Roof rack shade.

[voltron]

Has anybody boarded their roof rack to provide shade and shelter the roof from the sun. It's hot today and Im off to rockhampton soon. Any heat reduction idea is a good idea. Just wandering idnitnhped with in can temps at all.

[phill 130]

Yeah, a tarp

Bit hard to drive with it on but :eek:

[n plus one]

Has anybody boarded their roof rack to provide shade and shelter the roof from the sun. It's hot today and Im off to rockhampton soon. Any heat reduction idea is a good idea. Just wandering idnitnhped with in can temps at all.

I run a 2.8m Hannibal roof basket which blocks ~ 50% of the sun on the roof. On top if this I run a 2.1m hard shell RTT plus my MaxTrax so I'm basically have somewhere in the order of 90% of the roof blocked.

Fair to say that, in combination with tinted, near vertical, windows means the truck is normally pretty cool inside.

[voltron]

Guess it's worth doing then.

Cheers guys.

[rar110]

My next roof rack would have alloy checker plate either in strips 300mm wide or a whole sheet with tie down rings.

[voltron]

My next roof rack would have alloy checker plate either in strips 300mm wide or a whole sheet with tie down rings.

Good idea. I never thought about checker plate . I just bought 3mm black Perspex .

[redrovertdi]

I think it makes a difference, also good for loading up and as a viewing platform, keeps it cooler in the back but large perspex sunroof/escape vent over the front lets the heat it

[voltron]

The Perspex isn't transparent if that's what you mean but I just got to Rockhampton this morning and it seems to be doing a great job after sitting in the direct sun for a few hours and the car was like having sat under a tree.
Glad I did it before I came.

[Iain_B]

I have a full length roof rack, completely covered with a 9mm marine ply sheet - painted white both sides. Combined with a white Land Rover, tinted windows, blockout screens on the rear gull wing windows and rear passenger windows, we travel in 30-40 degree with the a/c on low or medium at most, with the vent in the "demist" position, and even then the missus turns the a/c off often as she is getting cold

[voltron]

I also put a 40mm Eva foam partition up between the backseat and load space. This also reduces the air cons workload. I carpeted it to make it blend with the interior. I imagine it's much similar to the 130 in cab space it needs to cool down.

[VladTepes]

It would definitely help - just as a fly helps on a tent.

If it didnt work LR would never have had these....

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/12/163.jpg

[voltron]

I have never seen one of them before. Looks like the idea has been around longer then me.

[VladTepes]

Yep it's called a "tropical roof".

[voltron]

Yep it's called a "tropical roof".

Haha appropriately named I say.

[Barra1]

It would definitely help - just as a fly helps on a tent.

If it didnt work LR would never have had these....

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/12/163.jpg

Remember when it was the "normal' to see LR's driving around with these?

I definitely have had a lot of Christmases:eek:

I too have "lined" the bottom of the roof rack when embarking on longer trips but as I've been tying down the plywood I've often thought of the tropical roof and wondered why it is no longer an option.

Maybe our good mate, Mulgo, will look into offering tropical roofs;)

The other "goodie" I would like is a metal sunvisor:) I believe there is a place in Adelaide which makes them - anybody help me out in this regard?

[DiscoMick]

If the aim is just for shade then how about using a sheet of canvas with eyelets to tie it down all around, particularly at the front. That should give the shade without the weight, shouldn't it?

[newlandyowner]

I've been thinking about doing this for a fibreglass ute canopy, try and help keep it cool for the dogs.

Maybe get a fibreglass tropical roof made and bolt it to the outside of the canopy to help keep the heat out and add 2 vents up front.

Anyone know how effective a tropical roof would be?

[DiscoMick]

Our Aussieswag camper trailer has a dual canvas roof and it certainly makes a difference.

[VladTepes]

I've often thought of the tropical roof and wondered why it is no longer an option.


1. Cost
2. Europe's lack of tropical weather....

[DiscoMick]

I reckon a flat rack with a canvas rectangle fitted on it with eyes to tieit down would work almost as well as a tropical roof.

[numpty]

1. Cost
2. Europe's lack of tropical weather....

More do to do with aesthetics I believe.

[Don 130]

Sunvisors from here:

Hy-Way Sunvisors (http://www.hy-waysunvisors.com.au)

Don.