Thread: Frontrunner Rear Wheel Carrier Install

I went to order the Frontrunner carrier today but the guy at OL started steering me to the outback accessories saying the latch mech on the FR had been an issue for him on previous installs. He hasn't done one for 3 years though so not sure if design has changed. The outback one obscures lights so you have to wire in some lights that come with and look a bit ordinary as flagged.

Has anyone with the FR one had any issues with their latch and do they wish it had a gas strut?

I wonder if OL makes more profit on the Outback then the FR ones?

I know someone who had OL fit a carrier to his D4 and it hung backwards from the vehicle instead of being upright. Apparently it was fixed by being shimmed (does that mean bodged?) to correct it but I personally wouldn't be too pleased at that having to be done on something that expensive. Maybe the jigs used during assembly in Thailand (or elsewhere in Asia) weren't good enough and allowed the bottom bracket to be welded at the wrong angle, I don't know but it's not good enough.
It's not as if the RWC was any cheaper than a quality item made in Oz like those from Rijidij.
That's what I personally will be going for.
AlanH.

Originally Posted by g5k

I went to order the Frontrunner carrier today but the guy at OL started steering me to the outback accessories saying the latch mech on the FR had been an issue for him on previous installs. He hasn't done one for 3 years though so not sure if design has changed. The outback one obscures lights so you have to wire in some lights that come with and look a bit ordinary as flagged.

Has anyone with the FR one had any issues with their latch and do they wish it had a gas strut?

I have a FR one and the latch works fine if it's aligned correctly in the first place. Mine worked its way loose after the original install (not done by me) and I put it down to lack of loctite. So I removed and reinstalled the catch plate bolts with loctite and a small shim on one corner. Works fine now.
Mine also has a gas strut and better still it doesn't obscure any lights.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

I wonder if OL makes more profit on the Outback then the FR ones?

Possibly, I know that OL Darwin sells FR gear at the same price as advertised by FR.

The outback one has the benefit of not impeding as much vision to the rear.

Originally Posted by mr_squiggle

I have a FR one and the latch works fine if it's aligned correctly in the first place. Mine worked its way loose after the original install (not done by me) and I put it down to lack of loctite. So I removed and reinstalled the catch plate bolts with loctite and a small shim on one corner. Works fine now.
Mine also has a gas strut and better still it doesn't obscure any lights.

I plan to install myself, did you add the strut or was it an option they offered?

Originally Posted by g5k

I plan to install myself, did you add the strut or was it an option they offered?

It came with it. I just assumed it was standard.
Instructions are here and they show the gas strut:
https://dealers.frontrunner.co.za/ge...download=false