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Thread: Roof Racks

  1. #1
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    Roof Racks

    As far as I'm aware there are three choices available for Defender Roof Racks in Australia:

    Land Rover's Expedition Rack

    Frontrunner's Slimline II

    and most recently

    Rhino-Rack Pioneer

    The LR offering is slick

    The FR offering seems a bit agricultural

    The RR offering offers a lot of accessory options.

    Please discuss

    (So far I'm heading down the RR path)

    Or is a custom build a better choice:

    https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...sA&oe=62EBE53F
    Mahn England

    DEFENDER 110 D300 SE '23 (the S M E G)

    DEFENDER 110 wagon '08 (the Kelvinator)
    http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members-ri...elvinator.html

    Ex 300Tdi Disco:


  2. #2
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    It’s great there are now options, our only route was the LR expedition rack 20 months ago. I can say however
    the LR rack is very good, it is a Thule platform really, and can take Thule and Rhino rack fittings to a degree.

  3. #3
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    Saw that the other day, I have the RR on my D4 and love it. Will be looking closely at thr same for when the L663 arrives.

  4. #4
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    Load capacity is a factor.

    The maximum dynamic load carrying capacity of the Defender 110 roof is 163 kg.

    As I understand it the LR expedition rack has a maximum load carrying capacity of 130 kg and the weight of the rack is 32 kg so the combined weight is 162 kg so just within the roof's capacity.

    The Rhino-Rack Pioneer System (RR) fixed to the Defenders roof rails has a maximum load carrying capacity of 86 kg and the weight of the rack system is 34kg: total combined weight of 120 kg. This capacity is applicable to both on and off-road conditions as defined by Rhino-Rack.

    So for my purposes with a 22 kg awning attached the RR system leaves me 64kg. I'll be carrying max 36 litres of water so say 40 kg and so there is 24 kg left to play with....not much if spare fuel is also carried.

    The LR rack is looking better from that perspective.

    The Front Runner rack is silent on this issue as far as I can ascertain.
    Mahn England

    DEFENDER 110 D300 SE '23 (the S M E G)

    DEFENDER 110 wagon '08 (the Kelvinator)
    http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members-ri...elvinator.html

    Ex 300Tdi Disco:


  5. #5
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    So some nuance based on this excellent analysis from our old mate Robert Pepper:

    Roofrack loads and weights - how much can I carry on my roofrack? - YouTube

    If I factor in a division of the factory LR rack capacity of 130 kg by 1.5 for off-road conditions its carrying capacity is....wait for it.......86kg: The same as the RR system!

    I've been in touch with Front Runner asking for its numbers and I was sent a link to a video showing carboys of water loaded on a D3/4...thanks for the engineering .

    Of course, the usual disclaimers apply: You are responsible for doing your own research and calculations not me!
    Mahn England

    DEFENDER 110 D300 SE '23 (the S M E G)

    DEFENDER 110 wagon '08 (the Kelvinator)
    http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members-ri...elvinator.html

    Ex 300Tdi Disco:


  6. #6
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    The LR Roof rack is bloody noisy, keep that in mind.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jase_T View Post
    The LR Roof rack is bloody noisy, keep that in mind.
    It's a product of a quiet Defender! (the old one is just bloody noisy!)

    The Rhino-Rack has a wind deflector as an accessory...I guess that might lessen the noise generated by it.
    Mahn England

    DEFENDER 110 D300 SE '23 (the S M E G)

    DEFENDER 110 wagon '08 (the Kelvinator)
    http://www.aulro.com/afvb/members-ri...elvinator.html

    Ex 300Tdi Disco:


  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by one_iota View Post
    It's a product of a quiet Defender! (the old one is just bloody noisy!)

    The Rhino-Rack has a wind deflector as an accessory...I guess that might lessen the noise generated by it.
    with our LR OEM rack the wind noise is usually ok until we get cross winds, especially at motorway speeds,
    just turn the music up a notch to drown it out

  9. #9
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    Roof Rack LR Rack Experience

    LR seem conservative in their weight ratings, I think. I have done over 10,000km on my defender with the genuine LR roof rack fitted. I loaded my rack (32kg) with (give or take) spare wheel and tyre (35kg), 20L of diesel (24kg) but that's another whole story, tent (35Kg), max tracks (15kg) and a box of recovery gear (20Kg).

    So I think I was at 160kg or thereabouts, fully loaded. More than a few times, I was on the roof (80kg), via the very sturdy and excellent LR ladder, so that's 240kg (static) and 160Kg (dynamic) on the roof.

    When I say "dyanmic" at 160kg is really was - we did thousands of kms - including Tanami Track, Gibb River Rd and numerous side trips on corrugations which varied between noticeable and horrendous and NOTHING MOVED. My gear was well strapped - Rhino straps and the remarkable KANU lock down straps - but NOTHING MOVED, not even a mm.

    Mark me down as a major fan of the LR roof rack....

  10. #10
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    I have a short Slim Line FR rack for sale if anybody is interested. It's on AULRO for sale page. Brand new. Wasn't quite big enough for me so bought RR backbones and fitted my old RR Pioneer platform to the Defender. OMG so much noisier than when it was on my D4. I put this down to the fact that it sit much lower on the Defender and I am sure all those holes in the back bone must contribute to the noise. I have since got the RR fairing its just about bearable now. Might try blanking off the holes.
    2022 Defender D250 S being set up for touring.
    '83 RRC 2 door 300tdi on club plates
    '82 RRC 2 door almost finished on club plates (will always be nearly finished!)
    2013 Freelander (wife's)
    1994 Defender ute hopefully on club plates one day

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