Rack Owners: How do you keep your roof clean?

[TerraCrawler]

I have only had a rack (Front Runner Slimline II) for a short while, but I have already noticed that the roof is god awful dirty. I have an RTT as well as other items up there. Do you all find a hose down sufficient? Do you use a brush perhaps that can snake under the rack? Or do you just ignore it and don't care?

 

[T4RZAN]

I have only had a rack (Front Runner Slimline II) for a short while, but I have already noticed that the roof is god awful dirty. I have an RTT as well as other items up there. Do you all find a hose down sufficient? Do you use a brush perhaps that can snake under the rack? Or do you just ignore it and don't care?

I have a roof rack and the easiest thing I have found is to wrap a microfiber around a Swiffer. Fairly cheap and pretty effective depending on your roof rack setup.

 

[TerraCrawler]

[MENTION=131736]T4RZAN[/MENTION] that sounds like it may work well. I will be installing the Front Runner Pro Table Slide and that may make it a little tight under the rack, but it may still work well.

 

[greatape]

If I would have been smart pre-build, I would have vinyl wrapped it but it's in the plans though as an afterthought...

 

[Cymon]

I have a roof rack and the easiest thing I have found is to wrap a microfiber around a Swiffer. Fairly cheap and pretty effective depending on your roof rack setup.

This with this
https://optimumcarcare.com/product/optimum-no-rinse-wash-wax1

Like everything you can find it on Amazon.

 

[Crikeymike]

I think if you have about 2" of clearance, something like this would work, as long as you can get in from the front or back, or between the rack cross members.

https://www.amazon.com/Zwipes-Microfiber-Flat-Swivel-Extension/dp/B002J7O95Y

 

[SDr6]

I lifted it high enough to where I can't see the top.

problem solved
problem staying solved.

 

[Drunner97]

I wash mine every 6 months so as long as the rest of the rig is dirty the top doesn't bother me. I do plan on bedlining eventually though because the paint on the roof is destroyed from a couple incidents that involved not tightening stuff down well.

 

[Unner]

I waxed mine before install and after 18 months or so I lifted the rack on each side and wiped it down and waxed it again. I have less than a centimeter clearance in some places so there's no getting anything under there. I just wash and wax as far underneath as I can whenever I do those things to the rest of the truck. Vinyl wrap or even plastidip would probably be a good idea.

 

[sactown]

Funny how I was just wondering the same thing, thanks for starting this thread.

 

[sactown]

If I would have been smart pre-build, I would have vinyl wrapped it but it's in the plans though as an afterthought...

So far I'm liking this approach

 

[wadle5]

So far I'm liking this approach

Also an after thought....possibly even plastidip..just so you don't have to worry about it.

 

[Chrisinvermont]

I've got the Baja flat rack and I can wash between the rack and my roof by standing on the sliders and rear tire. Using liquid carnuba wax I'm actually able to wax with the rack in place. Once a year I pull the rack off the mounting brackets (I've got a pulley system on the garage ceiling) clean and strip and then seal with zaino brothers and wax. Yeah, probably overkill but plan on having the rig for a long time!