Roof Rack on Meyers Hard Top - Suggestions?

I'm looking at putting a roof/cargo/kayak rack on Percival's new/old Meyer Hard Top, and was curious if anyone has any recommendations on what rack to go with (or to avoid). I'm also curious if anyone has any gouge on the max weight that one should put on said rack.

I'm not looking at doing any 4 wheeling with a 17 foot boat on top, just looking at going to the lake, and setting up a campsite.

Thanks in advance!

 

I would not drive with that on top get a trailer

 

My 17' kayak only weights about 100 lbs . . .

 

Problem is It gets top heavy, my road bike (8lbs) on top is not bad, my mountain bike is noticable and a beach cruiser is sketchy. Although your top Is lighter and aluminum it will not save you in a rollover.I would use a trailer because the body roll is going to be terrible and my concern Is you will be three wheeling around town At best.

How are you planning to load that on top anyway? And please note I have a rack I would love to help if it sounded safe.

 

Meyer cabs are steel.

I would not put anything on top of that cab. The Meyer cabs are top heavy without any extra weight, putting more weight up there even higher than now seems unwise.

 

The Meyer tops weigh 350 lbs plus. As Tim noted above they are steel and all that top weight should already cause concern - I drive slower and take corners easy with mine on. Adding another 50 or 100 lbs on top is flirting with disaster.

Regards,
Tim

 

I have a Koenig full cab on the 3B. the only issue I have ever had was when I had a low tire. I've had it for many years so I suppose I could be used to how it handles. Only had it for something like 35 years and it is a PITA to remove or replace.

 

Thanks everyone. I must say I'm surprised at many of the comments and responses. I never though of my CJ-5 as a certain death vehicle - it's bone stock, and very driveable. Shocks, shackles, body mounts, etc. are all 10 yrs old max.

I have driven a friend's jeeps that have been upgraded to a V8 engine, raised, big tires, etc. and was happy to get back behind the wheel of my little Hurricane 4 after a very brief jaunt. It was that scary to drive.

I had one high school friend that was killed in a CJ7 after jumping a bridge, and rolling the jeep after landing (he jumped the bridge on purpose). I know of no other casualties personally.

I'll be careful!

 

If you have had the Jeep for 10 years you probably know how it is going to handle by now and I wouldn't get too worried. It's only as dangerous as it's driver. One friend rolled the family Jeep in 1973, the worst problem was the battery acid on his leg My neighbor flopped his Scout on a trail. The only injury was to Gerry, Mike was standing on him as he tried to get out of the window.

 

Ive contemplated on getting a rack for years. We all know the dangers of driving a cj5 and like most of you WE know how to drive one safely. In the few situations that someone else has drove mine, Ive given them a lecture and list of things not to do... ( sharp turns, follow someone too closely, etc.). After a few years in the works my hardtop is finally being restored. After I see how it drives, I will see if I think I can handle a rack or not. That kayak isn't going to haul itself.

 

Carried a Grumman aluminum canoe on mine (no rack, just foam blocks) a few times for duck hunting in the past. Just country roads, fire trails and some mild off road. Didn't have any problem, just drove slower and more cautious. I have a Meyers cab, jeep has a little lift and 33x12.5 tires. Don't remember ever thinking I wouldn't do it again. YMMV.

 

How does your top mount to the body? Does it have spacers that fit into the top lip of the tub or just have nuts with lock washers?

 

I would add a swaybar and never look back. It will take the tippy right out of it. Steve's 71 project will have steel hard top, roof basket on top of that. His jeep came with two swaybars laying in the back.

 

I dont seem to have any good pics of my rack but its just square tube with washers welded on and i bolted it through the supports inside or close to them. So i can strap anything i want to them. And its a clean look not really noticeable at all. I keep a blanket in the jeep incase whatever i have up there doesnt span to the bars. Iv had 6 or 7 hundred pounds of deck boards on top one time. Only for 10 miles or so but it held it.

 

I have a two man Old Town fishing Kayak 16' long, it is a pinta to move around. It is too long for my utility trailer, hangs off both ends, I put the front right over the ball, and it still hangs over the back by four feet. I am thinking about building a Tee trailer just for it, just an axel and a 16' long tongue, and two U shaped brackets with seat belts between them for it to lay in, it would be a way to store it when not in use. Good luck

 

Granted mine is aluminum, but I haven't noticed any difference in top heaviness with my Sears top. I too am looking at putting a rack on top of it for a pair of 14 foot canoes.

I'm thinking of welding one up made of emt conduit and incorporating a light bar that will drop down slightly so the top of the lights are about as high as the top of the basket so the canoes can still sit over.