gobi roof rack

[blockrockin]

hi i have a 8 foot gobi rack with the 2 inch brackets... and i noticed that on bumpy roads sometimes i can hear the bottom of the rack touching the roof.. i looked and it seems to be really close right under the spare tire on the rack.. about 1/4 or 1/2 inch and i guess the rack bounces alittle and i can hear it barely touching.. anyone else have this problem..? thanks

[CO Hummer]

I've had the Gobi rack on my roof for almost 4 years and haven't once heard it bang against the roof. Many time's I've been offroad with the tire on too (Stock BFG). While there isn't a lot of clearance, they designed it to stay rigid enought to not touch.

I'm not saying you don't have this problem, but if so I'd contact Gobi. Paul or Sandra will take care of you.

Here's an old picture of my clearance.

[timgco]

I bet his tire is loose up there.

We have had a few people standing on that exact rack. It does not come close to touching the roof. I have seen tires that were not secured all the way and will make a ton of noise up there though.

I would check all mounting bolt into the factory tracks and than your bolts that mount to the rack. If thery are all tight, than it has to be your tire.

If everything is secured properly, and you still feel it's hitting the roof take some side profile shots and post them up.

Hope that helps.

[blockrockin]

thanks for the help.... i looked at mine and the frist two bars that go across after the sun roof have that indention that follow the lines in the roof but the others toward the back and under the spare tire dont have the indentions.... so i think it is just slightly touch when i hit bumps... the problem may be beacuse originaly the rack had the 4 1/4 brackets then i got the 2 inch brackets... but i thought the rack would be the same for both? i guess maybe the 4 1/4 racks are differnt ? thanks

[CO Hummer]

Originally Posted by blockrockin

the problem may be beacuse originaly the rack had the 4 1/4 brackets then i got the 2 inch brackets... but i thought the rack would be the same for both? i guess maybe the 4 1/4 racks are differnt ? thanks

Ahhh. Yep, that's likely your problem. I suppose they don't need to put the indents in there when it's supposed to be 4+ inches away. that would be overkill. But when the clearance it tight, you need it like in my pic of my stealth rack. I suppose you could have those tubes notched inward. Call Gobi and get their suggestion how to do it while maintaining the strength on those cross members. It's doesn't appear to that it would overly difficult.

[timgco]

Q1: Did you check all bolts?
Q2: Did you have the tire up there before everything was tightened down?

I know a few people with the 2" brackets on the full size rack with no issues.

Was this rack used or bought new? If it was bought used, do you know what year truck they had? I'm trying to determine how old the rack is.

There have been minor changes over the years.

[blockrockin]

hi i checked all the bolts.... the rack is from a 03 ..i have a 04 .i bought it used .. i did have the tire aready on their before i tighted the bolts.. would that make a diffrence...? i guess i could try and make some kind of spacer to give it alittle extra space... i only need 1 inch or so... thanks!

[timgco]

Originally Posted by blockrockin

hi i checked all the bolts.... the rack is from a 03 ..i have a 04 .i bought it used .. i did have the tire aready on their before i tighted the bolts.. would that make a diffrence...? i guess i could try and make some kind of spacer to give it alittle extra space... i only need 1 inch or so... thanks!

OK, I just checked and there are TWO styles of the rack

Old Style: Did have some flex and 4" brackets with the factory crossbars are needed for proper installation.

New Style: Has an extra welded in crossmember that keeps the rack from flexing. There were other smaller changes to this rack style as well. All the new styles (Stealth or Full Size) has the extra rigid cross members and will not allow the rack to felx like the old style. you can even fit a 38" tire in the new ones.

So you will have to put a spacer in there or put the 4" brackets back on.

[CO Hummer]

Originally Posted by timgco

So you will have to put a spacer in there or put the 4" brackets back on.

Or........simply weld on some supports. That would be a simple fix.

[blockrockin]

oh ok thanks.. ill try and find somekind of spacer to give it alittle more clearance..