did you just use longer well nuts

 

I used the stock nuts, but I did get a few more from another cherokee rack. There is one missing in the pics. I took it out to match it up in stainless. I did not notice they were rusting that bad untill I started taking pictures.

 

Love the rack and especially like the ladders. I hate trying to climb up on my rack and this would definitely help. Think here is any way to make a swing down section, or a fold down piece that could go all the way to the ground? Or would it rattle too much?

 

Hey Mickey. I an sure there is a way to do it but It is realy not that bad without it. My ladder is directly over the tire. All I ever do is step on the rim then on top of the tire. If you do it like this when you get up I always try and look for the valve stem before I step.

 

really cool!

 

True true, think I know add ladders to my rack, thanks

 

So your bolts for the rack itself, go thru the factory railing. Did you do any stiffening to the inside of the roof for extra strength? I know you said you did for the bottom of the steps but maybe I missed something for the top. Im going to stretch and strengthen my surco with aluminum soon and am trying to go it stong enough to walk on and sleep on without damaging the roof line. A little more detail of how you bolted thru the factory rail would be awesome. And how is it when you walk up there? Does it feel solid or does it feel weak? Not the rack but im asking about the roof line feeling weak?

 

Well the roof of the cherokee is pretty strong as it is, it's a structural piece so it has to be. I've walked on mine many times, actually sat in a chair on my rack while hunting a field one year. I was up there all day and never had any issues. I think you should be fine. But I'm not sure if I would "strengthen" your rack with aluminum, kinda a conflicting statement there. I would definitely use steel and weld it to your existing rack if you can. IMO

 

I don't realy think any bracing on the roof line is needed. I am over 200 pounds and there is no movement at all with me. I think with the 1/4"x1" bolted in place and then adding the little up right braces it will help to distribute the weight evenly. Also by adding the ladders you are supporting the roof even more, It would have to crush the roof and bend the ladders for it to move(imo). You also asked about bolting it down. I used the factory tie down hardware, You have the tie downs hooks that slide when you loosen them. If you unscrew them it leaves the nut in the rail. All I did was cut the flat stock to length, drill the holes (I think I used 5 per side) lay it up there mark were the holes are and slide the nuts were you need them.