Front runner Slimline II Feedback

[shorty]

I have done heaps of searches but am after some very specific info from anyone who has a 3/4 length (just over the raised rear portion) front runner slimline II rack on their D3 / D4. I am decided on this rack for various reasons but wanted to make sure about a couple of key things before ordering.

Does it add much noise when unloaded? Say at speeds of 110 - 120kph?
If you have this rack and have a sunroof is noise / buffeting more of an issue? Can it be driven at 60kph with sunroof open without going mad?
Is there anything you have found particularly annoying about it?

I don't plan to remove it once fitted so just need to be 100% sure! Thanks,

[BMKal]

I have the full length version on mine, and no sunroof. I travel fairly frequently between Kalgoorlie & Perth with no load on the roofrack.

Yes, it does make more noise than the vehicle did without the rack fitted, but not enough to annoy me. It is certainly no worse than other racks that I have had experience with in the past.

Mine is probably a bit worse than just a bare Frontrunner rack, as I have two additional items mounted underneath the platform. Between the two front legs is a 42" LED lightbar, and beneath the platform a little further back is a stainless steel top & aluminium frame camping table which slides in under the platform (it's an option offered by Frontrunner).

Mine has a "wind deflector" under the front of the platform (supplied with the rack from new). I don't really know how effective this is at reducing wind noise, as I have never run without it fitted - however I have been told that the rack will be very noisy without it.

I would say that the main cause of wind noise with this model rack is the fact that the platform rails run across the vehicle / rack. I have seen pictures of a similar platform offered by another supplier (sorry, can't remember who) where the platform rails run length-wise along the rack. I would expect this to be a quieter option.

From my experience though, I can't fault the Frontrunner rack. Very solid bit of gear and easy to mount attachments both above and beneath the platform. We have travelled a lot with ours loaded and never an issue - and I have used it on occasion to cart some reasonably heavy loads of building materials here in town. The one smart addition that I have made to the vehicle since installing the rack has been the ladder on the rear tailgate - this has made life a lot easier when loading / unloading the rack.

One tip though - if the roof on your vehicle could do with a good wash and polish, do it before fitting the rack. There's not a lot of room to get your hand and a polishing cloth in there once the rack is on the vehicle.

[TuffRR]

Between the two front legs is a 42" LED lightbar, and beneath the platform a little further back is a stainless steel top & aluminium frame camping table which slides in under the platform (it's an option offered by Frontrunner).

Sorry for taking this slightly off topic, but I'm about to order a full length Frontrunner rack and was pondering the table and under rack storage. Is it worth the money they charge for it?

[landy]

Sorry for taking this slightly off topic, but I'm about to order a full length Frontrunner rack and was pondering the table and under rack storage. Is it worth the money they charge for it?

I have a slimline II on my Defender and have the under roof table. In a word, brilliant! Good quality and and very handy up out of the way until needed. It's a little more expensive than other camping tables but it all fits together well which I like so all in all well worth the money.
You can also use the slides to hold a solar panel up there so it's all multi purpose as well.
I'd be very surprised if you regretted the purchase.

[eddy]

I have also been contemplating the Frontrunner rack,other contenders are the Dolium rack and the locally made Tracklander.All of them are well made and roughly the same price.The Dolium is aluminium fully welded, with slats running length ways.Tracklander also fully welded aluminium with the addition of a mesh floor.Frontrunner is of modular construction[bolted] in aluminium,so can be easily reconfigured size wise.
Not being too concerned about keeping the roof of the D4 polished I requested a quote from the locally made Tracklander company[Jaram] for lower mounting brackets which they keenly obliged.However for the additional cost,I could get the excellent Frontrunner ladder.But then they do occasionally offer 'Specials'price reductions/accessories free....maybe catch them at the 4wd camping show?
Sorry it does not answer your question, just throws a couple more into the mix!

[BMKal]

Sorry for taking this slightly off topic, but I'm about to order a full length Frontrunner rack and was pondering the table and under rack storage. Is it worth the money they charge for it?

I have a slimline II on my Defender and have the under roof table. In a word, brilliant! Good quality and and very handy up out of the way until needed. It's a little more expensive than other camping tables but it all fits together well which I like so all in all well worth the money.
You can also use the slides to hold a solar panel up there so it's all multi purpose as well.
I'd be very surprised if you regretted the purchase.

Yes - I'm very happy with mine too. Well made and very convenient the way it packs up and slides in under the roofrack.

Just be aware though that the new Frontrunner racks for the D3/D4 are lower than the old ones (like mine) - and you cannot slide the table in under these new racks. There is not enough room between the bottom of the platform and the roof of the vehicle.

I have modified my table by adding a long stainless steel drawer handle at each end of the table. Managed to find some at Bunnings that were almost the exact same in length as the width of the table. Gives you something convenient to grab hold of when sliding the table in / out under the roofrack, and scored brownie points with SWMBO as she now has somewhere to hang her tea towels to dry.

The cost of the Frontrunner table & slides is quite high for what it is. I reckon I could easily make up something quite similar for a lot less dollars - though I might be hard pressed to find the same quality materials to make it out of (the stainless steel top on the table is very high quality stuff - nothing like you would find at your local sheet metal suppliers).

[BMKal]

I have also been contemplating the Frontrunner rack,other contenders are the Dolium rack and the locally made Tracklander.All of them are well made and roughly the same price.The Dolium is aluminium fully welded, with slats running length ways.Tracklander also fully welded aluminium with the addition of a mesh floor.Frontrunner is of modular construction[bolted] in aluminium,so can be easily reconfigured size wise.
Not being too concerned about keeping the roof of the D4 polished I requested a quote from the locally made Tracklander company[Jaram] for lower mounting brackets which they keenly obliged.However for the additional cost,I could get the excellent Frontrunner ladder.But then they do occasionally offer 'Specials'price reductions/accessories free....maybe catch them at the 4wd camping show?
Sorry it does not answer your question, just throws a couple more into the mix!

Must be different models about. My Frontrunner is aluminium, but fully welded platform. Certainly can't re-configure it size wise.The only bolts in my rack are securing the legs to the underside of the rack, and securing the wind deflector to the underside of the rack (plus those for the camping table / slides that I installed myself).

[ADMIRAL]

Mine is the later model and bolts direct into the OE roofnuts. Very low profile because of this. It is completely modular, and additional slats can be added to form pretty much a solid platform if required. The sides come off and the rack can actually be shortened by removing components. It has a wind deflector under the front, and I have tried it without ( for about 5klms, horrendous noise ) I put it back on quicksmart. I still believe it would be quieter with a full width angled spoiler type deflector, like some members were playing with for the OE expedition rack. A project for another day.

Certainly no issue with quality or strength.

[shorty]

Mine is the later model and bolts direct into the OE roofnuts. Very low profile because of this. It is completely modular, and additional slats can be added to form pretty much a solid platform if required. The sides come off and the rack can actually be shortened by removing components. It has a wind deflector under the front, and I have tried it without ( for about 5klms, horrendous noise ) I put it back on quicksmart. I still believe it would be quieter with a full width angled spoiler type deflector, like some members were playing with for the OE expedition rack. A project for another day.

Certainly no issue with quality or strength.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Admiral is yours 'full length' or 3/4?

And does anyone know if it interferes with the digital / satellite radio antenna? My understanding is the rack mounts just forward of the antenna?

Thanks!

[Ferret]

I have the 3/4 length Frontrunner Slimline II rack on D4. I was also concerned about noise but after installation but the additional noise was less than expected.

Problem is once you start putting stuff up there ...

I have no experience on how it goes with a sun roof.

The Frontrunner rear ladder is excellent, you might consider that too.