Roof racks aint all the same... What is best?

So, I was wondering what everyone thinks are the best features on their roof racks. I know that it is horses for courses, and some people don't really care at all, but there are some things that just make sense, and make for a better roof rack experience. What are they?

eg. quite a few years ago, my work truck was fitted with a Brand name steel roof rack that was made of square box section. Good quality, but two things annoyed me about it. It hummed louder than a church choir at full voice and ropes did not slide around it nicely when tying down loads. Since then, I have only ever bought a rack made of tubular top sections where ropes are likely to be used, and because I tend to tie things down as opposed to using ratchet straps.

I also like a rack that has a mesh deck as I throw firewood up there all the time. Not everyone might do this, but it is bloody handy for me with a wagon. The down-side is that mesh is slightly noisier when on the highway.

Of recent times I have also decided that I want to tie down a kayak on the rack, and that changes quite a few of the design concepts that I had previously wanted. I now need something like the 'tradies' rack, but with a few tweaks.

As a result, my current DIY project is to make an alloy rack that is pretty much a tradies rack, with a mesh floor, but that has a spot at the front for a solar panel that fits across the width of the rack. The panel (should get a 120W in there) will sit flush or just below flush, most of the time, but the trailing edge will be able to adjust up so it can act at a wind deflector when the rack is loaded with anything other than a kayak, and or when I need it to better face the sun when I am camped up. This will limit my load area to a little over 3/4 of the rack's overall length, but it should be enough,... I think.

So what are the features in a rack that are the most valuable for you, or that should at least be considered in a purchase? Is it simply price? Or is it certain features that may be worth it for the additional cost?

Well I don't like to see a question go unanswered,

You have pretty much answered your own question. People have differing requirements and its hard to pinpoint what exactly are the "most important" features. For me I suppose would have to be reliability. I paid, what I would call, quite a lot of dollars for an ARB rack recently. I wanted to keep the weight down so I chose an aluminium rack. I also wanted mesh flooring to give better holding ability. I could have chosen a much less expensive rack but I felt the testing and materials used in the ARB racks were far superior to others available and thus it gave me greater confidence when relying on the rack strength when needed most.

I didn't want to find myself a million k's from civilisation with a damaged. I started a thread about the ARB rack and a few respond with valuable info that helped me decided on the ARB job.

I don't think you can go past the brand name products because of the behind the scenes testing that goes on to ensure their product is the best it can be. The hard part is parting out with the dollars. . . .

Me, I went for the Rhino rack option, 3 heavy duty bars and an 1800x1200mm aluminium tray......... most important for me was to be able to have something that could be removed and installed easily by myself. Secondly was versatility, being that I can use just the bars or if required fit the cage as well for tent & camping gear etc.

I really like to have a mesh floor like Patrol-Guy mentioned as you can hook a decent quality occy strap and fix and tighten things anywhere on the rack. You have the flexibility to put the strap through any gap in the mesh and easily hook it off wherever you need to even if there is a lot of strap left over. Recently I've compromised on a mesh roof basket, which was mostly a cost related thing, but at least I can still use the mesh to strap things down easily. I probably would have gone with Rhino bars like clunk with the option of a basket, but the cost got me for now. (My recent basket is on a very simple/cheap home made angle bar on each side, but this is not on a Patrol either)

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Originally Posted by cgm

I really like to have a mesh floor like Patrol-Guy mentioned as you can hook a decent quality occy strap and fix and tighten things anywhere on the rack. You have the flexibility to put the strap through any gap in the mesh and easily hook it off wherever you need to even if there is a lot of strap left over. Recently I've compromised on a mesh roof basket, which was mostly a cost related thing, but at least I can still use the mesh to strap things down easily. I probably would have gone with Rhino bars like clunk with the option of a basket, but the cost got me for now. (My recent basket is on a very simple/cheap home made angle bar on each side, but this is not on a Patrol either)

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Forgot to mention I picked mine up 2nd hand for 1/4 the price for new

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Originally Posted by Clunk

Forgot to mention I picked mine up 2nd hand for 1/4 the price for new

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Puuurrrfect. Then, definitely the way to go because the quality of the Rhino stuff is excellent.

I built my own but its supported on 3 Rhino aero bars,
Rhino may already have a system for tying down a Kayak
My rack is flat with provision for light bar and a light when at camp,
Chinese ARB copies are ok but re spray or coat before fitting and plug any holes with silicon
are rust forms very easily

When buying I think the old saying you get what you pay for still rings true here.;
I see prank names equipment (mainly Arb) take a beating time and time again and still going..
Father in-law has a steel Arb rack nearly 15 years old and the powder coating is just startingbto lift between the pads..

My brother bought a cheap alloy on and he bent the rear pipe. He 80kg...
I've also seen countless threads where cheap racks are filling with water and rusting internally???
Weird the Arb rack is sealed 100% but anywho.....

So to me if you want the reassurance that the gear is gunna last, simply pay for the quality...

Or build your own..

The ones rusting inside were ironman ones so not cheap ones

Be aware that the "total" recommended weight for the roof of your patrol is only 100kg, (this includes the weight of the roof rack), many racks are 50kg+ all by themselves empty, so I went with one of the lightest full length racks I could find, it only weighs 35kg, so actually gives me the biggest payload of 65kg.

Something to keep in mind.:)

I went with the 'Black Widow' rack and I've had it for over 2 years now including a lap around the country with a load on top. Very little wind noise and appears to be an excellent quality/hardy finish. I'm more than happy with it.

Cheers Lyle

I have a tradesman oval alloy,
It's done 2 trips to the Kimberly and 2 to the Simpson and it's fully loaded no issues with the rack. happy.

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Originally Posted by 04OFF

Be aware that the "total" recommended weight for the roof of your patrol is only 100kg, (this includes the weight of the roof rack), many racks are 50kg+ all by themselves empty, so I went with one of the lightest full length racks I could find, it only weighs 35kg, so actually gives me the biggest payload of 65kg.

Something to keep in mind.:)

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So does this mean that its not good for the car if the roof top tent sees some action??

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Originally Posted by snicko

So does this mean that its not good for the car if the roof top tent sees some action??

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Only if you are sub 65kg and its solo action :-P

So once you have a roof rack and roof tent, that's it, no more weight up top, can't even sleep in your tent. Lol

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Originally Posted by MEGOMONSTER

So once you have a roof rack and roof tent, that's it, no more weight up top, can't even sleep in your tent. Lol

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Well the car is in trouble all round...hahahaha (sorry car!!)

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Originally Posted by snicko

Well the car is in trouble all round...hahahaha (sorry car!!)

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I wonder how much punishment the roof would take.
I've easily had over 200kg on the roof rack, if not more.

Don't forget there are two figures:

Weight the roof will support
Weight the rack will support

I'm sure there is some wally factor in there.

These are for driving, not parked up. So your rooftop tent should be ok.

The higher up your weight, the higher the vehicle centre of gravity. I notice this as soon as the spare is put up there.

The other limiting factor is fatigue. The heavier weights will fatigue the roof quicker. Rough terrain, to top it off, the worst.

Ive been considering which roof rack to get, and figured 3/4 to full length as light as possible with good to maxium payload on top, prob wouldn want to go over 75kg weight total imo, hard breaking, wind resistance, bumps must all put hard and different angled forces on the roof.