So my next purchase for the Jeep will be a roof rack, Now the question at hand. I cannot afford a gobi or the likes but I think I've narrowed it down between these two
I used a KargoMaster on my TJ for about 4 years hauling kayaks almost every weekend and it worked great; a good piece of equipment for the money. I know the Garvin is considerably more change but I have no first hand knowledge so I can't help you there. I have a 2013 JK on order that should be here by the end of August and I plan on putting a KargoMaster on it.
I'm actually in the exact same position as you right now... I need to haul my yaks around and so far I am really looking at the Garvin - it seems like the most reasonable option that has the features I want (folds away fairly easily so I can still lower my soft top, and has cross bars in convenient locations built in for hauling yaks). The one thing about the Kargo Master for me is it seems like you would still still might need to add cross bars depending on what you want to haul, as the two main cross bars on the Kargo are pretty far apart (too far apart for me for my yaks). And if you add the Kargo cross bars the price quickly equals the Garvin.
I can't find any good reviews on the Garvin... I would love to hear from someone who has one.
I'm actually in the exact same position as you right now... I need to haul my yaks around and so far I am really looking at the Garvin - it seems like the most reasonable option that has the features I want (folds away fairly easily so I can still lower my soft top, and has cross bars in convenient locations built in for hauling yaks). The one thing about the Kargo Master for me is it seems like you would still still might need to add cross bars depending on what you want to haul, as the two main cross bars on the Kargo are pretty far apart (too far apart for me for my yaks). And if you add the Kargo cross bars the price quickly equals the Garvin.
I can't find any good reviews on the Garvin... I would love to hear from someone who has one.
My shortest boat is 12', my longest is 16' (fishing kayaks) so the distance between the front crossbar and the rear is not an issue for me. If I ever want to carry two boats (flat, side by side) I would need to put the optional crossbars on it, but as it sits (or sat, I sold it this week) one kayak sits perfectly on the rack. What I really like (vs the racks with a basket) is that it's got to be so much more aerodynamic and gives off far less wind noise. What I want to know is if the Body Armor rack sits closer to the Jeep than a KargoMaster. My single complaint about the KargoMaster is that water can get past the cheap o-ring seals around the 4 top bolts (that hold it together) and it will drip rusty water onto my top after it rains. On my next one I am thinking of shooting the top bars full with some spray foam, drilling the foam out of the bolt "channels", filling the "channels" with RTV and installing the bolts. That should fix the problem as the foam would prevent water from getting into the tubes.
I think the Garvin is the better looking of the two. One thing to consider is how the different racks mount to the rear of the jeep. Some will require drilling, others wont and some won't work with an aftermarket bumper if that's something you are thinking of in the future or already have.
Kargo does it as well, Body armor does not though, I think im gonna go with the garvin because of all the accessories they have available that can go with it
I don't have that model Garvin (have the wilderness rack) but I can say, the quality is top notch, and their customer service is the best. Customer service is what swayed me to Garvin over others.
I've been to the factory. Met the owners. And my rack has carried many a load over 15000 miles now. Zero rust. Zero issues. Just well made, strong powdercoat, well thought out design.
My ARB awning attaches to it. My rotopax, maxtrax, HiLift, bags, etc... ride up there. And I use it for a platform for photographing if I need to get higher to cut out foreground stuff....
For what it's worth.
How was the install on the wilderness rack? The Garvin Adventure rack install seems fairly complicated from looking at the pdf instructions on their site. Nothing impossible or anything, but a two person job and a few hours.
Oh and Carolyn, that's one heck of a photography setup. Nice. I didn't even think about standing on the Garvin, but with a 300 lbs rating, I'd be good to go if I put a platform on it too.
And general, I agree. Another reason I'm considering the Garvin over anything else right now. It looks nice. I'm hoping it looks as good as in person. The only thing I was concerned about there is how the rear supports would look. The front is super clean but the rear leaves a little to be desired. I guess that's the price you pay though for not having to drill, which is a plus to me.
How was the install on the wilderness rack? The Garvin Adventure rack install seems fairly complicated from looking at the pdf instructions on their site. Nothing impossible or anything, but a two person job and a few hours.
Oh and Carolyn, that's one heck of a photography setup. Nice. I didn't even think about standing on the Garvin, but with a 300 lbs rating, I'd be good to go if I put a platform on it too.
And general, I agree. Another reason I'm considering the Garvin over anything else right now. It looks nice. I'm hoping it looks as good as in person. The only thing I was concerned about there is how the rear supports would look. The front is super clean but the rear leaves a little to be desired. I guess that's the price you pay though for not having to drill, which is a plus to me.
Install on the Wilderness (Garvin) was done at the factory in SoCal. That's how I met the owners. Took them about 2.5 or 3 hours. 2 guys working on it.
The front drop down bars attach below the windshield to the body. The rear 2 attach via 2 plates drilled on to the rear quarter panels (each side - 2 bolts and 3 bolts)(10 altogether counting both sides.) This is maybe overkill for many folks. I run kind of hard off road (for miles and miles - fast if the roads allow)... and intend to keep this vehicle for years. Garvin feels that to connect to the body in the front, and the frame in the back is not the best physics... think about it. If you get body roll.... you will be adding a lot of torque to something... between the bolts under the windshield, and the bolts on the frame behind. If it's bolted to the body front and back, that's not an issue.
Again - I don't know how their other racks attach.... but this one, for it's intended use... works for me.
BTW.... the front bolts under the windshield are already there. No need to drill up front. AND - note the rear lower photo - you lose that stupid license plate box thing.
To swing up/back the rack to remove/replace hard top - undo 3 bolts on front (both sides) swing back into place, and it's held there by a short rod.
The freedom panels just slip out from under the rack.
Again - I KNOW this is a different set up. More than most would want/need.
Sorry 'bout the crummy cell phone pics.... don't know why they uploaded 90 degrees rotated cc?
I thought it looked like drilling was required too...
From Quadratec's website:
The new Garvin Industries Adventure rack for the JK is the most versatile rack we have ever offered. The rack is perfect for someone looking to mount a canoe or kayak, or even a piece of plywood from your local hardware store. With the optional accessories, you can turn it into a full-on off-road rig. The Adventure rack mounts to the front windshield and frame holes in the rear of the Jeep, with no drilling required. The rack can be tilted back to lower or raise the soft-top. The weight capacity for the Adventure Rack is 300 lbs.
Here's a link to the install PDF...I can't find where it says to drill but I'm at work and being discrete...
If you look at page 6 on the pdf where the rear bracket gets installed, it actually looks like the bracket goes in between the bumper and the body panel, up under the car and then gets bolted to part of the frame or something. I am seeing that right?
I was looking at the instructions for the adventure rack as well and to my knowledge it hooks up to the body up front and frame in the rear 0 drilling required.
They might have changed the mounting proceedures/design but the photo on the Garvin website (for the Adventure Rack) clearly shows bracketry bolted onto the sheet metal; actually in two places....right above the bumper and higher up near the top of the body tub. Two guys working 2-3 hours to mount one up sounds excessive...no wonder you had it installed at the factory.:whistling:Most consumers across the country don't have that option.
The KargoMaster for a TJ requires one hole (each side) to be drilled just above the tail-lights. But the KargoMaster for the JK bolts to a bracket that is slipped between the bumper and body and then bolted to the frame.
I think that's the confusion on the drilling. The adventure rack doesn't appear to require drilling. The Wilderness rack does require drilling it seems.
The picture for the adventure rack is misleading. It looks like those bolts in the rear go into the quarter panel. But if you think about it, the top bolts can't go into the quarter panel because that is the portion of the rack that swings back when you drop it back to open the top. The bottom part isn't bolted to the bumper either. The way I understand it from the instructions, it is floating above the bumper supported by a bracket that slips between the bumper and the outside of the rear quarter panel, then slips up under the rear quarter panel and bolts directly to the frame...if that makes any sense.
There are not enough reviews out there on the adventure rack. It really looks like the best option for carrying kayaks out of the box, one of the cheaper options out there relatively speaking, and a good looking rack...
I ordered the Garvin Adventure rack today after much thought. Definitely seems like the best rack for toting kayaks around, and whatever else, when you consider cost, supported weight, looks, made in USA, number of crossbars you could get, etc.
It's back-ordered on quadratec right now which bummed me out, cause I'm in the northeast and gearing up for some fall kayaking, but hopefully it comes sooner than later.
I have a 2-dr and could not find pictures anywhere of the adventure rack on a 2-dr but finally someone on our forum posted shots of the 2-dr rack installed on his 2-dr in the 'what did you do to your JK today" thread and it sealed the deal for me. Great looking rack. If you're still curious, check out the photos on page 258 and 259 of that thread.
Thinking about a Body Armor Rack Base (no basket) for hauling a 17.5 foot expedition canoe. Can anyone share any installation reviews?
I'd like to find something that goes on and off easily (with two people) - is the Body Armor Rack good for this?
It looks like the hardtop would go on and off without removing the base, by lifting it straight up (as long as you don't have a basket in the way), is that correct?
thanks!
I love the Garvin, think I am going to order it. My dad had one on his TJ and it was nice. I could swing Gobi rack but that would limit the amount of other things I can do right now, to achieve the same thing a roof rack. My main reason is to have it to set tent up on to get off the ground but to also have a rick and it will keep my soft top from getting to beat up on the trails.
Edit: after looking at the GOBI I am thinking the Garvin would be the better way to go mainly because it is a fully enclosed basket.
I just installed my Garvin Adventure of my 2012 Jeep JK Unlimited. It took my buddy and I about 3 hours (taking our time with a few beers) and really wasnt difficult. No drilling required. To be clear - the newer version of the Adventure rack DOES NOT NEED DRILLING. The older version did but that is long gone.
I am stoked on it for sure. Wicked stable and looks nice. For me - the cross bar placement is key. I can fit my 9'8 longboard across the top; as well as, my short boards and snowboard/skis on the back section. That was the main reason I went with the Garvin. That and the fact that you can (somewhat) easily flip the cage back to swap out tops or simply pull the soft top up/down.
The kicker with tilting the rack back - its heavy and has a lot of pressure on the front face brackets. So when unscrewing I found it releases with a kick and sometimes pops out a couple washers. It would totally suck if you lost one in the process. Also - two person job in my opinion. Otherwise - the front rack bar could hit the top of your roof (paint) if you dont have someone pulling on the back of the rack. Fortunately - I have surf pads on all racks which helped.
Its still new to me so I am working out the kinks and trying to figure out the best process. I even emailed Garvin for suggestions. Eitherway - I am pumped on the rack. It looks great and totally worth the extra coin.
I gotta say +1 on the Garvin Adventure. I just put it on my '15 JKU last week. It's pretty solid, once you dial in the two rear roof bumpers and vertical supports bumpers. Installation took me a while (4 hrs), but I'm slow and was fighting mosquitoes and working by headlamp. The tubing is larger diameter than the Kongo, and the angles just seemed to look better. The directions aren't the best, that's for sure. I'm kinda glad you have to pull the tail lights to install the rear mount plates, 'cause I got to flood the compartments with open gear lube. Those cavities would surely be a mess after ten years of VT brine. Anyway, I bought mine to haul around two 14' SUPs. Works perfectly. Probably had them on and off 12 times in the last week. Rack is great. Be sure to Loctite the two rear roof bumpers. The lower nuts will back off if you don't. And you don't want to overtighten. The pads are only there to lend additional support to the units. If you go apeshit, you will damage the top.
Just to follow up. I was paranoid too. In fact, I couldn't find a video that DIDN'T show somebody punching three holes per side into their Jeep. The Garvin ADV $759 on the Quadratec site, installs WITHOUT any drilling. There are already two holes in the floor of the tub behind the tail lights (hence, their removal). And, it clears a standard garage door. I believe mine is around 79"-80" opening. That was another concern. Now, if I do a little lifting to get rid of the factory rake......we may have a problem
Extreme Terrain. As soon as Quadra didn't charge my CC, I called to ask what was up. Cancelled and ordred from Extreme. Had it in 3 days (PA-VT).
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