Thread: Rhino roof rail differences

I had the tracks supplied and installed last year by ARB for $300 I think. I've just got 2 HD bars so I can put the tent (Black wolf turbo 300) and chairs on the roof to free up space in the cargo area.

I got the HD bars so I could borrow a mate's rhino basket (See my avatar) but I figured, as they won't live on the car, I should get the strongest bars.

I went with the heavy duty bars (3) and the Alloy Rack. As it stays on all the time I also wanted to add a roll out awning, shovel holder etc.

I have had the whole lot off a couple of times for and found it quite easy to undo the twelve screws and lift the whole lot off and on in one go. Mind you getting the fixing screws to line up was a bit fiddly but not too bad.

Not sure of the cost as I bought the rack and awning at the same time.

Personally if you are running just bars, I would imagine the aero bars would have less wind noise.

I am about to fit the Rhino rails due to the lower profile and cheaper cost than the OEM ones. I was going to fit the Thule bars (since I am using Thule now on my Subaru Outback and like them) and share them with my brother in law who has a D3 with factory rails. So we bought the bars, but when they're fitted I don't like how much they protrude beyond the foot. I don't need that much rail space to carry really wide things. So we'll be trading it on for the Rhino RST (sporty, slanty looking bars). I saw these on a D3 in a carpark and it looks like it has a lower profile and I won't need to take them off when not using it.

I have the heavy duty square bar so I can fit a basket later. Apparently you can fit the basket to the aero bars but the square bars are recommonded, the fixtures are more heavy duty.

I have a 2005 D3, I got the rack store to install the rails and 2 x 1350mm rhino HD aero bars. I asked about the HD square type for strength but was shown the cross section of both types and they suggested as much strength in the aero with much less wind noise.

I can hear the wind noise on the aero but not too bad. I agreed the square type look stronger. I carry hobie kayak and oztent and about to get a 3rd rail added on lower section of roof with a solid case sun awning.

Originally Posted by Guss

I have the heavy duty square bar so I can fit a basket later. Apparently you can fit the basket to the aero bars but the square bars are recommonded, the fixtures are more heavy duty.

funny enough thou, the bars might be heavier duty, and more drag, but the roof still wont take any extra weight with them..

Agreed - it seems the official load rating of the roof is quite low. Also, for my purposes I use my roof rack for a top-box (clothes, sleeping bags etc) and for moving furniture (I certainly can't easily lift >100kg's onto the high roof).

I recognise a lot of 4WD'ers will be trying to get spare tyres, jerry cans, recovery equipment etc on there...

Originally Posted by eddomak

I recognise a lot of 4WD'ers will be trying to get spare tyres, jerry cans, recovery equipment etc on there...

On my old Suzuki Jimny, I put 2 aero bars on, & then a piece of "formply" (you know the 'waterproof" stuff), which was a attached using a few holes thru the ply and the shaped basket holders (throw away the flat plates). Work a treat, I even shorten by around 30cm and made that into a adjustable front deflector for the platform.

I tried the platform on the D3 over the weekend, and it works quite well.

BTW, using a full platform as such means it becomes a "tropical roof" as well, makes the vehicle quite a bit cooler !!