coleman or surco rack

lakailimited06 · 10-02-2007, 10:59 AM

was wondering if anyone had pics of that coleman safari rack or the surco safari rack installed on their WJ..i wanted to get one of those and throw my spare on top but wasnt sure which one looked better or worked better whatever..

Sporer65 · 10-02-2007, 11:11 AM

Coleman is cheaper but I don't think you can get the accessory attachments like with the Surco.

Big Red 95 · 10-02-2007, 11:46 AM

I saw this on another forum. if price will help you make up your mind this should help.

Coleman Safari Basket $75 w/free shipping!
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...rodid=11219524

I have never seen a surco that cheep. accessory brackets are easy enogh to make.

jeep_zj98 · 10-02-2007, 12:06 PM

Get the Surco... I bought it just 2 weeks back from a fellow jeeper and love it! It came w/ the 2 lights (which I need to wire this weekend) and spare tire bracket. If $$$ is an issue, go w/ Coleman.

**FPKites** · 10-02-2007, 01:09 PM

Coleman looks promising to me. Since I have the KOR light bar, light tabs on a rack would be useless to me. Just have to measure to see if my rooftop cargo box fits inside it for trips that I want to put lots of mileage on my carrier, then have the rack for the trail.

**SpeedyCat3** · 10-05-2007, 09:44 PM

Sorry I did not see this thread earlier.
I posted these pics a couple of weeks ago in the 'what did you do to your GC " sticky.

This is the Coleman rack:
So far I like it, and it seems well built.
It is not a super strong rack, but it will probably last a long time if not abused.
The one thing I do want to do though is to take it off the rack crosbars and make new crossbars that will make it sit closer to the roof.
I was looking for a thread that had some great pics on a home made mounting system for a rack, and this is how I got to this thread.
Only thing I have done is to take the Coleman decal off the fairing.

Casper4x4 · 10-05-2007, 10:16 PM

This is perfect! My girlfriend bought me the KOR light bar and I really wanted a roof rack but the surrco has the light mounts and i wont be needing that. The coleman will be perfect! Its cheap and will go right behind the lights. So glad you posted this.

Alonzo

Casper4x4 · 10-05-2007, 10:17 PM

yo speedy, what did you use to mount your tire?

**FPKites** · 10-05-2007, 10:30 PM

Meh...don't put the tire up there - makes you waaaayyyy top heavy.

I definitely like the Coleman rack though - just need to measure my cargo box to see if it fits inside. Box for the road trip, safari rack for the trail

Casper4x4 · 10-05-2007, 10:32 PM

really? No tire on the roof? I really like the look. with lights, the rack and a spare tire i think it looks way beefed up!

**FPKites** · 10-05-2007, 10:37 PM

Bahhh...I keep my spare in the cargo department where it belongs.

But, I'm a crawler. I need my COG as low as it can be when I'm in offcamber situations.

That, and I think spare on the roof looks poser. Again, the rock crawler in me - function over form.

Remember though, it's just my opinion. Thinking back, I should have made that clear...I apologize for trying to make opinion appear as fact.

Casper4x4 · 10-05-2007, 10:43 PM

Well the only thing bout me keeping the spare in the back is the space issue that I have. I would rather keep it on the roof to allow me to have some extra space.

**SpeedyCat3** · 10-05-2007, 10:56 PM

The big spare really takes all the room in the back, so that is why I'd rather have it on the rack.
I think I want to move the rack further front though, like I said, lower on the roof line, and mount a couple of cross bars additional for the spare.
I am not decided yet, but I will give it a try.
Most of the offroad outings here in Miami are mudding and there is now crawling, so I am not concerned about the off camber.
I will be getting an HD sway bar though, for the highway driving.
I keep my work stuff in the back Jim, all the time and I'd be really pressed for room it the spare was inside.
Now if I can get it to go on the stock mounting point inside, it would be easier.
I will be building a light bar this coming weekend Alonzo, I will post some pics once it's done.

**FPKites** · 10-06-2007, 12:09 AM

Angel, you haven't seen the back of mine most of the time. Offroad kit, tools, spare axles, recovery kit, etc.

In a ZJ, all you have to do is turn the rim around, and perhaps use some angle iron to make a longer bolt to hold the spare. A 33" tire will fit in the cargo area of a ZJ if it's aired down.

Did I mention I carry a compressor all the time and CO2 when on the trail?

CMARJEEP · 10-06-2007, 01:12 AM

wow i actually really like that coleman rack. i can get it on ebay for $99 too. i was looking into kevins because it comes with all the mounts and stuff but for $99 i can make all that stuff. i like that it doesnt take up the whole roof too. anybody have one of these that has fabbed up a hi-lift mount or shovel mount?