Do I need to use a rack to have a 270* awning?

[naysjp]

I would like to put on a 270 degree awning on my JKU hardtop but I don't have a rack/basket on top. I won't(for safety reasons) store items on top of the roof so that is why I never got a basket. Is there another way to have that awning without a rack/basket? I have looked at racks and it seems every rig that has an awning has a rack/basket. I found a DIY awning that I can make myself but the bracket is mounted on the person's basket on his truck. Maybe some people can chime in with another alternative to mount the bracket on without a basket on the hardtop. I'm excited to start doing some DIY projects for my Jeep that are functional and be able to steer those funds towards larger items.

 

[Tundracamper]

There are companies that make brackets that allow one to mount an awning directly to a roof rack rail, without requiring a rack. Here is an example for a 4Runner:

1996-2023 Toyota 4Runner Canopy/Awning Mounts For Factory Roof Rail

Our 4Runner Awning & Canopy Mount for your Factory Rails provides an easy install with its bolt-on design, and you will be able to relax in the shade in no time. Fast Free Shipping. Made In The USA.

www.ragofabrication.com

 

[jeepers29]

Assuming your jeep has a hard top, you could get a set of Thule bars that mount to the rain gutters then fab up some brackets that attach to them and you awning. Another option would be to just get the side rails from Teraflex and mount your awning to that. The Teraflex bars do requie drilling into your hardtop. I have the the Teraflex system and have my ARB mounted to it.

 

[Flatwatertherapy]

I would definitely rack mount it for sure, if I’m not mistaken the hard tops on jeeps are fiberglass or a similar composite material so you would want to have plate underneath as well to spared the force of the bracket out if you did DIY but the rack system offers that plus it’s distributed weight design offers the strength of both sides of your rig!

What 270 awning are you planning on using?

 

[naysjp]

I would definitely rack mount it for sure, if I’m not mistaken the hard tops on jeeps are fiberglass or a similar composite material so you would want to have plate underneath as well to spared the force of the bracket out if you did DIY but the rack system offers that plus it’s distributed weight design offers the strength of both sides of your rig!

What 270 awning are you planning on using?

I am making my awning. I found it on youtube. Made the bracket, just figuring out the mounting portion of this product. Looking at the cost and knowing that I can weld, I decided to make it instead of spending the amount of money awnings cost.

 

[Flatwatertherapy]

I would definitely rack mount it for sure, if I’m not mistaken the hard tops on jeeps are fiberglass or a similar composite material so you would want to have plate underneath as well to spared the force of the bracket out if you did DIY but the rack system offers that plus it’s distributed weight design offers the strength of both sides of your rig!

What 270 awning are you planning on using?

I am making my awning. I found it on youtube. Made the bracket, just figuring out the mounting portion of this product. Looking at the cost and knowing that I can weld, I decided to make it instead of spending the amount of money awnings cost.

Well did you figure out your own mounting system?

 

[genocache]

I made a DIY rack for my Land Rover and mounted a 270° awning; Awning on a Land Rover 109

 

[naysjp]

Well did you figure out your own mounting system?

No. still trying to figure out how I can do this without mounting a basket. There will be brackets under the hardtop attached to the roll bar for strength but I may end up getting a basket and racks which negates the DIY effect.

 

[Flatwatertherapy]

Well did you figure out your own mounting system?

No. still trying to figure out how I can do this without mounting a basket. There will be brackets under the hardtop attached to the roll bar for strength but I may end up getting a basket and racks which negates the DIY effect.

What rig are we on again? Can I see your rooftop?

 

[leeloo]

I would like to put on a 270 degree awning on my JKU hardtop but I don't have a rack/basket on top. I won't(for safety reasons) store items on top of the roof so that is why I never got a basket. Is there another way to have that awning without a rack/basket? I have looked at racks and it seems every rig that has an awning has a rack/basket. I found a DIY awning that I can make myself but the bracket is mounted on the person's basket on his truck. Maybe some people can chime in with another alternative to mount the bracket on without a basket on the hardtop. I'm excited to start doing some DIY projects for my Jeep that are functional and be able to steer those funds towards larger items.

I have my awning hanging on the roof bars. But I have a very solid aluminium topper and roof bars. On the previous car, I had Rhino rack heavy duty roof bars , with a 75 kg ( 150 LBS ) rating and the awning was fine. The brackets supplied with the awning fitted perfectly, they bolted straight on the bars. A roof rack by itself will probably take almost half of whatever your roof is rated for...
Roof racks look cool, but most of the time they are just useless weight in the worse spot, if you can get away without one you will be better off with the handling off road, wind noise and fuel economy..

 

[naysjp]

What rig are we on again? Can I see your rooftop?

2014 JKU Wrangler with a hard top.