Whether it’s a weekend of camping or a remote overland adventure, off-roaders always need more storage space. A great option is a roof-mounted rack, which gives off-roaders the ability to store additional cargo, gear you don’t want in the rig (fire wood, dirty clothes, etc.) and the ability to mount tools that you also don’t want rattling around in the cabin.

There are a ton of great options out there for rooftop racks for our Grand Cherokee WJ, but the Smittybilt Defender Rack really caught our attention. The racks are constructed of heavy-duty, 16-gauge 1-inch-steel tubing that is all fully welded, and the rack is finished off with a black-textured powder coat to withstand the environment and the wear and tear of the trail. There is a wide variety of size options depending upon your vehicle, and the racks offer mounting for auxiliary lighting (with four front tabs and two rear tabs).

The tools we needed for this install was a measuring tape, two ratchets with 13mm deep and shallow sockets, along with 7/16 deep and shallow sockets. Hot tip: Measure the highest point of your rack with your accessories installed. That way when you get to that unknown parking structure you know if you’re clear. The overall height of our rack on the Jeep is 84".

Also, if you install locks to secure tools, make sure they unlock before your hit the trail. Also, lube them up and slap some good tape over the key holes to help keep them in working order and debris free.

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