Roof Access

[Sal-XK]

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.

[NeilSmith]

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 !!

[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

[LWM]

I have thought about a tire step like the following:

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

[WanderingTs]

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.

[Sal-XK]

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

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.

[El Cid]

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.

[Sal-XK]

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.

[NeilSmith]

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

[HueyPilotVN]

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.