TAwesome
Pizza Pimp
Pictures and Story to follow. It seems I got ahead of myself in starting this thread and forgot I need to make dinner! Check back in a few hours.
Big day for Me and My KJ
- Thread starter TAwesome
- Start date
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ThunderbirdJunkie
Bronze Supporter
Hopefully it's not another dinner aftermath story gone awry
SurfGuitar141
Full Access Member
That's one title I believe you will hold for a very long time on this forum.....
incommando
Banned
tease
TAwesome
Pizza Pimp
Ok So..... I'm finally gonna take some vacation time in two weeks. For anyone who knows Michigan. We are going to up to Lake Ann by Traverse City. We are taking 2 kayaks and two bikes. Only problem is I didn't have any cross bars on the roof to hold the kayaks. So today I fabricated my own. Went to the local hardware store and picked up 2 48" aluminum squared tubbing. 2 6 foot pieces of pipe insulation. 2 PVC pipe flex couplings. 4 u-bolts and (my favorite thing about doing projects) I got to buy a new set of metal drill bits. One thing I found out today is that the roof rack on the KJ is not perfectly parallel. After measuring and centering my holes. I slipped the pipe insulation over the tubing, cut the couplings in half and then slit a line down the center. Wrapped the coupling around the rack, put the u-bolt around the coupling and through the holes in the tubing. Tightened down the nuts and whayla.
I now have cross bars that are padded and can hold at least one kayak.
The next part of my story is equally exciting to me. Last week KJBoone sold me his Tow Hooks after getting into an accident and mashing up the front end of his Libby. sad2.gif
So I also installed these today.
The only bummer is that he still had his brush-guard attached so the m-bolt and clip got destroyed. So I had to go buy bolts (also from the hardware store), take the grill and bumper off. If you have an 02 and have had to do this you know how big of a B it is. Also I had to remove the black cap on the frame and figure out how to squeeze my logs for fingers into that tiny hole. (Thats what she said) lol. Sorry. Anyway these are two things I have been wanting to do for a while now and am very excited they are done. Make my KJ look a little less grocery getter and a little more mancepptable. A few things I need to do to finish this cross rails up.
Rubber end caps.
Paint the u-bolts.
Cut u-bolts.
Let me know what you think.
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I now have cross bars that are padded and can hold at least one kayak.
The next part of my story is equally exciting to me. Last week KJBoone sold me his Tow Hooks after getting into an accident and mashing up the front end of his Libby. sad2.gif
So I also installed these today.
You must be registered for see images attach
The only bummer is that he still had his brush-guard attached so the m-bolt and clip got destroyed. So I had to go buy bolts (also from the hardware store), take the grill and bumper off. If you have an 02 and have had to do this you know how big of a B it is. Also I had to remove the black cap on the frame and figure out how to squeeze my logs for fingers into that tiny hole. (Thats what she said) lol. Sorry. Anyway these are two things I have been wanting to do for a while now and am very excited they are done. Make my KJ look a little less grocery getter and a little more mancepptable. A few things I need to do to finish this cross rails up.
Rubber end caps.
Paint the u-bolts.
Cut u-bolts.
Let me know what you think.
Looks great, nice jobs.
Hear ya on the black caps. Think I was bleeding afterwards, but it was worth it.
Did KJBoone wreck his black KJ? He just got it I thought.
Hear ya on the black caps. Think I was bleeding afterwards, but it was worth it.
Did KJBoone wreck his black KJ? He just got it I thought.
TAwesome
Pizza Pimp
It doesn't look too bad to me but he is talking about selling it.
ThunderbirdJunkie
Bronze Supporter
TA, ask him how much
Yes,please do. Your rack project looks good,like the hooks too.
I have a KK but made my own cross bars too.Last night I bought a second kayak,they both fit on the KK. I used pipe insulation at first but bought swim noddles to try,have yet to put it on. I want to go to Lime Lake,and kayak.Went there as a child and remember it as pretty. Happy modden and kayaking.
TAwesome
Pizza Pimp
Thanks how do you arrange your kayaks on your roof? Any issues with the pipe insulation?
TAwesome
Pizza Pimp
Perfect that is very helpful. Any pics of your cross bars?
TAwesome
Pizza Pimp
Yeah I'd love to see some pics!Sorry I don't but can get some tomorrow. Or you can drive up 131 and bring a pizza and look.
Overall nice job, but I would consider using nylock's instead of the regular nuts.
The U clamps are a bit too tall.. you could trim them a bit, would look neater.
The U clamps are a bit too tall.. you could trim them a bit, would look neater.
What LibertyTC said, and yeah i agree, Im never removing my front hooks cause i could not stand the stress that came with removing the front bumper for adding the hooks , granted i was a poor little jeep noob at the time, and since then know how to lift a jeep, and do a few more mods.
TAwesome
Pizza Pimp
Yup the next step is get plugs for the end of the tubing paint the u-bolts and cut them down. Also im considering wing nuts for easy ajustment.
kbooneKJ
Full Access Member
yes, unfortunately i smashed up libby...and now im really broke so i gotta sell her
TAwesome
Pizza Pimp
they want a price!
