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I had a Frontrunner rack fitted to my D4 initially. We broke 4 out of 6 mounts on the road up to Mitchell Falls on our Kimberley trip. With hindsight, the mounts were never going to be strong enough for that kind of road.
I've just had a Rhino rack platform fitted with the backbone mounts through TJM. It is a permanent install, and so far, we've been very happy with it.
Hi Magic
Any chance you could post some pictures of the backbone - in particular close up near the front so I can see what the track looks like without the protective rubber strip.
Cheers
Lucas
Hi Lucas,
I'm out and about today, but will get some up tomorrow.
Cheers
Jeannie
Quote:
Originally Posted by irondoc
First post here on the site and found the back bone system because of this thread, so thank you all.
I've posted some shots of it with out the rack, I'm making my own up.
It was easy enough to install, but in some spots it didn't quite fit as easy as I thought it should. The center 2 bolts are too high and have to be pulled down to meet the car, and the front one had to be pulled over 5mm to be located. The instructions said to remove the black tracking, which I did at first, found it looked like crap, drilled the holes in the black track a bit bigger and it fits just as good as if it wasn't there. Over all a very good product, thicker steel than I expected and I really like the look. A very slight wind noise, but with the ac or stereo on, and you would never know.
Steven
Welcome Steven. Good feedback. What type of roof rack are you planning to fabricate? I guess you couldn't find what you wanted with a Rhino product.
Scott
Thanks Scott, nar the Rhino rack pioneer rack looks quite ok, but I'm a cheap skate at heart and I'll be damned if I can see the value. The backbone almost didn't happen, but I really like the look and I don't think I could replicate it.Quote:
Originally Posted by LRD414
I'm making up a platform trying to keep it all very low. I'm a landscape photographer so I want to be able to stand up there with a tripod, and camp up there with a swag when I'm on a long run. Still working out what I'm going to use for the base of it, but It currently looks like I'll be cutting off the tabs that come with the backbone so I can run a rail right along the side for better support.
Steven
Looking forward to seeing the finished job.If it looks good I may do something similar.
I like the look of those backbones.
Andrew
I put a backbone on today and took my factory rails off. I'm trying to get everything on my roof a bit lower.
I'm still undecided. It didn't fit as well as I thought it would - one side seemed to fit better than the other and one side is a bit bent inwards towards the roof compared to the other. The roof channels are exposed unless you put the Trim back on like RovingS did, so they don't look very good.
The rack sits on the nuts, so I am not sure about the weight limit - the original factory rails had a broad base that spread the load across the whole rail, these have four legs which sit on the nutsert things, so the weight is concentrated.
Time will tell...
Cheers
Lucas
Well time for an update :)
Ive completed the platform and I'm happy enough with how it came out. I'm not a metal fabricator, so it took me way too long to do. But my time is free right.
I used one piece of channel (50mmx25mmx1.6mm) around the edge, then put in 4mm weld mesh. The cross braces are (25mmx25mmx3mm ) angle. They are only about 300 apart which has made it heaver, but as I want to stand up there, it was needed. If you didn't 450 would probably be fine. Cut the holes, painted then put on the roof for a test drive... found it to be way way way to noisy. Pulled it off and welded every where the mesh touches the cross members. re painted, mounted and its super quiet now. Really you have to turn everything off and focus on listening for it even at 100. Its 2.3m long and tapers from the front 1.17m to the back 1.1m following the backbone
Steven
A job well done:cool::cool::cool::cool:.
Cheers
Andrew