Welcome to the Nissan Patrol forum. To post a question and to see less adds on the forum then you will have to register
first. We are an easy going friendly forum so join in the conversations and feel free to ask any questions.
Become a forum sponsor for only $20 and see no adds with faster page loading times and many extras benefits.
Just posting in case anyone is interested in the numbers for it...
Front Runner rack on a stock standard car, full fuel and about 40kg's in the back sits at 205cm tall (tiny bit under). The Howling Moon awning attached raises it by just over another 3cm in total, using Front Runner Howling Moon brackets.
Based on my experience with a Rhino BackBone system on a Prado;
1. Yes, it is noisier on it's own compared to the Rhino. Not helped by the wind deflector being above the sunroof.
2. I don't think it's any noisier than my Prado when it got fitted with a snorkel - the snorkel made as much noise as the FrontRunner Rack.
3. The wind deflector can't be taken off - tried that and the thing has a resonance that sounds worse without it. So put it straight back on. There goes my thoughts of saving 1Kg.
4. It's far, far more easy to install than the ridiculous Back Bone system that has you doing weird things with Allen keys and your knuckles due to it's shocking placement of bolts and the inwards slant of the Back Bone part (perhaps not an issue with the Y62 model, but all models of BackBone I have seen so far have it as a problem).
5. Due to point 4 above - it'll be easier to not only periodically tighten all nuts, but to remove should I need to. I don't think I ever got the roof attachment nuts on the Prado fully tight.
6. It weighs more - 38kg's versus 32Kg's for the Rhino. However, Rhino capacity is 120Kg's that needs to have an 'off-road' factor (Rhino term) of 1.5 built into it for any off-roading. So that brings it down to 80kg's limit. THEN (and this is only in the instructions you get when you buy it) you need to deduct the 32Kg of the system - for a total payload on the roof of 48Kg's. The Front Runner is 150Kg with no off-road factor, so you use the manufacturers limit of 100kg's on the roof less the 38Kg of the Front Runner = 62Kg up top.
7. Overall, the quality of this thing is far above the Rhino, as are the accessories.
8. Clears the sunroof both ways that it opens. It's more windy with it fully open, but I actually find it pretty nice as it blows air into the cabin now (good for summer).
I'd buy it all over again, despite the rather decent price difference.
Last edited by CamJam; 27th July 2018 at 05:59 PM.