Rhino racks - opinions

[Ranga]

I'm considering getting rid of my heavy steel rack and replacing it with some type of alloy version. I've thought about getting one of those Rhino alloy cages. I figure 1 advantage is being able to remove the cage and still use the racks. I can get a 2.4m job with 4 racks for ~$1000 2nd hand.

Any opinions?

[MacFamily]

Been looking at this myself Ryan as I would like to get a OZ tent next year, plus it removes some of the gear from the back of the car.

As I seem to be accumulating more camping gear, as ive just made myself a camping kitchen which takes up room, simlar to the one Drifta makes.

The Rhino seem to be light which is what you need on the roof.

[Ranga]

Been looking at this myself Ryan as I would like to get a OZ tent next year, plus it removes some of the gear from the back of the car.

As I seem to be accumulating more camping gear, as I've just made myself a camping kitchen which takes up room, similar to the one Drifta makes.

The Rhino seem to be light which is what you need on the roof.

I've looked at the Drifters, and also thought they couldn't be too hard to make. Might have to drop in and check yours out one day ;)

[greenhornet]

Hi
I just added a Rhino rack to the Puma.
It was the rack I had on our GQ Patrol.
We have had it for about 5 years and it is still going strong.
They are lightweight and come with good accessories for attaching a High Lift Jack, shovel, spare tyre and jerry cans. (Other brands do too).
I would recommend them.
It is not that easy to remove the tray and use the bars though.
In fact, I have never done it because each ‘north / south’ panel is secured to the bars on each side.
Hope this helps.

[WhiteD3]

Ranga, I use the alloy 1512 rack as you can see, on two Rhino bars. Easy to take on and off if you don't use all the bits (ie the centre slat anchors) that come with the anchor kit.

The rack is big enough to take my BW Turbo300 tent, cot, chairs, tarp poles, table, mattresses, blah, blah.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/10/431.jpg

[amtravic1]

Rhino Racks are good. I regularly carry a lot of weight on them. Recently I had 4 sheets of chipboard flooring on them (3) on my Rangie when the timber yard decided they could not deliver what I needed in time. it was a bit of a challenge getting them off by myself though (must be getting old) as the guys at the timber yard needed 3 people to put them up there!

Ian

[KarlB]

That is a good price Ranga. Be mindful that the legs are plastic, though still very strong. From my recollection Rhino, while much lighter than a steel rack, were still considerably heavier than say an equivalent WindCheetah rack (imported from SA by Dolium and sold by Opposite Lock as Rackmaster). Couple of other things you need to consider is that baskets (and rails) can be a curse if you want to carry very long or wide objects as the underneath support is only on the edges of the basket. The basket also raises the overall height and that the basket is sitting on the rails also raises the rack load bed. We are talking centimetres hear but they all add up. A good measure of the height issue is how much space is between the top of your roof and the bottom of the rack.

To declare my interests here, I had Rhino roof bars on my old County. They then went onto my Disco. Carried huge loads. They are almost indestructible. When I got my Defender earlier this year, I opted for a WindCheetah rack. I got one with longer legs that allows me to slide a stainless table underneath. Very happy with it.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[numpty]

They're a damn fine piece of kit. I am going through the same process myself at the moment, I "had" a Rhino rack on 3 bars, now still have the bars and am looking at the platform rack for them.

Agree, it is a pain to remove the rack from the bars.

[Kelly928]

In the process of setting up my rack as well.

I will be using 3 Rhino heavy duty bars and have modified an alloy cage so that it will be a flat bed rack. The flat bed will be easier to load/unload our new extended touring tent considering I am vertically challenged and it weighs about 18kg.

[PBob]

They are good - mine was on my Discovery3 and now on my Puma dual cab.
Here's a couple of pics...

[rockyroad]

I had Rhino gear on my Disco1 but I let them go with the car when I sold it as the Defender came with a full length steel rack which weighs a ton and took 4 people to put it on.

I did find that the alloy Rhino rack did mess with the fuel consumption on the Disco but I cant say whether it was better or worse than any other rack.

For that reason I only put it on when it was needed which made the light weight very appreciated.

[Bushie]

I've had a number of racks on the defender over the years, depending on application. Steel rack when we did the madigan trip, Rhino bars and basket for general camping, but now a 1800x1200 over 3 bars. This one went up the Cape on our last trip with spare wheel/tyre and tents etc on the roof.

They are light (wife and I can remove/replace) and so far seem strong enough. I have a 4th bar that sits at the front (because I had it :D) that is over 10 years old.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/10/428.jpg

I added a few extras - hilift brackets, shovel bracket before the trip.


Martyn

[isuzutoo-eh]

Is there any concern about cracking the gutters since the legs are a point load?
I have a two bar set for carrying kayaks :) but only had them a week and haven't mounted them yet!

[KarlB]

Is there any concern about cracking the gutters since the legs are a point load?
I have a two bar set for carrying kayaks :) but only had them a week and haven't mounted them yet!
Your kayaks are unlikely to be more than 35 kg each (probably quite a bit less) so load is relatively light. I have carried my 4.8 m sea kayak and my my mates 5.1 m on two Rhino bars may times (all up weight ~65 kg). The Rhino legs are quite wide where they meet the gutter (wider than most rack legs) and I certainly have not had a problem.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[isuzutoo-eh]

Thanks Karl,
The kayaks aren't so much a concern as what I might add in the future, simply having a roof rack means it'll get used.
Fears alleviated :D

-Mark

[n plus one]

I'm considering getting rid of my heavy steel rack and replacing it with some type of alloy version. I've thought about getting one of those Rhino alloy cages. I figure 1 advantage is being able to remove the cage and still use the racks. I can get a 2.4m job with 4 racks for ~$1000 2nd hand.

Any opinions?


I've just gone form a Hannibal rack to Rhino bars - and will fit the Rhino basket soon.

Nothing wrong with the Hannibal setup (far from it), however I wanted a more flexible/adaptable setup.

So far I've done 3,500ks with approx 75kgs on 3 Rhino bars and am quite satisfied with them - though watch the clamps during the bed-in period - I almost rattled 3 off...

[gazk]

I modified a TJM alloy rack (basket) to fit onto 3 or 4 Rhino bars. I can fit and remove the basket by myself in around 15-20 minutes. It also has sailtrack mounted to the side and rear to attach awnings as well as a Rhino spare tyre clamp attachment point.

30223

30224

[jc109]

I've been wondering about these myself.

I figure that these are more useful for day-to-day use for things like surfboards, timber, etc.

What I'm worried about is the load distribution compared with full racks. So, will boards, skis, etc secure to a full rack properly, or do you need extra fittings? If I was to get a Wind Cheeta rack I figure it'd sit just as low but bear the weight more effectively. Provided of course that I can secure stuff easily when just nipping about town.

[Fluids]

I've just installed a set of Rhino HD racks onto my D2a to mount a Foxwing and carry an Oztent ... next addition will be some sort of a flat tray/mesh platform (no sides) probably about 2.1m long (bars are spaced 1.8m from front to rear - 820mm at rear and 980mm at front)

They are strong! I used 3x sets of the shorter 210 legs and a grinder to make them fit. Sits nice and low to the roof line with an unloaded clearance just uner 2.0m.

Pic's in this thread ... http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-2/112511-d2-rhino-heavy-duty-bars-legs-3.html

[Ranga]

So, you reckon 4 bars/legs and a 2.4m rack is worth $900?

[weeds]

i just order a new 2.8 ally rack for $1345 if you want to compare against a new rack

http://attachments.dolium.com.au/products/images_large/1071.png?r=1255394906

[Ranga]

i just order a new 2.8 ally rack for $1345 if you want to compare against a new rack

http://attachments.dolium.com.au/products/images_large/1071.png?r=1255394906

Thanks. I reckon for $400 cheaper, and the ability to use just the racks, and the ability to use on vehicles other than Defender (or those with the same gutter width), make the Rhino not a bad option. I do like the Dolium though... ;)

[jerryd]

So, you reckon 4 bars/legs and a 2.4m rack is worth $900?

Seems reasonable to me, I paid about $450 for two Rhino Rack Bars. I've also carried about 200+ kgs of timber on them no problem :wasntme:

That Dolium rack looks good too

[KarlB]

One of the nice options in the WindCheetah (ie Dolium) racks is that if you opt for slightly longer legs you can suspend a stainless table (775x1175 mm) underneath. You can just see it in the photo link provided by Weeds, but is clearer here:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/04/308.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/18597/title/bucckleboo-reflection/cat/500)


This photo shows the rails into which the table slides (table is back at the camp site):
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/02/173.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/18725/title/daily-driver/cat/500)


Cheers
KarlB
:)

[Bushie]

One of the nice options in the WindCheetah (ie Dolium) racks is that if you opt for slightly longer legs you can suspend a stainless table (775x1175 mm) underneath.
Cheers
KarlB
:)

Will have to investigate whether that's possible under the Rhino racks.


Martyn

[numpty]

Check the prices on the Rhino website.

4 bars at $380/pair and a 2.8m platform rack at around $850.

Good luck finding a second hand one, although they are out there.

[Ranga]

Check the prices on the Rhino website.

4 bars at $380/pair and a 2.8m platform rack at around $850.

Good luck finding a second hand one, although they are out there.

the one I mention is second hand - 4 bars and 2.4m rack for $900. Just need to get it here from Cairns!

[gazk]

the one I mention is second hand - 4 bars and 2.4m rack for $900. Just need to get it here from Cairns!


Try E-go.com.au for shipping, very reasonable usually. If the seller can disassemble it shouldn't cost much.

Regards

[Ranga]

yep, used e-go before. ~$90 to get the cage and 4 bars from Cairns to Brisbane.

[rick130]

FWIW I've had Rhino bars on the 130 for seven or eight years now and they and the roof are still fine.

There are two bike racks attached to them (can't recall the name, they are the Swedish ones Rhino import) and they bolted straight up, although at the time I was the first to use them with the Rhino bars so Rhino sent a few different fitting kits which was great of them.

I have the bars positioned above the B pillar and the back one is as far back as I can get it.
I have ladders almost permanently attached up there so they cop a bit of a wind loading, a 15' extensions ladder ATM and usually an 8' fibreglass one too.

At various times 6m lengths of copper pipe reside there, and a few months back several hundred kg of 6m steel cam home on them as well :angel:.