Custom FrontRunner Roof Rails Install For a Roof Top Tent on a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2

[@imaz01]

Glad it worked out mate, looks great! Nothing better than a custom installation.

[@totisviribus2616]

Thanks again for the encouragement! It worked out well.

[@805gregg]

Not a RTT, it's a Top Heavy Tent, that you have to drag with you everywhere you go, plus the loss of MPG it's the tent that keeps on taking

[@joeneely9970]

How did this hold up in cold/hot weather? Im hoping to do something similar but i live in Phoenix, hot/dry seems to ruin everything

[@JP-zt1jq]

I know you said you’d mention it in future videos, however very curious which roof top tent that is.

[@totisviribus2616]

It's the Autohome Columbus Variant small. I took a short camping trip this weekend and will hopefully have some footage up by the end of the week with a little more info on the tent. I removed the autohome decal and painted it to match the jeep.

[@totisviribus2616]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXfLn3SdfdmYpJI Feedback welcome. Still getting the hang of this.

[@josephmetzger7088]

Very nicely done. I've been looking at roof rack systems from Offroad Animal and Chief Products. Both address the WK2 load limitations but do not address the upward forces of a heavy load that occur when driving off road, which will eventually result in metal fatigue in the original mounting points. Yours is the first solution I've seen that addresses both issues. 2 questions: Why bother with nutserts that have O-rings when you are using epoxy? Also, what are the rails inboard that are bolted to the original rack mount locations? Thanks for your videos... I encourage you to make more!

[@totisviribus2616]

Hi, thanks for the comment. I picked those nutserts for two main reasons. One, they are significantly lifted off the metal which gives some of the height needed to fill the gap and i figure it might help with water shedding. They are closed end rivnuts. The second reason was the ease of install. I played around with other nutserts and these installed more easily. Also, if installed correctly, the shape of the shaft will help to reduce spin out. I probably would have used them whether or not they had the o-ring. I added the epoxy just for extra security. I'm no expert in any of this. I just went with what i felt most confidant with.

[@josephmetzger7088]

@@totisviribus2616 As Spock would say, "Perfectly logical". I think I found the answer to my second question... looks like Mopar low profile rails (68088702AC, 68088703AC). Again, I encourage your videos. Your planning is meticulous and your craftsmanship excellent.

[@totisviribus2616]

@@josephmetzger7088 Right, sorry forgot there were two questions. Yes, those are just the rails that come factory with certain trim levels like the high altitude that I have, or the SRT8’s and maybe a couple others. Thanks for the kind words. I should have one or two more videos out in the next week or two.

[@abazdarhon]

If you look close to chief product they rails not only are instal on existing bolts pattern but as well rack seat on the rubber which spread the load

[@josephmetzger7088]

@@abazdarhon True... for down force capacity. Does not address up force in terms of a heavy roof load flexing upward when on offroad trails. I suspect this may eventually wear the stock sheet metal mounting points. I've got the Offroad Animal rails and will be installing some nutcerts in the rain gutter as TotisViribus did to address the upward forces. Carpe Diem on the OR rails... they whistle at highway speeds. Going to put some rubber inserts underneath to eliminate the wind tunnel effect.

[@scottstieferman6275]

Great job, can you link or reply with the part # for the Mopar rivnuts? Did you end up getting them from a local dealer?

[@scottstieferman6275]

This similar to what you used? parts.jeepsareus.com/oem-parts/mopar-installation-rivnut-6509876aa

[@totisviribus2616]

I purchased them from MoparPartsGiant.com. They had the best prices I could find with shipping factored in. The dealership was almost twice the price. The part number is 6509876AA. Here's the link, www.moparpartsgiant.com/parts/mopar-rivnut-installation~6509876aa.html?vin=&make=Jeep&model=Grand%20Cherokee&year=2016&submodel=&extra1=&extra2=&filter=()

[@totisviribus2616]

@@scottstieferman6275 Yes that's the part. The list price is cheaper than the link i sent, but make sure you factor in shipping, a lot of those sites that have really low list prices get you with shipping. Good luck.