Exceeding Roof Rack Weight?

[Smcconnell]

Hi again folks,

Not to be deterred by our Stockton Beach fiasco, the wife and I started planning an extended 3-month trip across Australia.

I started researching roof racks and one that got my attention was BajaRack, but I had a slight aneurism when I saw the weight - 50KG!

Considering the weight limit on D4 is 75 KGs, that practically defeats the purpose, doesn't it?

I was planning to tour with a roof tent (45+ KG) and a spare wheel (30KG) on the roof, but now I see that it will be impossible. The part I DON'T get is this - why am I seeing photos on AULRO and on Bajarack Website where D3s and D4s are clearly loaded past 75KG?

Is this just a case of people posing for photos or is the limit a "soft" one, with people regularly ignoring it (and not running into major issues)?


Steven

[AnD3rew]

I think many people and not just Land Rover owners regularly exceed the limits but it is a very bad idea, it can lead to disasters and also potentially denied insurance claims if there is a disaster. Have a look at the Rhino Pioneer platform which is more like 30kg.

[SimmAus]

I think many people and not just Land Rover owners regularly exceed the limits but it is a very bad idea, it can lead to disasters and also potentially denied insurance claims if there is a disaster. Have a look at the Rhino Pioneer platform which is more like 30kg.

Agree. I have a pioneer platform, full length - a little under 30kg. Very aware of weight limitations.

I would guess the "reason why so many appear to overload" is because

1) it's really easy to do once you have so much space
2) unaware of weight limitations
3) spending $1k on a roof rack to store a jerry can seems stupid, so I should put some more stuff up there.

The 75kg load limit is related to the safety of driving with weight up high, increasing the centre of gravity.
The roof will hold more static weight.(ie in case of roof top tent)

[ADMIRAL]

I think many people and not just Land Rover owners regularly exceed the limits but it is a very bad idea, it can lead to disasters and also potentially denied insurance claims if there is a disaster. Have a look at the Rhino Pioneer platform which is more like 30kg.

Agreed.It doesn't seem to matter which vehicle, particularly when someone fits a boatloader, and carries the outboard under the boat also on the roof ?? What the!! It will do wonders for the handling of any 4WD.

[Fred Nerk]

I have mentioned this previously. It is easy to reach the weight limit on the roof and you can carry more on a short rack system as it weighs less to start with.

[Fatso]

Seen a defender at the English car day at Gingin WA with so much on the roof rack it looked it would roll over parked on a curve .
In think there are now some roof tents that bolt straight onto roof rails which would be better than a whole roof rack which should be under the load limit . Lifting a spare up onto a roof rack is not an easy task .

[CSBrisie]

Anyone noted the article in latest 4x4 Australia? LR put three cars in a tour that went across the Bight. One D4 had the LR Expo Rack with:


6 jerry cans
1 spare wheel and tyre
2 swags
and 2 max trax


Whats that...150kg plus?? And that was a LR Australia Car.....!


cheers

[plusnq]

Anyone noted the article in latest 4x4 Australia? LR put three cars in a tour that went across the Bight. One D4 had the LR Expo Rack with:


6 jerry cans
1 spare wheel and tyre
2 swags
and 2 max trax


Whats that...150kg plus?? And that was a LR Australia Car.....!


cheers

Yeah I saw that too!

[weeds]

Not sure what the baja rack is made of but you need search for the lightest possible. Should be a few quality aluminium ones on the market.......

Pretty sure I posted on here what my rack was loaded to for my simpson trip...........the rack the previous owner built weighted in at 120kg by it self, I knew it was heavy duty by didn't realise it was that heavy until I remove it a few years later.

Toal weight on the gutters was 220kg.......not sure I would ever do that again

[ADMIRAL]

The Front runner slimline bolts direct into the roof tracks. Base weight is about 35kg. Aluminium and very strong in construction.