Hey guys, I've been playing with the jeep nation guys in my area a lot, and I'm really jealous of the bad *** after market cargo racks they have. You know, the steel cage on top, where they've installed off-road lights all the way around, and have their spare tire?

I would build one, but I have three problems, first off, I have no clue where to start with mounting. I pondered about using the existing mounting rail the factory bars are on, but I'm not sure if I could safely pull that off, any ideas on that guys?

Second off, I can't make one. My mig welder is down, possibly for good, and there's no way I can work a stick/arc welder with the required precision to work on small pipe. I'd like something tough and sturdy, not cheap squad aluminum that's gonna fall apart if it catches a small branch. I don't want to use 1" steel pipe though, it doesn't look nearly as good as the square 1/8th inch square steel I've seen used.

3rdly, our rango's have the dip in the front, and I would like for a rack to extend to the front of the roof, but I. Don't know if that's possible. All the manufactured ones I've found are cheap ugly ones that mount on top of my factory rack, which isn't that strong or pretty to begin with.

Any suggestions or references guys? If you know a manufacturer that makes them, please post. But I live in Texas, so a local place in Montana ain't gonna work, lol.

 

Add things to your D because you need it, not because it looks cool. I doubt you ever considered a roof rack because your life requires you fill the back and need to haul more. You saw others with them and now 'need' one. Don't waste your money. I'm a Jeep guy more than a Durango guy, so I know the Jeep mindset to buy crap because it looks cool, keeps with the jeeper image, for Jeeps that never ever go off-road. I give them the same advice. Form Follows Function.

 

While I agree with form follows function, if he wants a roof rack for whatever reason more power to him.

On a different note, I don't know if the stock railings are all that stout, something like a 100lb limit. I'm sure it could be stretched a bit, but building a stout rack and loading it with stuff might be enough weight to keep in consideration.

 

To each there own on a roof rack but, i will throw this out... That "cool" looking roof rack will effect your already poor MPG. If you need one then so be it but i personally had one and used it for a weekend while we went on a trip and its been sitting in the garage collecting dust ever since.

Them things remind me of the old turtle cargo racks that people used to strap to there station wagon roof in the 70's-80's....

 

I never have enough room for my gear. I picked up a hitch rack for the rear receiver, but it's only enough for my by ice chest or a generator and some other little stuff. I don't utilize my cargo rack because it's too much of a pain in the *** to put stuff up there without proper tie downs or mounts. Every other week I travel 200+ miles with my wife and child for a few days, especially to the coast, and with our husky in the back, I lose half of my cargo room off the bat due to his cage. Then I have to pack in our bags, my guns, and then I have to bargain with what I need, and what I can fit. I like to over pack, and over prepare, but I don't like having to take two vehicles to go out for a week... My wife's suburban is our economical vehicle, but it can't get us down the sand roads, or off road really at all. I can handle loosing mpg's, it's already horrible, and I wanted to get better gas mileage, I'd get a car. Btw, I'm a light nut. I like being able to see, and I'm paranoid, so yeah. I'd put a true light bar on my rango, but there's no need to if I can hide them into a roof rack. It will likely be more economical then using a code 3 halogen light bar. (If you take off the color filters, and remove the rotors, you can aim the lights wherever you want. On my ram, I had a switch board which turned on different sets of lights on it, or all of them. That's a lot of light!)


And as far as the rails go, I wasn't going to use the bars, I was talking about the guide rails in the roof. I wonder if I put a 8 or so mounts from a rack into it, if I can get what I need.

 

Actually, I have considered. I'd pull a trailer, but I couldn't take a trailer most of the place I go. There is the option to buy a bigger vehicle, like a z71 suburban or excursion 4x4, but I enjoy the my durango, and I wish to keep it. I got the idea from my cousins, (who of course have never even dared to follow me on a trail in their pretty jeeps), and I want to know if the same idea or set up is practical for the curvy funky shaped roof of a Rango.

 

Then I'd get something thats really easy to take on off so it doesn't hurt mileage when not used. I would not put lights on it so there are no wiring issues.

I don't even have the OEM D rack bars on mine, and I pealed off the rubber roof protector strips, buts that just me. If I did need more space though, I'd probably go for a Yakama pod rather than a rack, so the stuff is more weatherproof and streamlined on the freeway.

 

My god. People still drop the MPG line?? If you're worried about mpg sell your durango. Buff said..

Any who I too thought about a basket for my durango. I think the racks max out at 200lbs. I looked into getting a rack myself. I would use mine for my camping needs. Right now I use a basket off the hitch but its kind of a pain with the door.

Anyway I would mount directly into the rail system guides and make your own mounts. Look better and more weight vs mounting ontop of the racks.

 

For being on a durango sectcion you sure say enough negative stuff about them Public.....

Yes because when you are traveling on trips losing 2-3mpg is quite a bit when theres not much to begin with. My best friend lost 4mpg in his 01 blazer when he put on a roof rack. Most of us do not want to sell our durangos because they are nice off-road and can still haul quite a bit. Besides most of us can't afford
another vehicle if we wanted too....at least I can't. Still wouldn't get rid of it if I could.

I don't know how one would go about making new mounts for the factory rails. Maybe pick up a set of rails and cross bars from a junkyard and start playing.

 

Just for the record, i know my truck is a gas hog.... i know it now and i knew it long before i even bought the thing but, MPG is not a major concern so i bought it anyways and would probably buy another if (knock on wood) my current one would die..

With that said, the comment to the OP was just mainly to inform him that putting a roof rack on would have a negitive impact on his MPG. Maybe it will matter to him, maybe not but atleast its out there..