Update 2/17/12: I apologize for the wait getting some Thule pictures uploaded. The good news is that in the time since we last updated, Thule released their AeroBlade bars which are far far superior to the old Rapid Aero bars. Anyway, here are some (albeit low quality) pictures of a recent install. Enjoy!
Grand Cherokee Aeroblade
Old and new Grand Cherokees rockin' Aeroblades
Parts required for 2011-2012 Grand Cherokee:
Thule 460R Podium foot pack
Update 4/18/11: Thule has announced a 460/R Podium system for the Grand Cherokee, using Fit Kit 4019 to grip the flush rails. These showing up at our stores this week; you can order online here or give us a call at 888.399.7225. I’ll put up some pictures once we complete our first installation!
Cut to the chase…take a look at our recently completed 2011 Grand Cherokee factory rack removal here.
Update 1/6/11: We had our first encounter today with the Mopar bars. A gentleman came in with them for us to install, and he also wanted a cargo box. Knowing we’d probably have to stick with short, the Yakima Skybox Pro 16 was our first choice. By the way, the box comes in a sleek new Onyx gloss finish.
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee with Skybox Pro 16
Notice the bent antennae…this had us worried about the hatchback. Luckily, the gate cleared with a 1/2 inch to spare! Unfortunately, that means the 16 is going to be the biggest Yakima box for this truck on the factory racks. Thule’s Boxter should fit fine if you need a bit more space.
Here is my one gripe about the Mopar bars…they don’t have enough adjustability! We were only able to spread them to 28.5″ apart. Also, the chrome rails give you the illusion that they could be spread further…see below.
Mopar bars not as adjustable as they look
Mopar bar backside detail - see what is preventing it from moving further
While 28.5″ is acceptable, one would have hoped for something wider, especially for trips to Home Depot, or with canoes or kayaks. To this date, Thule and Yakima do not yet have a raised rail option, only the Q towers system described below is available.
Update 10/14/10: Here it is–Yakima Q towers with Q5, Q10, and 58″ bars will yield a 32″ spread and has a 125lb capacity. Don’t forget your 50″ fairing. This one caught me by surprise…a ‘clip’ system for a truck with a factory rack! Yakima tells us the Q system will arch over the side rails. The fit notations include:
| 114. | Check clips after installing. Grab each clip and try to pull them hard away from your vehicle, twice. If the clip moves after the second pull, tighten the adjustment post. If the clip still moves after the second pull, recheck your measurements between the towers and adjust if necessary. Check clip again. |
| 161. | Maximum allowable weight load is 125 lbs. |
| 180. | This fit requires the use of current generation Q-Tower (4 Pack PN 8000124 or 2 Pack PN 8000135). Contact your local dealer if you have questions or call Consumer Service at 888-925-4621, Option 2, from 7am-5pm Pacific Time M-F. |
Comments
| Base Pad of front tower slightly overhangs the ditch molding. Micro adjuster is close to bottoming out on front tower. |
Hopefully this announcement will be followed shortly with a Thule solution. When we get a system installed, I’ll be sure to post pictures.
Update 10/11/10: Thanks for your patience…but unfortunately neither Thule or Yakima have published a fit just yet. They need some pressure from folks like you, so go to Thule or Yakima websites and enter the 2011 Grand Cherokee into the fit guides…hopefully with increased demand they will speed up the development process. On the other hand, we do have a Class III 2″ trailer hitch from Curt! If your new Grand didn’t come with a hitch, Curt has engineered a clean-looking and very easy to install product…use our hitch fitting guide here to see for yourself.
We did see a new Jeep in the shop this weekend, and sadly the products we have on the shelf don’t look like they will work. So please, if you are thinking of putting racks on your Jeep, be patient and wait for a properly fitting product from one of our rack manufacturers so you can carry your load safely and securely. I’ll update again as soon as I have further information.
-Scott
Updated! Story continues here
Stay tuned for our review of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee roof rack. We’ll be taking a look at the capabilities of the factory rack, and predicting what Thule and Yakima will develop to fit the new roofline. Rack Attack will also be helping you figure out the best way to carry boats, bikes, skis, boards and cargo on this awesome new vehicle, so check back soon…
Today, Chris over at Walser Hopkins Jeep in Hopkins, Minnesota introduced me to a real-life 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It was pretty awesome. Sharp looking ride. I was able to learn a little about the vehicle’s factory roof rack.
2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE for real
First, the rails look good, well integrated into the lines and the matching chrome around the windowsill. The truck you see is above is the Overland edition. There is still the standby Laredo, and it has the same exact rail. I understand that the rails are the factory installed, and there is no ‘delete option’ if you were to try and order the car without it.
The parts department didn’t yet have any dealer-installed crossbars. We’ll have to hold tight, although I did find a set of less-than-awesome bars on ebay…
The rails look solid from the side, but they actually have a track along the top:
2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE side rail close-up
The channel is deep & wide, and looks like an easy platform for putting together an aftermarket rack setup. I’m going to take a guess and say that Thule will develop a fit for their 430 Tracker system and Yakima will likely approve a Control Tower Fit. However, the shape of the top of the rail may dictate that they will have to develop a new TK base or Landing Pad to fit the profile. As there is a ‘lip’ on the backside of the rail (not pictured), Thule may choose to go with a 460 Podium fit instead. Of course we’ll just have to wait and see.
The bad news, however, is that the channel is very limited in length. A bar-spread may only end up being about 30″ +/-, and you are restricted in your fore/aft placement by the plastic caps at either end of the rail. But there is also some good news here…The rail is held on by a half-dozen Torx fasteners…meaning it will be easy to remove. Once removed, the expert installers at Rack Attack will be able to lay down a full length 72″ track (maybe cut down to 66″), giving you the versatility to carry virtually anything you choose. We will be anxiously awaiting our first customer who wants to do this modification, and I’ll get pictures as soon as possible.
Going back to the factory rack, if you elect to simply set up some crossbars for a cargo box, we may have some hatchback interference. While not as dramatic as a Toyota Highlander or Subaru Outback, there still is a rear spoiler that may spoil the opportunity to put a full length box up top…but again, we’ll cross our fingers and report back on the ‘max-length’ box as soon as possible. Good thing we’ve got the Thule 611 Boxter though; Thule was smart enough to re-jigger the mounting points so this long sleek box can slip forward just enough to clear most spoilers.
This truck came with a factory installed 2″ receiver hitch. Excellent for carrying bikes, skis/boards, or cargo. Don’t let the dealer talk you into a 1.25″ hitch, or you will restrict your hitch options considerably. Luckily, Rack Attack works with Curt Manufacturing, a leader in trailer hitch development and production. It shouldn’t be long for them to come up with a Class III aftermarket hitch should your new Grand Cherokee not come with one.
Check back with me soon for real installations on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee–hopefully we’ll have some bike, canoe, kayak, cargo, and ski/snowboard solutions for you shortly!
As of today, (Aug 30, 2010) Jeep has the crossbars ready to purchase for their side rails. Thule in Seymour CT told me that they are in the “process of testing” for the fittings, etc. PLease contact me with any updated info you may get on the Jeep Grand Cherokee/Thule fit. I’ll not lease another Jeep without my Thule box!
I’m sure Thule will get that truck figured out. I’ll post an update when we hear the details!
-Scott
I just purchased the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee X Package. The dealership has in stock the mopar cross bars for roughly 277.00 (can’t remember exactly) they had them installed on a showroom truck and they looked nice. The 2011 is taller than my 2005 and the mopar bars lift up a bit so I am a bit concerned about clearance when I put my Thule box on top. I plan to research my options once my vehicle is delivered to me on Tuesday….I need to fit my thule snowboard rack and my thule box on top….
love the new jeep….its sweeeeet!
By the way, all Jeep Grand Cherokees 2011 have a very poorly placed antenna for radio/satelite! It is located on the roof, about 10 inches from the back of the vehicle, and is a tower! all of 10 inches tall! I will have to unscrew the antenna when the thule is placed on top, which will be from November to April! Ridiculous design. Nobody was thinking there. I bet the 2012s will change this, if more people make comments!!! sigh……..-Julie
I agree with antenna observation…how do we get the message to Jeep….this is my issue.
Also, my bike rack has no place to attach the S latches. Will have to reconfigure my bike rack to make it work.
I recently picked up a 2011 cheerokee. Later on bought the mopar cross bars and ski bars. Cant figure out how to install the bars and the directions make no reference. Any ideas? Do you start off by placing in the middle and then moving forward and back into position? Should not be difficult to set them up.
You need to loosen (but not disassemble) the nuts/bolts in the crossbar footing. Once loose, it should drop onto the rails for you to then re-tighten. Hope that helps.
Unfortunately, that does not work. But question, does the bolt have a hold it actually screws into on the track or do you just place wherever you want?
the people at mopar don’t even know how to set it up which is puzzling.
I asked our installer who assembled the Mopar bars, and he described the bars as being able to adjust to any position inside the tracks. Loosening the nuts/bolts to ease the clamp was how he described the assembly process. I wish I had better info…I’m really surprised that your dealer is unable to help you, they should know their own product best!
I’m having the same issue – not clear how to install and directions are completely useless. Seems like the bars have to slide on somehow, but no way to do it short of completely removing the plastic molding and track piece.
Any help appreciated!
Amy and Julian,
Please keep us posted on your configurations. I’ll be picking 2011 up in a day or 2 and have the same height concerns with a ski box and antenna issue. I was wondering if one of the new low profile boxes from Inno and a low profile par setup from Whispbar would work out. Let us know what they come up with.
Thx
M
Yet to purchase a rack and ski season is pretty much here. I check the Thule site daily and nothing….anyone have an update?
Still nothing official from Thule, Amy. Yakima has announced a fit if you are interested in putting a full crossbar system on your Jeep. If so, give us a call 503.226.7300. Otherwise, if you are going for the Mopar bars, it is very likely (but not guaranteed) that either Thule’s or Yakima’s ‘universal’ ski carriers will work. That includes most of what you can find here: http://www.rackattack.com/ski-snowboard-racks.asp. Good luck, and let us know if you have any further questions!
-Scott
Purchased a 2011 GC Overland. Great ride!
Not happy about the roof rack crossbar issue. Jeep has a fix but at $275 for 2 bars is ridiculous!
Any ideas will be appreciated.
Thank you
Just got my 2011 Jeep today. Nice truck. First time driving into garage the 10″ antenna hit the garage door. Definitely needs to be replaced.
I’m still trying to figure out why we need Q towers (designed for naked roofs) for this jeep when we have rails on top. I’m pissed Jeep didn’t make the rails as long as previous models, but doesn’t yakima make something that will clamp into the rails? This is ridiculous
I understand your concern…unfortunately the automakers rarely, if ever, turn to the rack industry for advice when developing new roof racks. Jeep has designed these rails to work with their proprietary Mopar accessories–this is all too common with new vehicles as the OEM’s realized they can get help their dealers improve revenues by having special rack parts.
For now the Q towers are the only fit. This could be interim, as Yakima sometimes gets something to the marketplace while they develop more specific parts for down the road – only time will tell; they haven’t led onto anything yet. We’re still waiting on Thule’s and Prorack’s announcement.
Thanks for visiting,
Scott
Thanks Scott. Figures they want to sell more of their Mopar junk. I hate when any company does this, cell phones companies are notorious for this.
I hope Yakima does come out with something asap. I don’t like the Mopar stuff, and I don’t want to install a new rail system at rack attack.
You know, jeep could have at least left the rails raised a little with the gap, so people with existing hardware could easily mount their stuff immediately.
Still wonder why they made the rails so short. People are having issues mounting boxes to the Mopar stuff… the tailgate now will not open all the way because the rail positions are to far back.
Has anyone pulled the black, plastic end caps off the ends of the rails yet? what type of hardware is underneath?
Maybe we can just remove the whole rail and remount something entirely different?
Regarding the antenna issue: There is a direct replacement shark fin antenna that can be used to replace the short mast antenna on the roof. It works very well and will not interfere with any roof racks or cargo you decide to install on the roof.
Where can the shorter antenna be purchased?
Thanks!
I purchased the mopar cross bars a month ago, but don’t need them anymore as I don’t plan on skiing this winter. If anyone is interested, I’ll sell them for only $175 plus shipping ($20).
You can email me at lakeoutdoormedia@yahoo.com.
Where can a find a direct replacement shark fin antenna to fit my 2011 jeep cherokee, the existing antenna is to long for my parkade. I can’t back up or the antenna will snap.
Go to visualgarage.com for the shark fin antennas.
I ran into the same problem with the antenna, so I went to “Sharkfin.com” and purchased a low profile sharkfin. It works great, reception am, FM and GPS all work just as factory. This will solve any problems with the long box install. Thxs in advance…..Scott
i was completely wrong about the site address, it should be: Visual Garage Inc. http://www.visualgarage.com, sorry about the confusion.
[...] To read more about the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, click here. [...]
I’d like to be your guinea pig if you don’t already have a dozen… email me!
Thanks, but someone beat you to it!
I have the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited. What about roof rack straps? Can find any that will work. How are you suppose to tie anything down. Even with the cross bars, they do not have any place for bungee cords or S hooks to connect to. Any suggestions?
So none of the Contorl Tower’s Landing Pad can be custom fitted to the rails?
As of today there is still not a Control Tower option that works with the factory rails, sorry. The Track system replacement can take Control Towers.
I have a 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and I think that the rails are identical to the 2011 model. Do you have any updates on the Thule v. Yakima v. Mopar cross bar debate?
Is the Thule 460 / R podium system with the 4019 fit kit still the best option (short of the sweet factory rack removal that you guys did)?
SD–looks to me like the ’12 is identical to the ’11. That said, Thule has expanded their options by adding their clip-in-the-door-jamb 480/R Traverse series rack system. I have not installed this yet but I would guess it is very solid; we’re big fans of the Traverse setup here at Rack Attack. Downside is that compared to the 460/R this has a lower weight limit. The good news is that it will shift the rack forward to allow longer boxes/equipment to better clear the hatchback.
Hope that helps. Its unfortunate that there is not a perfect solution–all options have some comprimise on this particular vehicle.
-Scott
Does anyone else notice the rack whistles loudly when you go over 70mph?
Debbi–which crossbar rack are you referring to? Rack Attack offers a couple of virtually silent options if you are unhappy with the Mopar bars. One option is Thule’s Aeroblade (for attaching to door jambs or flush rails), and another is the Yakima Whispbar (custom option only). Feel free to check those out here: http://www.rackattack.com/base-rack-systems.asp