Safari Rack with lights, HiLift jack, and shovel

[the roadie]

Need wiring still, but I know some folks were waiting for this install. Also threw a shovel on the side opposite the HiLift jack. No rattles. Slightly increased wind noise with the sunroof open.



Also, a pic I forgot to put up with the hood struts and Optima red top battery. The Warn winch power cable connector is out, but normally rides tucked to the side of the battery. This was installed to the top posts of the Optima per their instructions, since a 9000 lb. winch can draw 450A at maximum effort, and that exceeds what Optima wants you to drain from their side terminals. Now I have to hack the battery box to hide and cool it all off before the desert heats up again soon.

[deathbynosleep]

maybe if you get a sunroof visor the noise will reduce. That rack is pretty sweet though. Have you had to use the shovel yet?

[dtown]

Pretty cool setup

[Fishhunter911]

looks great! Nice Job!!

[the roadie]

Originally Posted by deathbynosleep

Have you had to use the shovel yet?

Not since I put it up

But yes, the last time I was stuck (non-mud), I had buried the jack and the shovel underneath camping equipment. Took longer to unpack 'em than to use 'em. Part of the reason for the rack was to keep camping stuff out of the back of the vehicle, and the other reason was for lights and recovery equipment mounting. The winch, unfortunately, is way too heavy to carry on the roof.

High-centered on the differential after I slid sideways into two ruts. The sides of the ruts collapsed unexpectedly and I didn't have enough forward momentum to keep from high-centering. Raise each rear wheel, throw a few 8-10" rocks underneath, drive off happy.

[Blulytes]

Nice!!! Looks good roadie!!!

[HOTRODSURFER]

sweet set up roadie-thats why your the off road guru

[Dacomputernerd]

Looks great! Got any pics of the lights with the covers off?

Hurry up and get the lights wired up so we can see some night shots!!



Also what are the technical advantages to roof mounted lights, as opposed to grille guard mounted lights?

[the roadie]

Originally Posted by Dacomputernerd

Looks great! Got any pics of the lights with the covers off?

Soon. Using them next weekend. Might wire them tonight.

Hurry up and get the lights wired up so we can see some night shots!!

You guys are sooooooo demanding!

Also what are the technical advantages to roof mounted lights, as opposed to grille guard mounted lights?

1) No grill guard on the Roadiemobile.

2) My use will be strictly off-road on desert trails, not for off-road trips per se, but just to get to a camping spot in the winter when I can't get there Friday night before dark. Roof lights are a bit easier to aim the outboard ones to the sides, to illuminate around tight corners (since I don't have the joystick-aimable spotlight you guys all urged me to get.)

3) I can use them to illuminate the campsite for setup while I get a lantern hanger up. Higher is better to get more light on the ground.

4) Finally, roof lights give you a much better view OVER rocks and dropoffs you're coming up to. Lights that start out below your eyeball level cast nasty and mysterious shadows that could obscure a pit, obstacle, or sharp thing. That's the most important safety issue to me.

Here's a typical campsite, in this case when I went with a Suburban full of folks from work. (The dark corners were because I stupidly put a polarizer on top of my UV filter and it vignetted.)

[Dacomputernerd]

@the roadie-

@Number4- Good point!

Not demanding , just curious Good luck on the wiring, and take some pics if possible of the way you route your wires.


Good luck