The Jeep Grand Cherokee is an immensely popular SUV in the United States. It offers excellent comfort for daily drivers with a pedigree of off-road capabilities that make it the perfect adventure vehicle for your family. We found six products that make great choices. Our favorite universal roof rack is the Arksen one (>>> Check on Amazon). It has the right features for durability and gives you the perfect place to store extra gear at a friendly price.
- ARKSEN 64
- Maxxhaul 50506
- Leader Accessories 101100
- Leader Accessories 102057
- XCAR Roof Rack + Net
- 7BLACKSMITHS BL126
Best Roof Rack for Jeep Grand Cherokee – Top Picks:
| ARKSEN 64 | Maxxhaul 50506 | Leader Accessories 101100 | Leader Accessories 102057 | XCAR Roof Rack + Net | 7BLACKSMITHS BL126 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  | |
| OEM Part Number | 005-TH-50081+005-TH-50071 | 50506 | 101100 | 102057 | Roof Rack + Net | BL126 |
| Dimensions | 64” x 39” x 6” | 64" x 39" x 6" | 64" x 39" x 6" | 43" x 39" x 5" | 64" x 39" x 6" | 64" x 39" x 6" |
| Load Capacity | 150 | 150 | 75-150 | 75-150 | 150 | 250 |
| Item weight | 38.03 | 44.9 | 36.8 | 34.8 | 41.7 | 36 |
| Price | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon | Find on Amazon |
Arksen Universal Roof Rack
This is a 64”x39”x6” universal roof rack that will fit on the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The rack is made of metal and features a powder coated finish to help resist rust and corrosion. It mounts to the vehicle’s crossbars using 5.5” U-bolts. The one-inch side bars are sturdy and provide up to 150 pounds of capacity.
The Arksen includes a metal wind fairing that helps to reduce drag and prevent buffeting wind that can loosen your cargo. This is a low-cost way to add extra storage without breaking the bank on an expensive, name-brand product.
Like all universal racks, you’ll want to check the measurements of your vehicle’s crossbars before ordering but we can confirm that this rack fits perfectly on the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Pros
- Easy for one person to install
- Included fairing helps reduce noise and drag
Cons
- Not super heavy-duty
- Not rust resistant and may cause rust staining on some vehicles without proper care
Maxxhaul 50506
The Maxxhaul universal roof rack is another convenient and affordable design to add storage space to your Jeep Grand Cherokee. The steel rack measures 64”x39”x6” and can carry up to 150 pounds of gear. It mounts to your vehicle’s cross bars using the included U-bolts that have a rubber pad to prevent damaging gear.
The steel rack has a black powder coat finish that reduces rust. The manufacturer recommends that you refinish the rack using truck bed liner paint if you are not going to store your vehicle indoors as the finish will not prevent rusting.
The rack ships in several pieces that are easy to assemble using basic hand tools and the included assembly instructions. The rack weighs 44.9 pounds when assembled.
Pros
- Great way to add extra storage space
- Strong enough to carry a full-size spare tire
Cons
- Requires refinishing out of the box to prevent rust according to the manufacturer
Leader Accessories Universal Roof Rack
The roof rack from Leader features the ability to be set up in two different sizes so that you can adjust the amount of carrying capacity to suit your needs. In the base configuration, the rack measures 43”x39”x6”, but you can easily add the extension to increase the size to 64”x39”x6”.
The metal rack features a powder coat finish that resists scratches, scuffs, and rust. It mounts to your vehicle’s cross bar using four included U-bolts. Make sure that your cross bars are at least 29.7” apart and no more than 4.6” across and less than 1.375” thick before ordering.
The rack is designed to carry up to 150 pounds of gear in the full-size version and will handle at least 75 pounds in the shortened design. You can even order optional extensions to increase the size to a whopping 84” in length, but you should not exceed 150 pounds of cargo for safety.
Pros
- Adjustable size is convenient for setting up the perfect storage solution
- Additional extensions make this an appropriate product for vans and RVs, too
Cons
- Cheap mounting hardware should be upgraded for serious use
- U-Bolts protrude into storage area
Leader Accessories Roof Basket
This design is somewhat different from the others on this list. Rather than functioning as a proper rack, this one is designed to work like a basket. It isn’t as tall as other designs and has a sloped tail that makes loading and unloading cargo easier. The low-profile design is sleek looking and not as bulky looking while still providing an excellent storage solution for your Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The Roof basket features a black powder coat finish over steel rails that measures 1” outside diameter. This provides a sturdy frame that can handle up to 150 pounds of weight. At 34.8 pounds, this is one of the lightest roof racks, letting you put more gear on your roof without overloading the structure.
The roof basket includes an extension piece that can be removed to offer you a basket measuring only 43” long and 39” wide for smaller loads or for use on smaller vehicles than the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
XCar Roof Rack with Bungee Net
The XCar roof rack for the Jeep Grand Cherokee has many of the same features as the most popular brands and includes a bungee-type security net that holds your cargo in place and prevents things from blowing away while you drive.
The rack itself measures 64” long and 39” wide with 6” sides. The built-in wind fairing helps to reduce wind drag and helps your fuel mileage while reducing unwanted noise. It is rated to handle up to 150 pounds of cargo. Buyers may need to purchase additional cross bars in order to fit this rack properly.
Steel construction has a powder coat finish that helps resist rust and damage from UV rays. Assembled, the rack weighs only 41.7 pounds, making it a medium-weight entrant on this list. It’s heavy enough to be durable but not so overweight that one person can’t install it.
Pros
- Included cargo net provides additional security without having to buy additional parts
- Lightweight design is easy for one person to install
Cons
- Numerous installers mention poorly aligned mounting holes that require extra effort to properly assemble
- Not as durable as other designs
7Blacksmiths Roof Rack
This design is among the heaviest duty roof rack products on the market. In fact, it is so strong, you can put more gear in this rack than your roof can safely handle. It is rated for up to 250 pounds fully loaded, a full 100 pounds over the maximum weight your Jeep Grand Cherokee can handle.
Even though this rack is designed to carry 100 pounds more weight than any other product on our list, it weighs less than all other full-size products. At only 36 pounds, only the Leader Roof Basket is lighter. That means this product is simple to assemble and install without help. It measures 64”x39”x6” when assembled.
The black powder coat finish helps to reduce rust damage and the included fairing limits wind noise and drag. Installers did not notice a change in fuel mileage after installing this lightweight design. Like other products, you will want to use a variety of silicone, heat shrink, and other protective measures to prevent rust which can appear in a very short period of time.
Pros
- Extremely high weight capacity
- Easy to assemble and install without assistance
Cons
- More prone to rust than other designs
- Frequent issues with water filling the tubes and rusting the rack from the inside out
- Weight capacity at maximum is likely to cause structural damage to your vehicle and is unsafe to drive
Conclusion
Adding a roof rack to your Jeep Grand Cherokee is a great way to free up storage inside the vehicle for things that are sensitive to the weather. A roof rack makes it easy to put storage totes on the roof, carry packages and bundles, or even a full-size spare for your off-road adventures. Our top pick from Arksen is a good compromise between quality and cost and meets the needs of most drivers.
All of the products on this list may require additional work to get the results you want. Powder coating finishes are used to prevent rust and corrosion, but thin coatings or uncoated areas like the inside of the tubing can quickly lead to rust. Many buyers first notice rust issues when they spot red-brown streaks on the vehicle’s paint caused by rusty water leaking from the rack.
One of the most common tricks to stop rust from destroying the rack is to use silicone on every joint. Many installers will use a spray foam to fill the tubing so that water cannot accumulate inside the pipe. It’s also a good idea to sand and refinish all of these racks with a proper rust-preventative paint or truck bed liner paint that will prevent scratches and rust from forming.
You will have the best long-term success with one of these racks by replacing all of the included hardware with stainless steel bolts and nuts that won’t rust. Quite a few installers note that the included hardware in all of these products tends to rust to the point of failure within one year.
You should check with your vehicle manufacturer before installing a roof rack. Every vehicle has a maximum weight capacity for the roof. The Jeep Grand Cherokee, for example, has a weight capacity of 150 pounds. You need to factor the weight of the rack into the amount of weight you can put on your roof, which means that you will only be able to safely store around 100 pounds of gear using these products.
You should also take special care to drive safely with a loaded roof rack. The additional weight up high can make your SUV less stable and may increase the likelihood of a roll-over accident during sudden maneuvers even at low speeds.
Picking the right roof rack for your Jeep Grand Cherokee will make your outdoor adventures more fun by freeing up interior room for kids and pets while keeping gear you need safe. A good rack doesn’t have to be expensive, but you should plan on a little extra maintenance for the least expensive options.