My Roof Rack Fell Off... Need Some Help!

[rutang]

Hi, just got back from my first camping trip in our new old 1988 Grand Wagoneer. Well I got about 10 miles and heard some noise, so I pulled over to discover that my roof rack was half popped off. The rack completely came out of the metal even the insets where the screws go into. So I popped the entire rack off and now I am worried that when it rains i will have leaks. I would like to reattach it... how do I go about doing this so that I don't have this problem again. Thank you.
Rusty

[shackwrrr]

the factory used well nuts, little rubber plugs with nut in them and when you tighten them up the rubber expands and locks into the roof. Yours probably got hard and brittle and dont hold the metal anymore. Well your in luck lowes carries the well nuts take an old one with you and find one similar in size. should be good to go after that.

[BarryL]

Do yourself a favor, get the kit and new gaskets:

http://www.bjsoffroad.com/cartgenie/prodList.asp?scat=58

Don't forget the IFSJA discount!

[Thomas792]

Duct Tape has been keeping the rain out of mine for the past 6 months or so. Last week I finally was able to start tackling the rust around the holes. 2 down, 6 to go.

[medinajim2000]

It's probably about time they get replaced, anyway. They get old and brittle and cause saggy headliner. I'd seal them, too when you put the new ones in.

[medinajim2000]

Well your in luck lowes carries the well nuts take an old one with you and find one similar in size. should be good to go after that.

Good to know. I've been getting mine from teamgrandwagoneer.com.

[gwinn]

That really sucks! Mine was loaded with a 33" spare, a handyman jack and a cooler full of refreshments when it got tired of being on top. It slid off the front and into a patch of cholla when I stopped on a decline. It majorly screwed up my hood and took the factory ornament with it. That's when I over built an extra heavy duty, well fastened custom roof rack and also started using various bobbleheads for hood ornaments.

My recommendation is to purchase an aftermarket roof rack which is designed to carry a some weight. If you build one... go light. I ended up scrapping the one below for its steel value because I nearly tipped over so many times. ;)

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w305/azfsjc/roofrackresized1.jpg

[FSJ Guy]

You can get well nuts from your local Ace Hardware. Cheaper than anyone's "kit" of well nuts.

BJ's has the gaskets, however, which are well worth the $$ if yours are toast.

[Chuck Brown]

That really sucks! Mine was loaded with a 33" spare, a handyman jack and a cooler full of refreshments when it got tired of being on top. It slid off the front and into a patch of cholla when I stopped on a decline. It majorly screwed up my hood and took the factory ornament with it. That's when I over built an extra heavy duty, well fastened custom roof rack and also started using various bobbleheads for hood ornaments.

My recommendation is to purchase an aftermarket roof rack which is designed to carry a some weight. If you build one... go light. I ended up scrapping the one below for its steel value because I nearly tipped over so many times. ;)

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w305/azfsjc/roofrackresized1.jpg

Im gonna need to go that route very, very soon...who do you recommend for a manufacturer? (Sorry for the hijack, we now bring you back to your regularly scheduled thread...already in progress).

Chuck Brown

[Rocket Dog]

gwinn,

how did your roof rack fall off? did it rip out? it looks pretty sturdy. did you have the bottom brackets ala the infamous tad rack?

[gwinn]

gwinn,

how did your roof rack fall off? did it rip out? it looks pretty sturdy. did you have the bottom brackets ala the infamous tad rack?

The roofrack pictured is the one I overbuilt after the factory rack fell off. It would have never fallen off. I built it at about the same time that Tad professionally engineered the Tadrack. I wish I would have waited and bought a Tadrack. I'm sure I spent just as much money on that hunk of metal which I constructed (pictured).

I know I drifted off the subject, but my advice is to either not use the factory rack to carry true cargo. If it is for lighter cargo the parts to fasten it down properly are available in the vendor section. If you plan to carry heavier cargo save yourself some grief and purchase an aftermarket product designed for the load. I know that Tad's group is no longer producing the Tadrack and begging for the line to be reopened has already been proven futile.;) There is at least one vendor here on the ifsja that carries a quality roof rack.

[710 Burner]

I have found the well nuts at Ace, bLowes, Home Deposed, and True Value.

[BrianAg95]

Tad also created these brackets that you use to use real bolts to attach the factory rack to the framing, and not just the sheetmetal roof. Do some searches on the forums for Tad's brackets and you should find a thread about them. I got mine from him ohh 1.5 years ago, so no idea if he is still making them or not. But if you want the stock rack, then that's the way to go. no more well nuts to pull out... PS: If I recall correctly the Tad rack was mounted with these exact brackets. IE his rack used the stock mounting holes.

[rutang]

Thanks for all the help and replies. I am thinking I want to upgrade to this rack http://www.bjsoffroad.com/CartGenie/prod-860.htm . It will take me a little while to save up for it... what is the best way to patch those holes so that it doesn't leak in the meantime? Also this new rack doesn't need the factory holes... does it? Thanks... oh and if anyone has pics of this particular rack on their Jeep... I would love to see it. Thanks!

[FSJ Guy]

Thanks for all the help and replies. I am thinking I want to upgrade to this rack http://www.bjsoffroad.com/CartGenie/prod-860.htm . It will take me a little while to save up for it... what is the best way to patch those holes so that it doesn't leak in the meantime? Also this new rack doesn't need the factory holes... does it? Thanks... oh and if anyone has pics of this particular rack on their Jeep... I would love to see it. Thanks!

It says it's a gutter mount in the description. So, no, it does not use the factory mounting points.

[rutang]

It says it's a gutter mount in the description. So, no, it does not use the factory mounting points.

So what is the best way to seal the holes up? Or should they be professionally filled or welded in? Thanks.

[FSJ Guy]

So what is the best way to seal the holes up? Or should they be professionally filled or welded in? Thanks.

I put plastic hole plugs in mine and used silicone to seal em. So far, so good. (I think)