$475 Hooke Road Discovery Roof Rack -- Review

[Brnzbronc]

I just asked when/if they have a 2DR rack coming down the line. I could see someone taking the 4DR rack and using a cut off wheel and then 3D printing some caps on the ends. That's a lot of steps if you're up for it, but I think it's plausible if you're willing to try!

That’s the crap part about it hardly anyone is making stuff for the 2door.. all the snooty 4 door peeps get the goods. Ha jk! I’m still waiting for someone to make a rear cargo basket that mounts to the roll cage and not where the hard top mounts…

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[jacobrdoty]

And how long is the sale/discount code good for?

No end in sight!

 

[Jdc]

What you would expect with a roof rack above plastic non-soundproofed panels. No annoying high-pitched whistle or anything so far. I usually cruise at 70-75mph on the freeway. Basically 0 difference around town @ 45-55mph.

I was curious because I also saw this review on Amazon

 

[jacobrdoty]

I was curious because I also saw this review on Amazon

Good call out to see another perspective. My instructions were in color and super crisp so they must have been updated based on the review. I actually show the instructions in my YouTube video, too.

No powder coat was missing from my rack. Hooke Road support is pretty responsive and that fairing is easily swappable with those (8) 4mm (I think) Allen screws. He could ask for a new piece and I bet they'd work it out.

The sound is interesting as I don't have a whistling noise. I do have increased wind noise, but I also have 37" M/Ts so it's not like I'm rolling around in an S class. It's not enough to notice unless you're on the freeway 75+ without music playing. I know some racks feature a full-height fairing and this one is a half-height fairing. Maybe they'll offer a full height fairing as an "upgrade" if you'd like it? I think Bad Ass did this when they initially released their rack.

 

[Jdc]

Good call out to see another perspective. My instructions were in color and super crisp so they must have been updated based on the review. I actually show the instructions in my YouTube video, too.

No powder coat was missing from my rack. Hooke Road support is pretty responsive and that fairing is easily swappable with those (8) 4mm (I think) Allen screws. He could ask for a new piece and I bet they'd work it out.

The sound is interesting as I don't have a whistling noise. I do have increased wind noise, but I also have 37" M/Ts so it's not like I'm rolling around in an S class. It's not enough to notice unless you're on the freeway 75+ without music playing. I know some racks feature a full-height fairing and this one is a half-height fairing. Maybe they'll offer a full height fairing as an "upgrade" if you'd like it? I think Bad Ass did this when they initially released their rack.

Awesome. I keep going back and forth on whether or not to buy a roof rack. I'm just not sure I'd use it though to justify the cost, but at this price it might be worth it. My other thought was to just get a hitch carrier and call it a day as it's easy to remove. Every once in awhile I get RTT curious though

 

[jacobrdoty]

Awesome. I keep going back and forth on whether or not to buy a roof rack. I'm just not sure I'd use it though to justify the cost, but at this price it might be worth it. My other thought was to just get a hitch carrier and call it a day as it's easy to remove. Every once in awhile I get RTT curious though

It's definitely worth the test at this price point. Keep in mind it will reduce your MPG slightly, but again, I'm on 37s and heavy bead locks so it's not like I'm the most fuel-efficient to begin with.

For reference when I was completely stock with the sasquatch package and my driving style, I averaged 16.7 mpg.

With my 37s and the roof rack I'm at 14.7 mpg. Again, this is based on my driving style and cruising at 75 mph.

 

[jacobrdoty]

Two quick callouts: The front fairing and side pieces are all steel. The extruded cross bars are aluminum. Someone else asked me about that, so wanted to share it here as well.

The added height from the roof is 4" at the top of the button-head Allen screw. Keep in mind stock Broncos come with a rake from the factory meaning the rear roof height is the tallest, so be sure to +4" from the highest point on your roof specifically for garage clearance / Starbucks drive thru checks lol.

 

[DCtoobs42]

I like it. Gonna sell the factory rack in favor of this.

You think they would produce it without the cutout logo on the back? It might just be me but I'm generally against big, wordy logos on an otherwise clean/sleek product.

 

[swooshdave]

I agree. We get pretty bent over as it's a new vehicle and the competition hasn't fully bubbled yet.

Actually, it's super easy. I had them off last night on my way to/from the gym. At a red light, I did a pull up off of one of the cross bars while sitting in the driver's seat. Just got curious and it was too tempting to look up and see a monkey bar like a kid haha.

The only nuance to taking off the roof panel now is that you open the single big latch, pop the panel up out of the pin, and then close the big latch so it can slide out. Easy peasy.

Before, I'd just leave the big latch opened until I stored them in the back. That's pretty much it.

Will you do a video showing how to remove the roof panels?

 

[rblock50]

I saw they also sell a half rack for like $299 for those of you who just want one on the back part of the top. I was thinking of doing that option, maybe it would be a good anchor point for a hoist for the garage?

 

[Herbie]

I saw they also sell a half rack for like $299 for those of you who just want one on the back part of the top. I was thinking of doing that option, maybe it would be a good anchor point for a hoist for the garage?

I'm thinking it would be super risky to hook up a hoist to that roof rack and have those two little clamps bare the weight of the top. Just my opinion.

 

[rblock50]

I'm thinking it would be super risky to hook up a hoist to that roof rack and have those two little clamps bare the weight of the top. Just my opinion.

I was thinking the same thing, but I thought if it could withstand the wind/drag with a full load travelling down the road at 75MPH, then maybe it could withstand being used to hold the top.

 

[Herbie]

I was thinking the same thing, but I thought if it could withstand the wind/drag with a full load travelling down the road at 75MPH, then maybe it could withstand being used to hold the top.

Good logic.

 

[natoe]

I really dig this price point but I think all I would ever see and hear about would be that rear logo HOOKER... might just have to deal with it though

 

[doyouglas]

I am in market for a roof rack. I have the trailrack at the top of my list. However, at this price point and build quality... I'm intrigue. It looks like the fairing have space for a lightbar as well. I'll wait for your indept review on this roof rack.

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