How would you secure a Smittybilt Defender basket on a bed rack?

So I just got a bed rack from SOS Concepts and after buying a Yakima Megawarrior basket yesterday I decided it just didn't look right, so I returned it. I am planning to order a beefier Smittybilt Defender 45454 basket tomorrow and it will pretty much sit like the Yakima but 2.5" lower and 6" wider, which I like.

The 45454 model is 54" x 54" x 4" and is meant for a 2007-2018 Wrangler.

So the question is: Setting aside the fact that we don't know how the basket's mounting points (other than the center one) will align with the bed rack's tubes, how would you all secure it to the bed rack? What hardware would you use?

As reference, below is how the Yakima Megawarrior cargo basket sat. It's dimensions were 52" x 48" x 6.5". The Defender should sit almost level with the OEM roof bars and wider across the bed rack.

 

I use u-bolts when i run mine on top of my bed rack. My rack is Allpro off-road with 24in spacing. My Defender mount slots are spaced 24in.

 

Second the u bolts. You can get them from most hardware stores.

 

Mine rides like this all the time now tho

 

Hmm....I don't know if mine will line up as yours. Would you feel comfortable using the outer tubes to secure the rack if necessary?

 

Nice. I need the bed space to be accessible though.

 

Sitting on top of the rack I wouldn't have any problem with using other parts of the basket to secure it. Under the rack like I keep mine, I guess u could use the side to secure it some how. If we are talking about the same Defender, they are pretty stout material.

 

How do you have the ubolts attaching it since the mounts aren't penpedicular to the rack's bars? Don't they just lay on top? Sorry if I'm not making sense.

 

The mount holes on my basket line up with the bars that run front to back on my rack. The mount holes on my Defender basket are a series of 5/16 slots that cover probably 4-6 inches at each mount point, so you have some play room with mount width. Ill post a pick of the mount points later if you want. Im at work right now...sssshhhh don't tell my SP

 

Ah. Ok. I see. Yeah a pic would be great when you get a chance. Now get back to work!

 

Ok I got the basket in today. Here is how it sits on the bed rack. Everyone still thinks u-bolts are the way to go?

Sorry for the night time photos.