Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 14

Thread: Rhinorack vs Frontrunner

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2022
    Location
    Illawarra
    Posts
    11
    Total Downloaded
    0

    Rhinorack vs Frontrunner

    Hi guys.

    Has anybody else bent their brain around this roofrack decision?
    Rhinorack sits lower and is easily taken off leaving the roof rails intact but is noisy on a lot of other vehicles.
    Frontnunner is bolted into the roof, has transverse slats and a wind deflector (quieter??) but sit higher and once off the roof leaves openings in the roof rails.

    Does anyone have any experience with these racks on the D5?
    The Rhinorack is super noisy on the Prado.

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    245
    Total Downloaded
    0
    The Rhinorack has had some bad press lately regarding the weight limits - dynamic and "off road". Off road means anything other than bitumen and concrete... Check the fine print in the installation instructions.


    Ronny Dahl has done some YouTube work on this. Among others:

    I STUFFED UP!! Overloaded my Roof - YouTube

    HOW I FIXED MY STUFF UP, The new rack for Project Luxy - YouTube



    Cheers
    Numb Thumbs
    Fuji White 2019 SE Sd6

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    St Helena,Melbourne
    Posts
    16,052
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Regardless which rack you get you'll need to be wary of your load limit, i have a rhino pioneer and don't find it noisy but it depends on the mounting system used.
    Front runner rack looks good and it about the same weight as the rhino ( i have had them side by side ) and is possibly a bit easier for mounting accessories due to the bars running horizontal instead of lengthwise.
    If you are planning on an RTT don't get either as you would exceed the roof load limit.
    MY08 TDV6 SE D3- permagrin ooh yeah
    2004 Jayco Freedom tin tent
    1998 Triumph Daytona T595
    1974 VW Kombi bus
    1958 Holden FC special sedan

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    245
    Total Downloaded
    0
    As to load limits, the rear axle limit is the easiest to exceed.

    For a 5 seater it is 1775kg and a 7 seater it is 1900kg.

    Anything on the roof will affect that, the further back the more it adds.

    Also tow ball weight on a trailer will add more to the back axle than the ball weight - usually around 1.3 to 1.4 times - and it takes weight off the front axle.

    This is from an article in 4WDing Australia - What is tow ball weight, and why does it matter? (4wdingaustralia.com) :

    "Tow ball weight applies a huge amount of stress to a 4WD. Next time you walk past your vehicle, have a look at how much distance there is from the centre of your rear differential to the tow ball. For wagons, this tends to be less (around the 1000 – 1400mm mark). For dual cab Utes, it can be around 1200 – 1600mm, and this creates significant leverage.The leverage can easily be worked out, and its not uncommon to see the actual weight applied to the rear axle 50% higher than the tow ball weight. To clarify, that means if you are applying 250kg to the tow ball, it can be adding around 375kg to the rear axle!
    To work it out, just divide your overhang by the wheelbase length of your vehicle, and then multiply the result by the tow ball weight. The figure you get is weight shifted from the front axle of the vehicle to the rear. "

    Cheers
    Numb Thumbs
    Fuji White 2019 SE Sd6

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Finniss, SA
    Posts
    84
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Over the years I’ve had both racks in the past. Recently I purchased a new rhino rack platform for the Defender. I thought buy Australian and support Australian products. I have found the rack to be the noisiest of all of the racks so far with a deafening whistle. It is so noisey that it is unpleasant and I wish that I had stuck with the Frontrunner rack. I have now taken the rhino rack off the defer and am in the process of filling all the gaps in the aluminium extrusions hoping that it will make a difference. I took it back to the installer and told them it wasn’t fit for purpose - they suggested that I fill in the gaps. Anybody want to buy a near new rhino rack from me??

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    St Helena,Melbourne
    Posts
    16,052
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by bln View Post
    Over the years I’ve had both racks in the past. Recently I purchased a new rhino rack platform for the Defender. I thought buy Australian and support Australian products. I have found the rack to be the noisiest of all of the racks so far with a deafening whistle. It is so noisey that it is unpleasant and I wish that I had stuck with the Frontrunner rack. I have now taken the rhino rack off the defer and am in the process of filling all the gaps in the aluminium extrusions hoping that it will make a difference. I took it back to the installer and told them it wasn’t fit for purpose - they suggested that I fill in the gaps. Anybody want to buy a near new rhino rack from me??
    How was it mounted ?, I don't think the noise is generated by the slats so filing the gaps won't help. Just driven over 300k at 100-110kph with kayak,light bar and awning and noise is negligible.
    MY08 TDV6 SE D3- permagrin ooh yeah
    2004 Jayco Freedom tin tent
    1998 Triumph Daytona T595
    1974 VW Kombi bus
    1958 Holden FC special sedan

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Finniss, SA
    Posts
    84
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by loanrangie View Post
    How was it mounted ?, I don't think the noise is generated by the slats so filing the gaps won't help. Just driven over 300k at 100-110kph with kayak,light bar and awning and noise is negligible.
    That's interesting - it is mounted on a defender -see photo (hope you can see it OK) . I've been filling in under the cross-bars in the extrusions. Its up at the shed at the moment.
    P7250622.jpg

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Finniss, SA
    Posts
    84
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by loanrangie View Post
    How was it mounted ?, I don't think the noise is generated by the slats so filing the gaps won't help. Just driven over 300k at 100-110kph with kayak,light bar and awning and noise is negligible.
    Here are a couple of photos with the gap in the crossbar extrusions filled in:

    IMG_4244.jpgIMG_4245.jpg

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    St Helena,Melbourne
    Posts
    16,052
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Ah, I thought you were trying to fill in the slats length ways, I made my own cross bars out of rectangular tube which is possibly why I get little noise.
    If I open the sunroof I hear it but otherwise it's not obtrusive.
    MY08 TDV6 SE D3- permagrin ooh yeah
    2004 Jayco Freedom tin tent
    1998 Triumph Daytona T595
    1974 VW Kombi bus
    1958 Holden FC special sedan

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2022
    Location
    Illawarra
    Posts
    11
    Total Downloaded
    0
    I was wondering if the difference inn rack length made a difference to the wind noise? The Rhinorack is longer than the Frontrunner rack. Maybe the wind deflected off the windscreen contacts the Rhinorack at a different angle as a result?

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Search AULRO.com ONLY!
Search All the Web!