924]

Not sure of the different lengths.

 

[kb0nly]

Ok..

Looks like the aftermarket bars on ebay are the same length so maybe the OEM ones are too... Now i have to settle in for a long wait watching for another one to show up!

 

[Ry' N Jen]

Ok..

Looks like the aftermarket bars on ebay are the same length so maybe the OEM ones are too... Now i have to settle in for a long wait watching for another one to show up!

Which after market load bars ar you referring too?
If they are Thule or Yakima, those come in various lengths!
As far as the Mopar ones, they might have a number on the key for the lock.
In that case,you might be able to purchase a replacement lock cylinder or an additional load bar with the same key code.
I'm not sure who actually makes the load bars for Chrysler.
But I know other auto manufactures use Thule and you can get new lock sets or keys for them.

 

[hyde]

Did you really need Mopar ones (blade-like shaped). I had square tube shaped ones for $65 off e-bay (Link: http://gallery.jeepprojects.com/categories.php?cat_id=21) They looked and worked great, until I moved and my jeep barely made it in my garage. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ROOF...id=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65:12|39:1|72:1171 If you end up being stuck with just one, try to sell it and get a pair of these.. One bar is only good for if you will be putting lights.

 

[kj924]

Why not make your own? 1" square steel stock 4 u-bolts and some paint and away you go, stronger than anything you could buy.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

Why not make your own? 1" square steel stock 4 u-bolts and some paint and away you go, stronger than anything you could buy.

If it wasn't for the fact that I used to sell Thule and Yakima and that I have so much Thule rack accessories, I would definitively made my own cross bars.
Also, out here with ICBC (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia) unless your roof rack is either factory installed or after market and locked onto the roof of the owners vehicle, if it is not and something gets ripped off, the insurance company will not cover it. Even if you theft coverage!
That is my main reason for going with a commercially available roof rack!

 

[kb0nly]

The reason i like the OEM compared to the aftermarket ones on ebay, and yes i meant the square ones, is its less surface area against the air, the OEM ones are wing like and have a lower profile. But if i can't find another OEM one i will probably end up going with one of those sets on eBay, around $60-$70 depending on who you buy from isn't bad.

 

[kj924]

If it wasn't for the fact that I used to sell Thule and Yakima and that I have so much Thule rack accessories, I would definitively made my own cross bars.
Also, out here with ICBC (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia) unless your roof rack is either factory installed or after market and locked onto the roof of the owners vehicle, if it is not and something gets ripped off, the insurance company will not cover it. Even if you theft coverage!
That is my main reason for going with a commercially available roof rack!

Wow that's kind of harsh.

 

[hyde]

Come on.. Wind resistance of 3/4inch square tubes? Your whole jeep is a block against wind, I don't think it will make that big of a difference. Sure Mopar ones look sharp and sleeker... Plus you will probably get something up there anyway, isn't that why you are getting the bars? I was going to get lights on mine, the problem was, once again, my darn low garage.

 

[kb0nly]

Come on.. Wind resistance of 3/4inch square tubes? Your whole jeep is a block against wind, I don't think it will make that big of a difference. Sure Mopar ones look sharp and sleeker... Plus you will probably get something up there anyway, isn't that why you are getting the bars? I was going to get lights on mine, the problem was, once again, my darn low garage.

Well wind resistance isn't the biggest concern no, i should rephrase that last post... The OEM ones just look lower profile and sleeker and thats what im really after, from the front you only see a small cross section of the edge, they don't seem to stick as far above the roof rails.

If i was really worried about the actual wind resistance i would get some aluminum extrusion about the same shape or off another vehicle at the yard and then mount them between the roof rails. I looked at a few options, the crossbars on a newer Dodge Grand Caravan at the yard looked promising, plus the added bonus is they were a nice flat black which would blend in. They have these set screws on tabs that lock them in place, if you removed those you could put a bolt through the KJ's roof rails and through that tab to fasten it inbetween, that is after cutting them to length because i'm sure they will be too long as well.

I should have kept the crossbars off the Pontiac Montana i got rid of, i could have modified them to make custom crossbars also.

If i do put anything on them it will probably be a roof basket, the Rola on Etrailers looks promising, so yeah fuel mileage loss isn't my biggest concern as i don't normally drive long distances, but when i do it will be nice to toss some stuff up there.

Maybe i should sell the single one i have and see if i can work up enough cash to buy something else.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

Wow that's kind of harsh.

ICBC?

Harsh isn't the word for them!

They should of changed their name long ago to Insurance "Corruption" of British Columbia!

No private vehicle insurance vendors in this Province!

One exception!

Canadian Waste Management here in B.C. Or I should say one of their "Other" companies sells "Vehicle Insurance", via ICBC.

You can buy additional Coverage as well as the usual Collision and/or Comprehensive deductible.

But,

If you do choose to buy from them, and Finance your annual Vehicle Insurance and make twelve monthly payments; you can expect to pay at least 4% too 9% more depending on what fee's they extract from you via the your bank!

At the end of the day, you may as well just buy your vehicle insurance through ICBC!


Easier.