[bogeycentral]

After looking on Etrailer I found some good roof racks at a decent price. Since a fair ammount of people would like to go with dual exhaust, why not relocate the spare onto a roof rack. I am sure it wouldn't be that hard to go with a roof rack and then weld a plate to it that would be able to secure the a full size spare with locking nuts. If someone went with that route they could easily run the dual exhaust that this rig desperately needs. I can't imagine the conversion would run more than $250-300 with all labor included. Any thoughts?

Of course a roof rack with a spare would also scream for a light bar as well. epper:

 

[StreetDancer]

I don't know as I'd go with a spare tire on the roof, mostly because the amount of damage to the passenger compartment that it may cause in the event of a rollover type accident.

We used to see a lot of cars that carried the spare tire up top. Those vehicles that were involved in rollovers had a very significant amount more of passenger compartment intrusion compared to same/similar models without. Those and the rear facing seatbeltless seats of the old station wagons have gone on the byway and are not very prevalent anymore.

I have no scientific data to back this theory up, rather just the musings and opinions of a 20 year street paramedic and ex firefighter.

 

[bogeycentral]

that must account for something. Hell I have no friends so no one else but me would bite the bullet on a rollover. Its just something that will eventually happen. Hard transition from a sports car to a sub

 

[Hamish]

After looking on Etrailer I found some good roof racks at a decent price. Since a fair ammount of people would like to go with dual exhaust, why not relocate the spare onto a roof rack. I am sure it wouldn't be that hard to go with a roof rack and then weld a plate to it that would be able to secure the a full size spare with locking nuts. If someone went with that route they could easily run the dual exhaust that this rig desperately needs. I can't imagine the conversion would run more than $250-300 with all labor included. Any thoughts?

Of course a roof rack with a spare would also scream for a light bar as well. epper:

Putting a spare on the roof , or any other large object ,will sure put a dent in your gas mileage

 

[Quiet Lunatic]

Putting a spare on the roof , or any other large object ,will sure put a dent in your gas mileage

Yea it would really mess of the aerodynamics of the car.

 

[nitroman577]

even if it did roll over isnt there some kind of roll cage on the nitro? I saw it on the dodge website on how its constructed. Oh and I saw a nitro on the free way get hit and Ill tell you what it can take one hell of a beating.

 

[HighVoltageNITRO]

Putting a spare on the roof , or any other large object ,will sure put a dent in your gas mileage

Yea it would really mess of the aerodynamics of the car.

I had an '03 Liberty that I put a rack on top and then mounted the tire up there. There are others with Jeep Grand Cherokees and older Cherokees with the spare tire up on the roof rack.

I can tell you from experience that the wind drag is substansial. You will loose 1 - 2 mpg city and about 4 on the highway. That's not even the worst part. It's the noise caused by the wind flowing past all of that. Over 50mph, wind noise will be about 3 times what you have now, and your performance will go in the crapper. If you have a sunroof, you will absolutely hate the noise. Plus with the weight up top, you can feel the difference in cornering.

To each his own I always say, so if you like that kind of thing, go for it. As far as dual exhaust goes, I think there is another way around having to remove the spare. I think it takes some careful planning and and exhaust shop willing to spend the time bending the pipes. I will have duals without removing my spare. It may ride lower than I would like, but I'll just have to make do.

 

[KenCary]

Am I the only one who is OK with duals that exit in front of the rear wheels?

That seems like the answer from a performance standpoint.

If you all are going for the looks, maybe just a fake second pipe would do?

 

[HighVoltageNITRO]

Ken, I have the 4.0L, and can only assume the catalytic converters are the same on the 3.7L, but they are very small in-line type. You would have to to replace them to get the pipes turned out along the side of the passenger compartment. A lot of shops will not touch the converters, only from there back. Then you have to work around the fuel tank. It runs from the rear axle forward under the drivers side passenger area. I really don't want hot exhaust close to that plastic tank, even though it does have a thin metal shield around it.

If we didn't have to have converters, then we could opt for chrome side mounted mufflers mounted outside the frame rails on brackets like the rock rails on my Nitro. But there is no way to do that because of the converters.

The stock exhaust is located under the passenger side. There is enough room for two small mufflers under there, especially if you offset them. It is the pipe exiting out of the passenger side rear that causes any problem at all.

 

[AirJunky]

What about having the exhaust exit right behind the rear tires on each side? Seems like that might be just enough to allow room for the tire & the pipes.

I've considered the roof rack too. It would be great for all the skiing & ATV trips we take every year. But I have the sunroof, and was afraid the noise would drive me up the wall, even without the tire up there.

 

[bogeycentral]

No sunroof but need the mpg. I think I will keep the spare where it is then. I like the dual exhaust idea right behind the rear wheels but not in front. Last time I got into a suv that had the tips right in front of the rear wheels it was ugly. I smelled burning skin and then I noticed I had two half moon circles branded on my knee caps. I think I will see if something would work behind the rear wheels. So many ideas so little money.