pulled trigger for 2 items, cross bars & hitch

part # HTHW Lifetime warranty 5.00
part # 36545 Sportframe 1 1/4 inch Rec (Powder Coat) 179.95
Hitch Labor 37.50
On-Line Labor Discount -10.00
Tax 11.25
Total $223.70
Total Paid -$223.70
Amount Due $0.00

I'll only use these for one week when I use the roof basket later at the end of June but they look OK as-is I guess. I wouldn't drive around with them just like this. Installing them wasn't too bad just don't rush it or do it hungry. I started but it was cold and drizzly so I brought them in to open them up with the allen wrench. I marked them and put the bottom inserts in. Better not lose the allen wrench (long handle) & keys, cuz w/o them I can't install the bars. It got dark so I didn't test the basket on top but I don't expect an issue. I might try again before game-time when it warms up.





let's see if I can post a slideshow link instead of a ton of pics

http://s1279.photobucket.com/user/s...eep Cherokee Limited/Cross Bars by Brighlines

Mudman1 said:

http://www.amazon.com/Midland-HH54V...20&sr=8-7&keywords=NOAA+weather+radio+midland

I used to have a CB with NOAA in every vehicle. The Jeep does not have a good spot for one. I bought this one for my travels. One set of Energizer Lithium lasts over a year.

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hey thanks for that link. just put it on my wish list!

btw - I velcro'd my CB to the right side of the console, the passenger seat can still slide forward and there's enough room so that the glove box doesn't hit it. it's powered with an accessory plug inside the console. I just keep the mic in the tray with the front power outlet and SD card slot. fits fine with change and is easy to move when necessary. if I remember I'll post a pic.

OK, grabbed a pic from the forester forum showing same location I had it there

got the hitch installed.

tough getting up and to the location for a 7am appointment after getting in at 1:30 this morning. but worth it to be the 1st appointment of the day. total time from walking in the door and walking out was only 45 minutes.

I'm happy with it. it's higher than the muffler and a-arms so I haven't lost any ground clearance. but did change the departure angle. that's not a problem for me cuz my wheelin' is limited to regular dirt roads and some light beach driving. nothing steep

both my hitch racks fit great. (yeah, I have two) fitting them to this setup required some minor changes compared to my Subaru Forester. meaning the distance from the back of the hitch and the back of the bumper is different between the 2 vehicles. also the Subaru OEM hitch was open on both ends so I could slide the shafts in to different spots. if you're familiar with hitch racks, the shafts have more than one hole so you can install them on various vehicles.

my Subaru brand (2 bike) rack has an empty tube and the locking pin threads go into a spring loaded nut you slide in the tube. I moved the nut to the other hole for this vehicle. locks great, no wiggle

the Swagman (4 bike) rack has a solid tube. one hole is smooth and I used that on the Forester with a regular pin. it had some wiggle so I steadied it with ropes or straps. but for the Jeep I'm able to use the other hole which is threaded. I ordered the Swagman locking threaded pin. this way each rack has it's own pin. also, the threaded pin I have didn't thread into the Swagman. maybe it would have if I took a wrench to it cuz it started then stopped but I didn't want to risk ruining the threads so I ordered the brand specific pin. it's a snug fit and the locking pin will eliminate any wiggle

I've got a hatchback rack so now I have three racks for this car. I will have several options for carrying 4 bikes to get them to our house rental in June. the Forester only had a Class I hitch so it could only hold 2 bikes and I used the hatchback rack plus the hitch in order to carry all 4 bikes. the U-Haul hitch is Class II and in theory should be able to hold all 4 bikes. but I don't like the dynamics of that setup so I may opt for 2 racks again.

would I prefer an integral Jeep OEM hitch, of course. are there other "better" hitches, of course. is this the right choice for me, yup pretty much

Ribbertw said:

Does that bike rack swing down to open the hatch?

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just another cpl words about the Swagman Titan and hitch type bike racks in general

for those ppl who are shopping or who just received their racks, it might be helpful to illustrate that there are 2 types of wiggle or rattle.

1 - at the hitch, which can be fixed with a wedge type devise or a threaded locking pin

2- at the lower elbow of folding racks, which is fixed by using support/stabilizing straps (not all folding racks have wiggle at the elbow, my 2 bike Subaru rack does not)

for me and my Swagman Titan, I had both 1 & 2 to deal with. I just got my new Curt support straps (18050) and had to figure out how to thread the 2 pieces in the pkg and found 2 videos I thought I would share. they are funny to me because both videos show the racks wiggling rattling, even the one with the support strap. mine doesn't wiggle/rattle anymore because I solved both types at the hitch and at the elbow

this 1st video (at the end road test) clearly shows my rack wiggling at the elbow. when I 1st got it, I contacted the manufacturer customer support and they were not helpful. it's OK though I got it figured out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8nd7KJlmB0

this 2nd video is only helpful to show me how to thread the strap through the cambuckle. but if you watch at the end, the guy's face is funny cuz the thing is still wiggling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trzBEpsf_GE