[ksfrogman]

This is my first mini-mod. I purchased the Baja Rack Drop-in Basket, because I wanted to retain the OEM look/seal with the roof. It surprises me that the front-half of the roof is not truly utilized by the OEM rack alone.

I wanted to share a few comments and pointers for those who want to install this:

- I am very happy with the quality and fitment of this product.

- It attaches to the OEM rack with upper and lower clamps and fasteners (5/16" stainless steel bolts, washers, lock washers, nuts, nylon washers)--you'll need 1/2" sockets for the bolt heads and nuts.

- After attaching the clamps and fasteners with the rack in place atop the OEM one, it is important to position it:

(a) with regard to its anterior (forward), posterior (backwards) location. If you're mounting a light bar up front, you will need to leave room for this.

(b) with regard to superior (upward) and inferior (downward) location. The weight of the basket pushes the rack toward the roof. If possible, place a temporary shim (I used a gardener's knee pad and some wood veneer), to keep the basket raised away from the roof. This will allow you to tighten the bolts with the rack in its intended position without putting strain on the stainless steel bolt threads/nuts. Alternatively, you can have someone (other than your short spouse), hold the rack upward while you tighten.

 

[FJFreddie]

Lookin' good. Thanks for the tips :bigthumb:

 

[xplrn42]

Thanks for posting the pics, I plan to get one of these for myself. I agree with you about the stock rack, I would like a full baja but can't justify one at this time, and don't want deal with replacing the stock one.

 

[Bville-Bud]

Can I ask a quick question? Would you take a tape measure and tell me how much space is there between the end of the Baja Rack and the back of the OEM rack? I have a Pelican 1700 series case in the back of my rack for semi-secure storage, and need 18 inches of space before the back of the Baja Rack. Thanks!

 

[ksfrogman]

Can I ask a quick question? Would you take a tape measure and tell me how much space is there between the end of the Baja Rack and the back of the OEM rack? I have a Pelican 1700 series case in the back of my rack for semi-secure storage, and need 18 inches of space before the back of the Baja Rack. Thanks!

There should be plenty of room. Just realize the rear sides of the OEM rack are not square, but rounded; this might be a concern if your case took up the entire width of the rack. However, even the minimum distance from the rear sides of the basket to where the OEM rack begins to curve is still greater than 18". And I have the basket pushed towards the rear of the vehicle so I can mount a light bar at the front in the future.

The answer is 26" measured along the center of the rooftop.

 

[Bville-Bud]

Thanks so much Frogman!

 

[RomaBoy]

Nice mod and thanks for sharing. :cheers:

 

[ksfrogman]

Thanks so much Frogman!

Nice mod and thanks for sharing. :cheers:

You're gladly welcome. Photos help us visualize products better.

 

[FJ in PDX]

- I am very happy with the quality and fitment of this product.

Can those Mexicans fabricate or what!

- (b) with regard to superior (upward) and inferior (downward) location. The weight of the basket pushes the rack toward the roof. If possible, place a temporary shim (I used a gardener's knee pad and some wood veneer), to keep the basket raised away from the roof. This will allow you to tighten the bolts with the rack in its intended position without putting strain on the stainless steel bolt threads/nuts. Alternatively, you can have someone (other than your short spouse), hold the rack upward while you tighten.

I used two of my wife's quilts while she wasn't looking. I spread one out flat so as to not bugger up the roof, and the other I folded lengthwise once or twice to get the height I wanted.

I agree with your assessment; these are a great option for those of us not wanting to eliminate the factory roof rack, which personally I find useful enough to hang on to.

 

[ksfrogman]

Can those Mexicans fabricate or what!



I used two of my wife's quilts while she wasn't looking. I spread one out flat so as to not bugger up the roof, and the other I folded lengthwise once or twice to get the height I wanted.

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

 

[vfrman02]

This is gonna be one of my next mods...Does it cut down on wind noise at all coming from the rack?

 

[Jrnottarts]

Will the basket slide any further back? I have a light bar on the front of the oem rack. It looks like your current position would be close...but another inch or so would be perfect...any wiggle room left or is that maxed out?

Looks great btw! :cheers:

 

[ksfrogman]

This is gonna be one of my next mods...Does it cut down on wind noise at all coming from the rack?

I'm not sure about this as I haven't driven on the freeway at faster speeds yet; there's too much traffic here in L.A. I assumed the wind noise was mostly from our vertical windshield and side mirrors.

Will the basket slide any further back? I have a light bar on the front of the oem rack. It looks like your current position would be close...but another inch or so would be perfect...any wiggle room left or is that maxed out?

Looks great btw! :cheers:

Thanks, yes it can be moved back further, especially if you remove the forward most rear cross member, which is easy by the way. You know our roof rack side rails are not completely parallel? I believe they are wider apart toward the front, and closer together toward the back. These were designed with the artist, not engineer in mind. Still, I do remember there was wiggle room, because the BajaRack clamps have slotted bolt holes that are adjustable for stock rack width variances.

An extra inch should not be a problem.

 

[Firecracker]

You did a great job!

 

[ksfrogman]

You did a great job!

Thank you. :rocker:

 

[JimtheFin]

Nice write up and it looks good on your rig. I'll be in San Diego on Wednesday and I've been thinking about picking up a drop-in basket. This write-up assures that I will buy one. Thanks.

 

[RucaQ]

Hey KSfrogman,

Is it possible to use the factory crossbars on the upper level of the factory rack over the Baja drop in basket??

Thanks

 

[RucaQ]

One more question.

I am looking to place a canoe on top of my FJ. Im trying to determine if a canoe was placed on top of the fj resting on the back of the oem rack, where the front/middle of the canoe would rest. Would it rest on the front of the baja drop in rack (the bar where the wind-deflector is located), or would it hit the back crossbar of the baja drop in basket? I guess I'm trying to decide if the back crossbar of the baja rack sits higher than the front crossbar.

Thanks

 

[ksfrogman]

One more question.

I am looking to place a canoe on top of my FJ. Im trying to determine if a canoe was placed on top of the fj resting on the back of the oem rack, where the front/middle of the canoe would rest. Would it rest on the front of the baja drop in rack (the bar where the wind-deflector is located), or would it hit the back crossbar of the baja drop in basket? I guess I'm trying to decide if the back crossbar of the baja rack sits higher than the front crossbar.

Thanks

At no point does any part of the baja rack basket sit higher than the OEM rack, except for the side brackets themselves. I'm at my office at the moment, and won't be home till later today. Perhaps I can take a long fishing rod, and place it across the rooftop to answer your question better.

As for the OEM crossbars, I never tried putting them on. I suspect the distance between the sides of the baja rack and the stock bars would prohibit using them, but this is just a guess.

 

[RucaQ]

Thanks for the response. Let me know if you test with a fishing rod. If you don't mind, and you have the crossbars handy...could you check to see if one may be placed over the baja rack. Reason being, I snowboard all winter here in colorado, and use the oem crossbars for my snowboards. If I put a baja drop basket on my FJ, I want to make sure I can still use my snowboard racks all winter.

Thanks for your time---