Roof rack weight

[YOLO110]

Hi all,

Happy New Years Eve!!!

On my 'list' for the new Defender is a roof rack that I can then fit a roof top tent too. But I note the maximum roof weight permitted is 75KG! I am hoping that is stability rated?

I have seen many pictures of Defenders with roof top tents various fitted. Given the weight of the roof rack bars, tent set-up etc, plus of course a couple of middle aged occupants, is all this ok on the roof channel supports?

Many thanks and have a great evening!

Cheers,

Pete :)

[GlennWA]

Hello Pete,

Other advise may vary but from personal experience with roof racks on a 110, I would seriously look at an alternative option. A 90 or 130 may be different.

The biggest issue is not weight but limiting the flex in the body. When you stiffen the roof the body wants to pull away somewhere when flexing and the top of the A pillars is the weakest link.

I too thought it would be ok given the amount of defenders with racks and I went with a recommended rack. I may be just unlucky or mine may move more or be weak or I may go off road more but this is my honest experience. Others may have had a better experience.

Happy new year

Sent from my GT-I9505 using AULRO mobile app

[Loubrey]

Pete,

Correct on the "stability" rating. That's the maximum weight that Land Rover will put their name against and its to do with centre of gravity and the rolling moment created with application of a force perpendicular to the direction of travel.

We all read Glenn's issues with interest as that was the only case I've ever read about with problems experienced like his (not making light of any of the issues that he had!).

I would personally stick to the modular aluminium ones and then driven by your budget and application. The Patriot racks are arguably the best on the market, but the price tag goes with it. Frontrunner's modular flat deck rack is most probably second from the top and certainly wouldn't be much of a compromise.

I've toured extensively in a 90 with a rooftop tent, 80 litres of diesel in Jerry cans and 2 wolf boxes with some of the lighter stuff. I weigh about a 100kg and my partner at the time around 60kg. My car never showed any ill effects from the approximate 300kg of "static" weight when parked up or the approximate 140kg of "dynamic" weight while driving.

I do not in any way, shape or form advocate that its safe to exceed Land Rover's "safe" limits, but purely as indication that a Defender is able to structurally carry a lot more than the advertised 75kg...

Cheers,

Lou

[YOLO110]

Thanks both! 2 great replies!

After tonight, there will be even more weight atop too! :D

Cheers,

Pete :)

[Landybitz]

We have never had any issues with the gutters, and have safely carried 100kg, 65kg of that a 1.6m roof tent. This was on a 130 and it is rated to carry more than the 90/110.

Its been a bone of contention of mine with Patriot to lower the price to match Hannibal ( like they do in the UK ) but its not going to happen, manufacturing is far more expensive there than South Africa. So its really a bespoke product and for a buyer who wants something little different.

Both Hannibal and Frontrunner are excellent racks, I would pick Hannibal first, due to the design and having one for 8 years can say there an excellent rack.

[landy]

Hi Pete.
I have a Front Runner rack on my D110. I bought it to replace the old steel roof rack which was a bit heavy. I think it's an excellent rack and I really like the modular aspect. You can buy kit to bolt on and easily remove when not needed. I also love the table bolted under the rack!
When touring with the Roof Top Tent I have 2x Jerry cans of fuel, 4x Max Trax and sometimes a spare wheel. All up around 200kg inc rack and tent. It does make a difference to driving characteristics (obviously) but I have not suffered any problems with the bodywork. But I don't tend to drive to hard and prefer to take a softly softly approach.

[YOLO110]

Great info! Many thanks guys.

[Sue]

When I bought my Defender (2011) I was told that I could legally carry 150kgs on the roof including the rack. I vaguely recall something mentioned about having to have three racks (instead of the usual two) to evenly distribute the weight - which I did do. It may depend on which model you have but I've just looked up the stats for a Defender 90 on Land Rover's Aussie page and this is the result..

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/01/1228.jpg (http://s65.photobucket.com/user/Bindiime/media/roofrack_zps7167de60.jpg.html)