Hey all,

Just wondering if its possible to install the factory roof racks onto my TJ exec wagon? I doubt this would be possible/easy to do although putting the question out there just in case someone knows.

I already have other roof racks I can use to transport things, these were mainly for cosmetic purposes

Do you mean the roof rails that run lengthwise on the roof (to which roofracks are attached)? I believe the Verada wagons of that era had them so they should be a bolt on. They were standard on the TL wagons to which the roofline should be the same so perhaps a visit to a wrecker to source a pair then bolt on, although you need to be weary of issues like water leaks and corrosion.

I have a TL wagon and have had the roof rails off recently to repaint them.
The end caps can be removed and the rails themselves are held on with torx bolts onto nuts welded onto the outside of the roof. ie it is not a "through the roof" bolt-on situation, nor are leaks possible.
I was going to delete them, but the welded on bits stopped me in my tracks. lol

The TL roof line has a rise in it, it is not perfectly flat, either. (I'm assuming the TJ wagon roof is flat.)
I believe the TL wagon roof was reinforced at the mounting points, to take the load of a roof rack.
Not that I've ever seen anyone use them to actually carry anything though. lol

The TL roof line has a rise in it, it is not perfectly flat, either. (I'm assuming the TJ wagon roof is flat.)

All third gen wagon turrets have the rise in them.

I have a TL wagon and have had the roof rails off recently to repaint them.
The end caps can be removed and the rails themselves are held on with torx bolts onto nuts welded onto the outside of the roof. ie it is not a "through the roof" bolt-on situation, nor are leaks possible.
I was going to delete them, but the welded on bits stopped me in my tracks. lol

The TL roof line has a rise in it, it is not perfectly flat, either. (I'm assuming the TJ wagon roof is flat.)
I believe the TL wagon roof was reinforced at the mounting points, to take the load of a roof rack.
Not that I've ever seen anyone use them to actually carry anything though. lol

As an aftermarket retro fit it will have to be a through the roof installation, and if its just for looks should work out ok. I've carried heaps of stuff on my roof racks (via Aldi roof racks), and they are much sturdier than any gutter installation. Probably have had 50-60kg of steel beams or timber at times.

The mounting points are screwed into the roof with a couple of bolts each - so if you could find a way to accurately locate those points and drill into the roof and tap the holes - yes it should work - won't be easy to get 100% right though.

All third gen wagon turrets have the rise in them.

Thanks for the clarification. How about reinforcement for the roof skin at the mounting points though?


The mounting points are screwed into the roof with a couple of bolts each - so if you could find a way to accurately locate those points and drill into the roof and tap the holes - yes it should work - won't be easy to get 100% right though.

On the TL there are nuts welded to the outside of the roof skin, the bolts do not go through the roof skin.
You would need to remove the headliner to put nuts on the other end of bolts as the roof skin isn't thick enough to just tap the holes. Perfect place for rust to start too, I wouldn't chance it.

....these were mainly for cosmetic purposes

If you have ZERO intention to use them to mount crossbars to actually carry anything up there... one might be tempted to glue them on with 3M VHB or Sikaflex :P

Sikaflex will definitely hold the rails as a decorative item - and frankly it sticks like digested food to a blanket, So long as you are ethical with the disposal of the vehicle ie: dont sell it to a sucker with a 2 ton roof basket... I'd Sikaflex it - the bonus is that the original rails all suffer corrosion as they are effectively like a sacrificial anode on a boat - their metal "rusts" to save the cars metal - sikaflex will act as an insulator so you may well have the only un-bubble paint finish.

Otoh I'm not sure if I'd wanna Sikaflex anything to the top layer clearcoat, if you've still got genuine unrepainted "factory quality" paintwork...!

Otoh I'm not sure if I'd wanna Sikaflex anything to the top layer clearcoat, if you've still got genuine unrepainted "factory quality" paintwork...!

Good point. If the clearcoat has deteriorated at all, it will simply let go of the colour coat, and your roof rails will go off skipping down the road and leave you with a patch of missing clear.

I well remember pointing the garden hose at the paint work and watching the clear come off in sheets. lol

I well remember pointing the garden hose at the paint work and watching the clear come off in sheets. lol

yeah blame them greenies for the waterbased paint... VOC = Velly Orsome Carpaint :D

Then again my TN once came back with a whole brandnew front bumper insurance-job; detoured to pressurewash joint on way home... and whole paintjob just hosed off the plastic! Haha drove back to panelshop, "hey your paint is not waterproof!!"