SmittyBilt XRC Rear Tire Rock Hard Trail Rack?
12-08-2009 | 07:29 PM
#1
Thread Starter
JK Jedi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8,931
Likes: 6
From: San Marcos, CA
SmittyBilt XRC Rear Tire Rock Hard Trail Rack?
A while back a buddy of mine was over to do some fender chopping and I got the idea that his Rock Hard Rack would work on my SmittyBilt XRC Carrier so I measured and sure enough the tube diameter was the same...so bought the rack and after a little chopping I had a trail rack for all my junk.
The reason you have to chop down the tubes is the Rock Hard carrier is lower than the SmittyBilt so the rack sits too high in stock form. Didn't take pics to do a formal write up because we were trying to get things done before the Rocktoberfest!
Anyway all you need to do is remove the tire from the carrier and mount the Rock Hard Trail Rack...level it then mark the down tubes with blue painters tape, throw a level across to the other down tube and mark it as well. Next remove the Down Tubes from the Rack and cut at the tape marks. Weld the down tube to the tube supporting the rack. Add a little touch up paint and that's all there is to it.
*Remember to leave yourself some room for expansion is you plan to move up to larger tires at some point*
Here's a few pics, planning to do more mods to the rack and add the gerry can holders that Rock Hard offers then I might have it all Powder Coated to look nice.
The reason you have to chop down the tubes is the Rock Hard carrier is lower than the SmittyBilt so the rack sits too high in stock form. Didn't take pics to do a formal write up because we were trying to get things done before the Rocktoberfest!
Anyway all you need to do is remove the tire from the carrier and mount the Rock Hard Trail Rack...level it then mark the down tubes with blue painters tape, throw a level across to the other down tube and mark it as well. Next remove the Down Tubes from the Rack and cut at the tape marks. Weld the down tube to the tube supporting the rack. Add a little touch up paint and that's all there is to it.
*Remember to leave yourself some room for expansion is you plan to move up to larger tires at some point*
Here's a few pics, planning to do more mods to the rack and add the gerry can holders that Rock Hard offers then I might have it all Powder Coated to look nice.
12-09-2009 | 12:49 PM
#5
Thread Starter
JK Jedi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 8,931
Likes: 6
From: San Marcos, CA
Yeah gonna do those next so I'll let you know but it really seems like there should be zero issues with those. 
No problem Man...time to give back, as you noticed I did the license plate relo and followed your write up! well not 100% cause I wasn't ready to make it clean by running the wires through the tubing...always planned to go back and finish it some day.
I hear you...why are all the good deals at xmas time when you have to spend all your money on everyone else!
No problem Man...time to give back, as you noticed I did the license plate relo and followed your write up!
well not 100% cause I wasn't ready to make it clean by running the wires through the tubing...always planned to go back and finish it some day. I hear you...why are all the good deals at xmas time when you have to spend all your money on everyone else!
01-17-2013 | 09:38 AM
#7
JK Freak
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 778
Likes: 0
From: Northern VA (NOVA)
Resurrecting this thread
This is exactly what I was looking for info on. How much did you have to chop down to make it fit reasonably? I don't readily have access to a welder so would have to outsource that work. In unchopped form, how much higher did it sit vs. how you have it now? It sits above a roofline a bit it looks like.