Best Jeep Wrangler Roof Racks

Why Install a Roof Rack?

So, why install a roof rack over any other cargo management system? Ultimately, roof racks are the only system that actually bolsters cargo space without interfering with your Jeep’s off-road performance or departure angles. After all, the Jeep Wrangler is renowned for its off-road prowess! 

While utility trailers and hitch carriers function well on the street, both significantly diminish offroad performance; try taking a utility trailer or hitch carrier through Devil’s Hot Tub in Moab! Roof racks are far more effective in off-road scenarios, keeping your excess cargo out of the interior and far from any obstacles you may encounter on the trail, aside from low-hanging branches! 

Many roof racks also come with integrated light and accessory mounts, allowing you to affix off-road lights, recovery equipment, and more! Ultimately, the real question isn’t why you should install a roof rack on your Jeep Wrangler, but why wouldn’t you?

Top Roof Rack Systems: Expert’s Picks

We offer a wide selection of roof racks for the Jeep Wrangler. In this section, we cover our expert’s top roof rack selections, ranging from traditional crossbar systems to robust plate-steel cargo baskets. No matter your needs or preferences, we’ve included a product for you!

Rugged Ridge Sherpa Roof Rack Kit

Most roof racks stick to the same blueprint: clamp on rails or uprights with crossbars or the occasional roof basket. While there’s nothing wrong with this tried-and-true design, some Jeepers may find it a bit played out. Fortunately, Rugged Ridge has the solution: the Sherpa Roof Rack Kit! 

The Rugged Ridge Sherpa Roof Rack Kit is a unique tubular roof rack that follows the contours of your Jeep Wrangler’s body, starting at the front of the cowl beside the windshield/A-pillar and following the roofline up, over, and down the C-pillars to the rear bumper. Though this roof rack may resemble an exo-cage, don’t bank on driving away from a rollover! 

Still, the Sherpa's rugged tubular steel construction offers exceptional strength and durability. For added corrosion resistance, Rugged Ridge coats the entire rack in a durable textured black powder coat. 

While this rack system may look obtrusive, it features a convenient tilt feature for easy access to your Jeep’s top, allowing you to remove and reinstall hard and soft tops without unbolting the rack from your Jeep! The Rugged Ridge Sherpa also features a simple no-drill installation and integrated light mounts. 

Rugged Ridge backs the Sherpa Roof Rack Kit with a limited 5-year warranty against manufacturing and material defects. 

Features: 

• Robust steel construction

• Corrosion-resistant black powder coat finish

• Unique tilt feature

• Can remove and install hard and soft tops without rack removal

• Simple, no-drill installation

• Integrated light bar

• Limited 5-year warranty

Rhino Rack Vortex Cross Bars Complete Kit

If you’re looking for a simple crossbar kit for your Jeep’s hardtop, consider a cost-effective yet high-quality Rhino Rack Vortex system! This system includes Rhino Rack’s aerodynamic Vortex crossbars, featuring an aerodynamic teardrop shape for a quiet and efficient ride. All rack components feature a lightweight aluminum construction, reducing the load on the fiberglass top. 

The Rhino Rack Vortex Cross Bar system features a respectable 165-pound weight capacity, making it ideal for light loads like luggage, snow gear, and more! This rack is also a breeze to install with its simple clamp-on mounting system. Removal is just as easy and leaves no lingering damage to the top. 

Rhino Rack backs each Vortex crossbar system with a limited lifetime warranty against defects. 

Features: 

• Heavy-duty aluminum construction

• Designed for gutterless vehicles

• 165-lb. weight capacity

• Vehicle-specific design for easy installation

• Simple, no-drill installation with includes clamps

• Ideal for transporting luggage, skis, snowboards, and more!

• Limited lifetime warranty

Smittybilt Defender Roof Rack

If utility is your greatest concern, consider the Defender Roof Rack from Smittybilt, a purveyor of premium off-road accessories! The Defender Roof Rack is no exception, featuring a durable 1-inch steel tube construction with a corrosion-resistant black powder coat finish. This product features a robust one-piece welded design, withstanding up to 150 pounds of cargo! 

While the base rack system includes only the Defender roof rack, Smittybilt offers numerous accessories for maximum practicality. In addition to the rack, Smittybilt sells an optional spare tire mount, axe and shovel mount, trail jack mount, and a prerunner-style light cage capable of housing four 9-inch round lights! 

The Smittybilt Defender Roof Rack features a straightforward installation; some drilling may be required. Smittybilt backs the Defender Roof Rack with a limited lifetime structural warranty and a 5-year finish warranty.  

Features: 

• Heavy-duty 1" steel tube construction

• 150 lb. cargo capacity

• One-piece fully-welded design

• Durable textured black powder-coat finish

• Optional light cage fits four 9" diameter lights (sold separately)

• Optional mounts: spare tire, axe, shovel, trail jack

• Required vehicle-specific mount kit

• Installation may require drilling

• Limited lifetime structural | 5-year finish warranty

Go Rhino SRM500 Roof Rack

The Go Rhino SRM500 is a premium, platform-style rack system for the Jeep Wrangler, featuring a flat, tubular design to support your gear, oversized cargo, and any other accessories you’ll need on the road! 

The Go Rhino SRM500 includes Rhino Rack’s universal Rhino clamps, making installation a breeze! These clamps bolt onto existing crossbars, securing the platform to prevent shifting and sliding while driving. 

The Go Rhino SRM500 Roof Rack features a robust tubular aluminum frame, offering exceptional durability without excessively weighing down the fiberglass hard top. The rack’s lower crossbars utilize Go Rhino’s 4-CORE system, which accepts most T-Slot accessories, like tie-down anchors, gear mounts, and more! Each SRM500 also features pre-drilled light tabs to secure auxiliary pods and cubes. 

Go Rhino backs the SRM500 Roof Rack with a limited lifetime structural and 5-year finish warranty.  

Features: 

• Available in 4 convenient sizes

• Robust yet lightweight 2" aluminum frame

• Finished with a durable textured black powder coat

• Utilizes Go Rhino's 4-CORE crossbars

• Mounts to OE or aftermarket roof rack crossbar systems

• Pre-drilled lighting locations (lights not included)

• Easy to install with Rhino clamps (included)

• Limited lifetime structural | 5-year finish warranty

Paramount Jeep Roof Rack

Paramount understands that the average Jeeper is an adventurer, longing for the next camping trip or trail to get their tires and boots dirty. However, upon noting a lack of cargo space behind the rear hatch, the company took it upon itself to craft a durable, Jeep-specific rack system to bolster exterior cargo capacity: introducing the Paramount Jeep Roof Rack. 

This heavy-duty roof rack features a durable tubular steel construction, including square tube crossbars and a round tube frame. The all-steel construction offers exceptional strength, easily supporting up to 150 pounds! 

All alloy components receive a durable textured black powder coat finish, guarding the underlying steel against corrosion. This finish also resists chips, scratches, UV exposure, and oil/chemical contamination. 

The Paramount Jeep Roof Rack features a simple, no-drill installation thanks to its convenient modular design. Paramount backs this product with a limited lifetime structural and 5-year finish warranty. 

Features: 

• Thick-gauge rectangular tube construction

• Textured black powder coat finish

• Integrated front wind deflector

• Includes all required hardware and mounting instruction

• Simple, no-drill installation

• Modular design

• Supports up to 150 lbs.

• Limited lifetime structural | 5-year finish warranty