Rhino-Rack’s Backbone and Pioneer platform rack system brings versatility and increased cargo space to Jeep Wranglers

1. The first part of any install is to ensure you have all of the pieces. While Rhino-Rack’s many parts can be overwhelming, they include this comprehensive cardboard template to sort and visualize each component, confirming that…

…nothing is missing and making each piece easier to find.

2. We started the install by removing the factory hardtop mounting bolts.

3. Next, the rear upright was positioned inside the rear of the hard top. Notice how it surrounds the window and hugs the inside of the top, taking up no additional interior space.

4.The forward upright was then placed inside the top as well, completing the lower part of the weight-bearing structure.

5. With both uprights installed, the factory hard top bolts were reinstalled in their original position, sandwiching the top between the uprights and the body tub.

6. Using the placement of the uprights as a guide, the first set of holes was drilled from the inside out.

7. In order to clean up the holes, we re-drilled them from the outside in, vacuuming the fiberglass dust as we went.

8. Here you can see that the hardware has been prepped with butyl around the bolt heads; it was also added around the holes on the top. This is an essential step for sealing the roof and keeping the elements out of your Jeep.

9. The Backbone system uses six aluminum castings that act as the foundation for any externally mounted rack or crossbars. Hardware goes through these blocks and bolts to the internal structure.

10. The brilliance of the Rhino-Rack Backbone is the way a foolproof installation has been engineered into the product. In order to guarantee proper placement…

…of the exterior castings, Rhino-Rack utilizes the internal horizontal brace to place the castings in a precise spot on the roof and provides a tool to properly space the block, leaving nothing to chance.

11. Here is another look at how the internal brace is temporarily used as a guide on the outside of the Jeep.

12. With middle casting in position, it was used as a guide to mark and drill through the factory hardtop.

13. As with the rear casting, butyl was applied to the hardware, and the middle casting was secured into place.

14. Looking from the inside, this is how the castings are attached to the internal uprights.

15. Using the internal brace one more time as a guide, we positioned the front casting and drilled pilot holes.

16. With the temporary exterior tasks complete, we put the internal horizontal brace in its permanent position inside the Jeep, connecting and supporting the front and rear uprights.

17. Before we could place the front casting, we had to drill out the pilot holes to the proper size.

18. We then put the front casting in place and installed Rhino-Rack’s supplied roll bar casting between the roll bar and the roof to support any load that comes through the front casting, spreading it to the factory roll bar.

19. The final step to installing the Backbone was securing the front casting and re-checking our torque values on all of the hardware.

20. As you can see, there is no negative impact to interior cargo space with the Backbone fully installed.

21. On the outside, the castings have a finished and integrated look to them and are unobtrusive.

22. For our install, we used the low-profile RCL Locking Legs, which still allows our lifted Jeep to fit in the garage. Rhino provides different types of hardware and spacer combinations, depending on what you are mounting, so be sure to…

…use the correct assembly for your application.

23. Building the Pioneer Rack is easy thanks to the measurements being printed on the underside of the rack, but it can be a bit time-consuming.

24. After determining the location of the RCL Locking Legs, we hoisted the Pioneer Rack atop the Jeep, aligning the tabs on the legs with the holes on the castings. We then bolted the rack into place using plenty of blue Loctite.

25. To keep the rack secure, Rhino-Rack keeps the mounting hardware behind locking doors that are all keyed together.

26. The installed rack provides a tremendous amount of added space for accessories and gear, and the Freedom Panels can still be removed. We’ll show you how we outfit our Pioneer Rack in a follow-up story.

27. Garagability is a huge consideration for a lot of people, and our Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, equipped with an AEV 2.5-inch lift and 37-inch BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain KM3 tires, easily fits through our 86-inch-high garage door opening.

28. Overall, our experience with the Rhino-Rack Backbone and Pioneer Rack has been exceptional so far. With a recent trip to Moab, Utah, and a few wheeling trips under our belts, we can report that…

…additional wind noise is barely perceptible, fuel economy has only minimally been impacted to around one mpg or less, and there are no additional squeaks or rattles.