Thread: Roof rack / roof bars please school me

Gidday Ean.
Its a matter of choosing a rack style and getting the fittings.Under the plastic roof strips are bolt down points.
I want a Frontrunner rack,they do one of the lowest profile available.Look up Frontrunner to see the range,OL are the dealers,unsure if anybody else imports them.
Andrew

Hi Ean,

In the roof channels ( x 2 ) there are roof nuts , riv nuts or whatever you want to call them. ( threaded inserts ) The roofrails are removed, or at least the plugs into the threads are, and you then have several options.
You can fit a range of rails, Rhino, Landrover, and others, of differing lengths, onto the channels or threaded mounts. Most require the removal of the trim strip, and the insertion of the rail. Once you have the rails of choice mounted into or onto the channels, you have the option of fitting simple crossbars/roofrails, or a roofrack/basket. The longer roofracks ( like the LR Expedition rack ) may use the front riv nut to attach a supporting leg. This is in the front area of the channel about level with the seat position. Have a look at a pic of an Expedition rack and you will get what I mean.

There are racks like the the 'Cheetah slimline- Frontrunner ' which mount direct into the channel riv nuts without the use of rails. If you do a search under slimline, there should be a few posts with pics. I remember posting some, some time ago. ( I have a slimline on my disco now )

Have a look at Disco's in caryards and carparks, and get an idea of how they mount up, and what appeals to you, utility and looks wise. Then have look on the forum. Pretty much every rack combination is on here somewhere with comments.

Note, that they will all add noise. The roofracks more than the roofrails. ( and the LR Expedition rack is one of the worst in my experience ) the D3/4's are so quiet, you will hear anything extra, and these are certainly extra, particularly into a headwind.

I heard (pun intended) a lot about wind noise and chose the smaller/shorter Frontrunner rack. When I picked up the car after installation, I drove less than a kilometre and took it back. The noise was horrendous.

Showed it to "the man" at OL who looked at it and then called the young installer lad out from the dungeon aka workshop.

"Where's the wind deflector?"

"There wasn't one supplied."

"Look again"

And so the deflector was fitted in less than 5 minutes. I drove off in satisfied silence. It was worth it to hear a comparison to know how effective the little deflector is. My roofrack is virtually silent when empty. There can be some load induced noise depending on what is carried.

If your rack has noise I suggest tweaking the position, fore and aft, of just the deflector or the whole rack.

Perhaps more closely "on topic".

Be aware that the roof load is "not much". I think it is 75 or 80kg. This is about vehicle stability and not the strength of the roof. When parked you can sleep up there etc. You just shouldn't drive around.

The load includes the weight of the rack. With a big or full length rack you will have used up to half your limit. It is a paradox. You can carry much more on a smaller (lighter) rack.

I have an awning that attaches to the rack easily and securely. There are several options compatible with the Frontrunner / Cheetah / Dolmio racks. These racks are all the same just branded differently.

I would suggest if all you want to do is attach an awning and strap a second spare occasionally then your simplest solution is to get 2 bars and mounts, depends on what awning you have, that will allow your awning to be mounted using L brackets, normally supplied with your awning and it is that easy.

For occasional mounting of the spare wheel if you can get your bars close enough there are wheel straps that will fix to the bars. If not then all you need is some stainless or galv concrete reinforcing mesh, four of the Rhino HD bar clamps to hold the mesh on, aforesaid wheel strap and you are OK

Rob

Thanks for the replies.


Does anyone have a close up pic of the track setup that people speak of.


I am assuming that I need to purchase the tracks that fit where the stripping is at present, then I can select whatever bars or rack I want, as the mounting feet sit in the said tracks.


Correct ????


Cheers Ean

Picture of my Rhino Racks and big basket, I take my racks and basket off when not in use, as I can hear them, with and without the basket, but funny enought when I have it loaded and in a rhino bag, it's a lot quieter, plus when they are on my fuel consumption goes up about a Litre per hundred km according to the dash read out, the whole set cost about $1700.00 supplied and fitted with the Rhino heavy duty bag ( which I love ) flag and flag bracket. I like the big basket and bag set up as it's easy to secure and weather proof. I will get another photo of the tracks today.

Jack

Just hop on to the Rhino Rack website all the pics you will need of all their options

Rob