The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is a perfect family car and ideal for off-road trips. However, when you need to carry heavy cargo loads, you will notice the car has little cargo space, which means you need a large-capacity rack carrier for your extra load. Are you unsure where to start? This article will help you buy the best roof rack for Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.
Which is a Good Roof Rack for the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited?
The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is a four-door SUV with a 4x4 system making it ideal for off-road terrain, while a 250-horsepower is sufficient for a clean driving experience. While this affordable vehicle will work for most road trips, it does not provide sufficient cargo space, so you will need to supplement with a roof rack when you have heavier cargo.
When buying a roof rack system for your Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, you will need to understand how much cargo it can support and how big the rack is before installing it on your vehicle. However, most roof racks are easy to install and may come with removable crossbars, affordable, and are built with durable materials for longevity.
If you are unsure which rack is suitable for your vehicle, here are our best Jeep roof racks to buy today. Read on also to see which factors should influence your buying process.
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1. MaxxHaul Roof Rack for SUVs and Trucks
MaxxHaul 70115 46" x 36" x 4-1/2" Roof Rack Rooftop Cargo Carrier Steel Basket, Car Top Luggage...
- Instant cargo space for vehicle with cross bars; Basket size -...
- Easy to assemble and install (assembly and mounting hardware are...
- Attaches to most cross bars with easy to use u-bolts for simple...
- Includes rubber caps to cover the U-bolts and protect the cargo
- Powder coat finish
One of the best roof racks in the market, this Maxxhaul cargo rack is fully compatible with your Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, but you will need to install cross bars first if your vehicle does not have them. It is an affordable roof rack rated for 150 pounds of distributed load capacity.
Image source: MaxxHaul
Straight out of the box, the rack comes in three pieces that you can identify by spotting the front piece with the wind deflector and MaxxHaul logo. Then, the package also comes with most installation pieces, from rubber caps, U-bars, plastic knobs, spacers, rubber gaskets, metal racks, and screws and washers. It might also be best to use a rubber mallet and Phillips screwdriver for the installation process.
The heavy-duty steel construction roof rack is powder-coated to give it a rugged finish. It will serve you for a long time, but you need to use the rubber sleeves to cover screws and joints to prevent rusting and environmental damage. Here is an installation video to get you going:
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2. ARKSEN 64 Inch Universal Roof Rack
Sale
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- 12 Cores and 24 processing threads, bundled with the AMD Wraith...
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This reliable cargo basket is also rated for a 150-pound load capacity making it ideal for your Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. It sports a rigid steel construction and is black powder-coated to prevent damage from elements. In addition to the construction, this rack comes with a wind fairing that prevents wind damage to your cargo and wind resistance.
Image source: Arksen
Once your cargo bars are in place, you will only need to mount the rack with the included u-bolts in an easy installation process. While you can also get this rack in different sizes, it comes in three pieces out of the box, so you can also customize how long your rack should be; you can decide to use or not use the middle part as the front, and rear parts will be compatible.
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3. Hooke Road Hard Top Roof Rack Luggage Carrier
Hooke Road Hard Top Cargo Basket Roof Rack Luggage Carrier Compatible with Jeep Wrangler JK...
- Bolt-on Installation Roof Half-Rack, Fits 2007-2018 Wrangler JK...
- Aerodynamic Style Complements Truck Exterior, Carrying...
- Heavy Duty, High Tensile Steel Construction, Texured Black Powder...
- Measures: About 51" W X 56" L X 6.3" H
- Package Included: A Set of Rear Roof Rack & 2×18w High Power LED...
If you are looking for a roof rack designed for any Jeep Wrangler Unlimited model, this Hooke Road roof rack is compatible with any 2007 to 2018 four-door models. It is rated for carrying up to 150 pounds of cargo that can't go into your vehicle.
Image source: Hooke Road
The heavy-duty steel roof rack comes with a textured black powder coat that will prevent environmental damage. In addition, the rack comes with a 5-year corrosion protection after an e-coating process during manufacturing. The rack will run the entire length of your car's roof, making it suitable for anything you want to transport, from camping gear to kayaks, bikes, etc.
The roof rack comes neatly packaged with an installation manual, mounting hardware, and two LED spotlights. The first dealbreaker with the rack is that it is a bit costly. Then, the rack is quite heavy after assembly, so it is a two-person job to lift it to the top of your vehicle for installation.
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4. Barricade Roof Rack
Barricade Roof Rack; Textured Black Compatible with 07-18 Jeep Wrangler JK 4-Door
- Barricade Off-Road Roof Rack System
- Extra Cargo Space
- Removable Cross Bars
- 2" Diameter Steel Tubing (0.12" Wall Thickness)
- Textured Black Powder Coat Finish
This roof rack is designed for 2007-2018 Jeep Wrangler JK models, thus the best option when looking for a versatile exterior storage fixture. It comes with a 350-pound carrying capacity, and is made with durable steel material, then coated with a black powder coat on the textured surface. Thus, it is a durable rack that can withstand elements without rusting.
The rack is built with 2" Diameter Steel Tubing, which gives it the needed strength to withhold heavy loads, and it also comes with a removable crossbar system so you can access the roof when not carrying loads.
Image source: Barricade Off-Road
The easy installation can take you less than two hours to complete, but you will need a T-40 Torx not included in the package. You will also need a razor knife, a 13mm wrench, and an Allen key included in the package. This video will walk you through each installation step.
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5. Smittybilt Defender Roof Rack
Smittybilt (45454 4.5" x 4.5" x 4" Defender Light Cage for Jeep JK
- Smittybilt 45454 Defender Roof Rack; 4.5 ft. x 4.5 ft. x 4 in.; 1...
This durable roof rack from Smittybit is arguably the easiest to install on this list. You will only need to fasten it to the car frame using a 10mm and a 13mm socket. The package comes with the necessary mounting gear, making fastening a breeze.
Image source: Smittybilt
The roof rack is made with 16-gauge, fully welded 1-inch round alloy steel tubing and features a textured black powder coat to protect the rack from elements. In addition, it is designed for the 2018-2022 Jeep Wrangler JL Unlimited models, so you are sure to find a rack compatible with your exact Jeep model.
Finally, the roof rack is versatile and can carry heavy loads of up to 150 pounds to carry different types of cargo, from kayaks, firewood, gas tanks and more. Also, the rack does not impede your freedom tops, so you can take those off even with the rack in place. However, the roof rack package does not come with a mounting kit, so you will need to buy that separately.
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6. Rugged Ridge Sherpa Roof Rack
Rugged Ridge 11703.02 Sherpa Roof Rack; 07-18 Jeep Wrangler JKU, 4 Door
- Black Powder Coated
- Unique tilt feature
- No Drilling required on body
- Integrated light bar
- Limited 5 Year Warranty
When you buy other roof racks, you may also need to purchase crossbars and more parts, especially when you need to carry heavy loads. However, this Rugged Ridge Sherpa roof rack gives you all accessories in one sturdy kit. The kit comes with crossbars to make transporting heavy cargo a joy so you can fully utilize the 300-pound load capacity.
Image source: Rugged Ridge
When installing, you will only need to drill one in the frame rail on either side of your car, but other installation steps will work with the car's factory holes. The rack is made with durable steel and is finished with a rust-resistant e-coat plus black powder coating to guarantee years of heavy use without damage.
You can also easily access the freedom tops since the rack has a unique tilt feature that lifts it off the car roof. Finally, the rack comes with a 5-year manufacturer's warranty and is compatible with many Jeep Wrangler JK series.
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Advantages of using a Jeep Wrangler Unlimted Roof Rack
While any Jeep Wrangler Unlimited model is designed for the ultimate outdoor experience, the car still has limited cargo space inside, affecting how you enjoy your outdoors. So, here are the three vital reasons you need to supplement your cargo space with a roof rack:
- You will get more storage space. Most racks on our list can support heavy loads, which will allow you to bring more gear and equipment to your outdoor experiences.
- You will enjoy more room inside the vehicle. Using a roof rack ensures most of your cargo is loaded outside the vehicle, meaning you have more room to sit passengers inside.
- You will travel safely. Improperly loaded cargo is a leading cause of road accidents in the US, and you can prevent this by securing heavy loads on the roof using a roof rack.
Factors to Consider Before Buying a Roof Rack for Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Now that you know the benefits of using a roof rack and have a few ideas on which rack you would like, you still need to be more specific when making a buying decision. Here are some factors to help you choose the best roof rack for your vehicle.
a) Maximum load capacity
Since you need to enjoy your ride while observing road safety, you have to consider how much your roof rack can carry and juxtapose the capacity with the items you want to transport. When buying a roof rack, look for one rated for at least 80 pounds, as it can load most cargo to give you more space inside the vehicle.
b) Build
It goes without saying that a roof rack needs to be sturdy enough to support heavy loads. However, you need to consider the material it is made with, as very heavy racks will add more weight to your Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, which will require more fuel consumption.
Before buying, ensure the roof rack construction is sturdy but that the metal is lightweight enough. In addition to the material, look at the finish of your idea rack; it should be powder-coated to prevent against elements, while a textured coating also improves durability.
c) Profile
When buying a roof rack, always for one with a low profile as it makes it easier to load cargo and navigate crowded parking lots. In addition, a low profile is resistant to wind noise and makes driving easier.
d) Ease of installation
Your best roof rack for Jeep Wrangler Unlimited should be easy to install, even for beginners. But, if this is your first installation, ensure the package comes with an instruction manual or that the brand has an installation video you can follow.
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