Just Five Bolts: Fridge Slide AND Cargo Rack!

MattJ

Adventurer
I wanted to share the quick-mount design I built for my fridge and cargo shelf. The fridge and slide are sold by Dometic and the rack is an Olympic 4x4 kit that I modified. Both the fridge slide and the cargo rack can be installed and removed in under five minutes, with just five bolts. My goal was to create an overlanding fridge/cargo configuration that is very lightweight and very strong, but can be removed easily for day trips on extreme off-road trail conditions when the fridge stays home and recovery gear gets strapped down with a cargo net, not a shelf. Another reason for the quick-removal configuration is that I switch to the NX Glide soft top for beach trips in the summer. I thought this might be a good design to share with other Jeep owners that do a lot of overlanding trips AND hard trail runs!

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Last edited:

Etoimos

Observer
It looks like you have the back of your cargo rack mounted to the brackets and the front is tapped into the roll bars? Did you make those brackets your self, or source them from some place?
 

MattJ

Adventurer
Great question - and good eye for details!

1) Below is my review that I posted on Amazon.com about this cargo rack.

2) There are some photos of an additional upgrade I made to the rack just yesterday in this thread: https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/new-jku-cargo-system-for-2018.192238/#post-2463784 (Etoimos - I know you posted there too.)

3) I really like that the front of the rack attaches to brackets - it makes it VERY easy to take the rack out of my Jeep. But the original u-bolt clamp system that comes with the rack does NOT attach to the rear roll bars very well. So the rack would sag down two or three inches at the back, ruining the clearance necessary for the fridge underneath it. So I installed massive rivnuts into my roll bars with the large bolts that you see in my photos. This kept the rack level, but it rattled a lot on rough trails. I wrapped rubber tape around the bolts . . . but the tape eventually split due to repeated impact. So my latest solution was the rubber blocks you can see in that other thread above.

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Etoimos

Observer
Thanks for the additional info. I'll probably end up making my own, it would be a good first welding project for me as well. I just need to figure out how I want to configure everything back there now. I've removed the large portion of the 60/40 rear seat and put a flat platform back there. I'm also going to be going to an offroad trailer at some point, so I have to factor that in as well.
 

jgaz

Adventurer
Thanks for the additional info. I'll probably end up making my own, it would be a good first welding project for me as well. I just need to figure out how I want to configure everything back there now. I've removed the large portion of the 60/40 rear seat and put a flat platform back there. I'm also going to be going to an offroad trailer at some point, so I have to factor that in as well.

This may or may not help your decision. This picture shows the cargo basket in my LJ that started life as a Harbor Freight hitch carrier. I removed the center, square tube section, and bolted the half’s together.
E1006C7E-2238-4BB0-8B2E-8793BBFD471F.jpeg
Note: This was taken during the “under construction” phase.
OP, Sorry for the hijack. I like your set up with your fridge.
 
Last edited:

harpersJK

Member
I wanted to share the quick-mount design I built for my fridge and cargo shelf. The fridge and slide are sold by Dometic and the rack is an Olympic 4x4 kit that I modified. Both the fridge slide and the cargo rack can be installed and removed in under five minutes, with just five bolts. My goal was to create an overlanding fridge/cargo configuration that is very lightweight and very strong, but can be removed easily for day trips on extreme off-road trail conditions when the fridge stays home and recovery gear gets strapped down with a cargo net, not a shelf. Another reason for the quick-removal configuration is that I switch to the NX Glide soft top for beach trips in the summer. I thought this might be a good design to share with other Jeep owners that do a lot of overlanding trips AND hard trail runs!

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Awesome idea, what size tube did you use?

Thanks!
Randy
 

pittsburgh

tacocat
This may or may not help your decision. This picture shows the cargo basket in my LJ that started life as a Harbor Freight hitch carrier. I removed the center, square tube section, and bolted the half’s together.
View attachment 444373
Note: This was taken during the “under construction” phase.
OP, Sorry for the hijack. I like your set up with your fridge.

I want to do something like this in my LJ that will let me keep using my rear seat at the sametime. How did you attach this to the roll bar?
 

jgaz

Adventurer
I want to do something like this in my LJ that will let me keep using my rear seat at the sametime. How did you attach this to the roll bar?
@pittsburgh, I’m not home and am currently in an area with poor internet.
I’m not sure if I detailed my basket mounting methods on this forum and am unable to search my posts effectively at this time.

My various mounting versions are all detailed here. I think you’ll be able to see the pictures without a log in.

Please note. I remove my backseat to use my basket. You probably could leave my supports in place but I haven’t tried it that way.
I don’t want to hijack this thread further. Please feel free to PM me if you’d like info on a cargo rack that allows the rear seat to remain in use.
 

harpersJK

Member
Matt,

Thanks again for the idea, I believe it's going to work out great! Next to start on the cabinet and running power to the back.

Randy
 

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