Thread: platform roof rack

Above 70kph it becomes noticeable. If it’s windy, more noticeable again. At highway it’s a roar lol.
Prior to this I had rails with a whispbar/probars setup with aero shaped bars and that was silent. Rhino setup, very noisy. Compared to the alternative platforms, no idea.

You may want to look at the ProSpeed group buy that is being discussed in another thread..

This system arrived in the market just after we purchased the D4 so we gave it a try. After experiencing it at highway speeds and in strong winds we handed it back and fitted the full length Rhino mesh platform on aero bars which has now done around 50,000km fully loaded with no issues. Reasons we changed are; wind noise, in strong winds you could actually feel "lift" as the platform captures some air underneath it and lastly I actually wanted something we could quickly and easily remove and store after each trip. The "backbone" mounts may have resolved some of my issues but no experience with them. Yes the system based design is a great concept and will certainly suit many owners but not us.

We also use a shorter mesh basket, on two cross bars rather than three, for shorter trips. This is the basket we have swapped from car to car over the last 15 years of outback travel and it has and continues to do a fantastic job

Hope that helps

Rob

Originally Posted by BrianElloy

.... thinking about investing in this platform roof rack from Rhino, with the backbone system ...

Some feedback from people with that setup in this thread, mainly in the later pages:
< Rhino Backbone >

I can't offer feedback on the full system as I have a short Rhino platform on Rhino legs. I don't find the noise too bad but it is noticeable. It is only fitted for trips.

Scott

I have found that wind noise increases hugely once the rack or platform comes forward of the roof step. That is why I run a shorter rack on the upper roof section. I found the same on my old D2.

Originally Posted by cjc_td5

I have found that wind noise increases hugely once the rack or platform comes forward of the roof step. That is why I run a shorter rack on the upper roof section. I found the same on my old D2.

I should therefore add I have full length backbone with a 2100mm long platform at 1426mm wide.
While the backbone mount looks cool I think it causes a lot of noise especially in cross winds.

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

I should therefore add I have full length backbone with a 2100mm long platform at 1376mm wide.
While the backbone mount looks cool I think it causes a lot of noise especially in cross winds.

I had a feeling this would be the case, we have the standard Rhino Platform with legs and it's noisey enough as it's a permanent fitment you get used to it, after almost 23,000ks on our Kimberley trip taking in roads like Googs, great central, the CSR, Gibb , Cape Leveque and the road out to Mitchell falls I can't fault the rack at all.

I have the full length backbone platform. (I got the thinner one that follows the tapering of the roof line. I don't like the look of the wider one even though it could have some better applications than the thin one) Bought it 3 months ago before 10k trip to NT and FNQ. Fitted at same time as snorkel and mtr tyres. The combo created an increase in noise but it's not unbearable or unpleasant imo. I don't even notice any more. The rack is excellent and the backbone system looks great imo. I had it heavily loaded, 4 maxtrax, 2 spare wheels and storage bag including canvas camper annex.

I don't know if the wider one could make more road noise than the thinner one??? Maybe that is why there is polarising feedback????