Roof Access

I didn't want to take over IamJeep's garage with a bunch of questions. Ok so I stand on my tires my kick panels even on my doors rear bumper which is a PITA to get on especially with hitch basket and stuff on. My issue is I put so much heavy stuff on my roof basket that its easier to just crawl up there to load unload and tie down the load. Getting down is harder and I use my rear doors to climb down on not the best way. I've been thinking of getting a boat ladder or RV ladder to access the roof basket. Does anyone else have these issues? and if so pics of your solutions or hit me with your craziest ideas.

I considered crawling up on the rack, I know it would hold me, but I just stand on the tires. Its hard to stand on the tires and load up the rack and tie stuff down, you need to use one hand just to hold yourself up there. When my reciever rack is on I can also stand on that which has a lot more room than the rear bumper. I dont have a spare mounted up there. I bet that is fun to get on and off the rack. A ladder may work but how will you get up there to tie the ladder down ? LOL !!

When we went to the beach I had the rack pretty well filled up.
3 beach chairs
1 folding camp chair
2 beach umbrellas
2 body boards
1 bag of beach toys
4 surf rod holders/ spikes
1 tackle box
1 beach cart
3 flotation noodles
2 inflatable rafts

I have thought about a tire step like the following:

http://www.prorac.com/tirestep.php

I bought one of those steps Knappster posted the link to. It bent the first time I used it. Upon further inspection, I found it was rated for 150lbs (found nowhere on the site I bought it from, in tiny print on the package). I am 220lbs. I don't remember what I was lifting, but add that weight to mine, plus the stress of being off center while placing the items on the roof.

I think the step is a great concept, but don't buy one that is tube metal, as I did. Not worth the money. I threw the step away so I don't remember the brand, but it folded up and looked just like the one in the link.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NeilSmith

When we went to the beach I had the rack pretty well filled up.
3 beach chairs
1 folding camp chair
2 beach umbrellas
2 body boards
1 bag of beach toys
4 surf rod holders/ spikes
1 tackle box
1 beach cart
3 flotation noodles
2 inflatable rafts

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In the basket I put
4 containers weighing about 50lbs a piece
1 tool box
1 10X10 canopy
4 Camping chairs
2 body boards
3 polls for my home made canopy
1 10 person tent
Hitch basket (receiver rack)
2 coolers
1 BBQ grill
1 7 gallon water jug.
Cargo area
1 tough box
1 tackle box
1 miscellaneous array of blankets and pillows and sheets
2 lanterns
and all the stuff I forget to pack gets tossed in back there. I carry way to much stuff I already know this but it all keeps the wife and kids happy. Man I wish I can lighten up the load.

Standing on my Side Guards I can usually reach everything, even when I have a rack up there. But I am admittedly a little over 6' tall.

I do think the Commander would look positively awesome with a safari ladder -- something like the Gobi rack. As much as I like Rola Racks, I'd go for a Gobi right quick if they made one for the XK ... and it was free.

I should add I'm only 5'9" and standing on the tire don't help me to much. But my wife says watching me leap to the top of the XK is amusing.

At least I have a reciever rack to supplement the roof rack, in which I carry the heavy stuff, ie : coolers and grill

I only carry light stuff in the roof pod. Things like winter coats, clothes, sheets, blanket, pillows, all in plastic sealed bags in the pod. That keeps the center of gravity lower than if I had any real weight up there. If I get stuck, I do not want to sleep without warm bedding. There is a lock on the passenger side and the pod has struts to hold it open. I can stand on the open right rear door sill and reach into the pod. When the Airizona gang went drag racing I got some long pants out of the pod so that Old McDonalds wife could race, she was wearing shorts and the track officials would not let her race without long pants.

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...07/003c1-1.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NeilSmith

At least I have a reciever rack to supplement the roof rack, in which I carry the heavy stuff, ie : coolers and grill

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Sorry thats what I call my hitch basket ie: receiver rack.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sal-XK

Sorry thats what I call my hitch basket ie: receiver rack.

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Thats ok, I missed that part anyway. LOL

I could have sworn my owner's manual said roof weight limit was 200lbs. Do you have supplemental support or are you just packing it on till the roof caves in some? ththth

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WanderingTs

I could have sworn my owner's manual said roof weight limit was 200lbs. Do you have supplemental support or are you just packing it on till the roof caves in some? ththth

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:p:p:eek::eek::D:D My roof system says 1500LBS I think seems like a lot don't it? hahaha

Try these............

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...0_AA300_-3.jpg

Or this...........https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...ingshoes-4.jpg

A ladder like the old econolines used to have would be an idea, but it wouldn't work with the rear hatch. If you were to put one on the side, then I would think you would need to reinforce the side sheetmetal. Those tire steps are ok, but weak.

I'll have to see what brand of tire step I bought. (When I get home later) I weigh 330 lbs. and it hasn't failed me yet. It's fairly heavy duty. I don't know about the one in the link... the step surface is different from mine.

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Originally Posted by cico7

Try these............

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...0_AA300_-3.jpg

Or this...........https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...ingshoes-4.jpg

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Oh your funny I'll see you Thursday!!

I fold the back seat down and I can fairly easily stand on that and the tire. I have climbed up using the those plus a little weight on the door itself but most of my weight is supported by my arms pulling myself up holding onto the roof basket. I'm not recommended putting your whole weight on the door, just to help stabilize yourself as you clamber up.

All right, how about something like this? A short step ladder you can through on top or in back when you done....
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...068115lg-3.jpg

A bit late to this thread, but I had the same problem.
I have a large Yakima carrier that I sometimes put on the roof rack, and as I'm only 5'8", it's difficult to load and unload especially when we're camping.
Here's what I use:
www.xtendandclimb.com
I got the 8 1/2 foot ladder. Works great.
It's an aluminum adjustable ladder, the top yellow caps are soft plastic so it doesn't scratch the paint, it's a Type II so it holds a lot of weight, and it collapses small enough so you can easily carry it inside the Jeep.
I can use it on the left, the right, or the back. And I can get as high as I need to.
I paid $100 for it on sale at Sears.

i would think that the weight the rack is rated for is much higher than the weight the roof is rated for. you also have to keep in mind the weight rating is not always based on structural integrity, but more often as a suggestion for keeping a low COG like huey mentioned. as for a ladder, i would probably make something out of light gauge that hooks over the top of the basket and has a couple stanchions that rest against the tire. when you are ready to go stow it in the rack.

Doc,

Center of gravity is very important to us old Rotorheads. Although it was usually fore and aft COG that mattered the most and not high and low. I once took off in a Huey that had a COG that was to far forward and instead of hovering the aircraft wanted to just go ahead and take off forward. I had the cyclic back against my seat. It was a wake up call about COG.

I can most diffidently feel the COG change when I have my basket loaded down for trips. The body roll is magnified with the lift tires then all the weight up top.

So has anyone found the crush weight of the factory roof bars so the rest of us can stay shy of it?

I read somewhere years ago that the rated weight is 1/3 of the maximum. Maybe someone made it up or used it as a guide.

I'm planning on a roof rack in the future and was thinking that a small ladder on either the driver or passenger side. With an off road rear bumper you could bolt it to the bumper and the roof rack and have it permanently fixed. Just need Doc to make me a roof rack too.

Ya i was thinking along the same line just on the back with some hinges so it moves with the tail gate

I was thinking more so on the left or right side from the part of the bumper that wraps around to the fender flares. Right in front of the tail lamp housing. Just something really close to the body. This way you don't have to worry about the liftgate, or hinges....etc. Try to picture it off this image.

https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i...100_3095-4.jpg

Take a look at the ladder on a Discovery. It hooks over the top edge of the tailgate.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/featuredv.../photo_02.html

http://www.dap-inc.com/acc/acc-img/r...ery-ladder.jpg

yeah, like these.

Attachment 251

Sal, I saw these pics on the expo forum and got to thinking about your ladder.
What about using your unistrut to create a ladder that can hook in the rail for stability
and easy removal.
Attachment 1128Attachment 1129

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Originally Posted by Knappster

I have thought about a tire step like the following:

http://www.prorac.com/tirestep.php

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If SA designed some sort of folding ladder, (so that it could be folded out of the way of the hatch, and brought back down when done) I'd probably be really interested in something like that. But yeah, currently I jump on my rear tire and balance my self off the rear door - while simultaneously loading stuff up. It's got to be a little tougher since I put bigger tires on.

Another pic....I was thinking an angle to space the top of the ladder from the XK.
https://theultimatejeep.com/images/i.../01/RTTd-1.jpg

My problem with the ladders is having to stow it once you're finished loading up. With all the crap I end up putting on and in the Jeep I don't have anywhere to put a ladder. I just climb up there on top. Thats easy enough for me now but what about for an older , or bigger, guy ? I think a ladder that would " hook " around, and sit on , the tire and then extend up to the rack and having a quick clamp design to attach to the roof rack would be ideal. I would want it to NOT touch the glass or sheet metal in any way. Of course it would either have to be collapsible or be easily taken apart so that you could easily stow it away.

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Originally Posted by NeilSmith

I would want it to NOT touch the glass or sheet metal in any way. Of course it would either have to be collapsible or be easily taken apart so that you could easily stow it away.

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I agree and is why I thought the L shape
and hook on the rail.

I have some ideas about how to do this just haven't had the time to get working on it yet.

If I am not mistaken, the Gobi ladder can be mounted to any WK. I am sure if you were to contact them about a product for the XK, they may just be able to develop something or utilize the XJ ladder.

Surco makes custom made Discovery-style ladders:

Attachment 1142


Find out more here.


This is what I will go with one day when I'm ready for a roof rack.