Thread: Front runner Slimline II Feedback

Thanks Ian. Yours appears the same as Brians, with roof mounted tracks.
It seems that the current full length version does not have tracks but there are two 3/4 length versions, one with tracks & one without.
But either way the track is Frontrunner specific, so my existing Rhino tracks would not suit.

Full length with 4 mounting points (per side) & no tracks:

And the 3/4 length version with tracks:


It may be feasible to combine the tracks with a full length rack, which would be a similar arrangement to the older ones Brian and Ian have but only if they still offer the same front foot design.

Cheers,
Scott

Looks like Ian's rack is the same model / vintage as mine, except that it was installed using less bolts in the rear legs. The "covers" on the bolts are just plastic clip on things you can get from any decent bolt supplier and will come off easily with the flick of a screwdriver tip. I lost a couple of mine, and now have a bag full of them in the shed.

Both mine and Ian's have a "track" installed on the high section of the roof, and the rack legs bolt to this. In my case, the "track" is after-market. Not sure which brand it is - it was supplied and fitted by the shop which fitted the roof rack and awning down in Perth. I'm pretty sure that one of the modifications made with the new design is that you can mount to a D4 without the need for a "track" on the roof of the vehicle - thereby allowing the rack to be mounted lower than was previously possible. I was told that if the new rack was mounted low without tracks on the roof, there is insufficient clearance between the bottom of the rack and the roof to mount the FrontRunner camping table and slides that I have under mine. If you wanted to be able to mount one of these tables under the new style of rack, then you still need to have tracks on the roof (and I assume some form of front leg extension / adjustment for additional length) to give you the additional clearance needed. I guess your choice would depend on whether you wanted to keep the height of your vehicle / rack as low as is possible, or if you wanted a camping table carried in under the rack. Personally, I like the height / clearance of the rack on mine, partly because I can carry the table (and other things) under the rack, but also because it gives me enough room to get my hand in there when I want to clean / polish the roof of the vehicle. I have never taken the rack off since it was installed, and cannot imagine that I ever will unless I am selling the vehicle.

The mounting bolts for the Slimline II rails are easily accessible. I'll take some pics for you tomorrow.
When I got the kit, I thought the rails had been bent during transport, so without checking I straightened them....Lesson learnt....Don't!!! They are not meant to be dead straight.

Just curious - where are people buying these from? Locally or SA?

Originally Posted by Aussie Jeepster

Just curious - where are people buying these from? Locally or SA?

Local. Opposite Lock is now the main distributor for FrontRunner products, though there are other outlets who sell them also.

Originally Posted by BMKal

I was told that if the new rack was mounted low without tracks on the roof, there is insufficient clearance between the bottom of the rack and the roof to mount the FrontRunner camping table and slides that I have under mine. If you wanted to be able to mount one of these tables under the new style of rack, then you still need to have tracks on the roof (and I assume some form of front leg extension / adjustment for additional length) to give you the additional clearance needed.

I found this statement on the Front Runner website relating to the new rack with mounting feet (no track):
"These Foot Rails contain 2 openings to access Front Runner under rack mount tables (1 smaller prep and 1 larger camp size table)."
I'll make further enquiries if I go ahead but that statement sounds promising.

Originally Posted by Mungus

The mounting bolts for the Slimline II rails are easily accessible. I'll take some pics for you tomorrow.

Thanks, that would be appreciated. I understand that almost everyone just leaves their rack on permanently & I may end up doing that too but I still want to understand the difficult involved in frequent removal.

Cheers,
Scott

Originally Posted by LRD414

I found this statement on the Front Runner website relating to the new rack with mounting feet (no track):
"These Foot Rails contain 2 openings to access Front Runner under rack mount tables (1 smaller prep and 1 larger camp size table)."
I'll make further enquiries if I go ahead but that statement sounds promising.

Cheers,
Scott

If you're keen to have a table under your rack and there is room for it to fit, I'd seriously consider making your own. From what I've seen on here, you're not shy to have a crack at fabricating / installing things yourself and have the skills to do it - and seriously - there is nothing at all to the FrontRunner table and mounting slides - but they sure know how to charge a ridiculous price for it.

I have the genuine FrontRunner camping table and slide mounts - but now that I've seen it in the "flesh" - I would have no hesitation at all in fabricating and installing something myself. I am very confident that I could make something at least as good as theirs (probably better) and for much less cost than what they are asking. Doing it yourself, you could also modify the design / shape / size / materials to suit your own requirements. FrontRunner offers two sizes - small and large. I have the large one - but there is still plenty of room under the roof rack to go even larger than mine if required. The trick is in selection of materials to keep the weight down. FrontRunner describes their table as "stainless steel". In fact, only the "skin" is stainless steel - the frame and legs are aluminium square tubing. The frame is welded, and the legs are held on simply by bolts and nyloc nuts. The s/s "skin" on the top is quite thin but is very good quality - it has a "brushed" finish on the top surface, but the underside (which normally faces upward when mounted under your roof rack and therefore collects water / dust etc) is a very shiny, highly polished finish. The table does have a couple of small drain holes in the corners of the top to allow collected water to drain - these are way too small and I have drilled them out to significantly larger diameter on mine.

One thing that I learnt when installing the slides and table on mine - do the installation with the rack off the vehicle. It is an absolute mungrel of a job installing the slides and adjusting them for correct spacing when the rack is mounted on the vehicle - and that is with the older style rack with more clearance under it.

Front bolt - small 1/4" socket set (short extension) gets it
2017-04-25 10.34.43.jpg

Rear bolt
2017-04-25 10.35.30.jpg
Rear and two more
2017-04-25 10.36.37.jpg