Roof Rack/Platform's

[AC137]

Hello all,

My new XLT is on order and due to arrive in March therefore I've booked it in with the local ARB dealer to have some bar work fitted up and an Ascent canopy, whilst it is there I'm also wanting to have fitted a Rhino Rack platform and a set of Vortex bars. My initial thoughts were to have the platform fitted on the canopy and the vortex bars fitted to the roof as I "assumed" the canopy would be "stronger" (both canopy and roof is rated to 100kg) however now I'm thinking perhaps it would be better to have the platform fitted to the roof and the bars on the canopy as it will provide better weight distribution with the majority of gear being loaded central to the car.

Another advantage I see with having the platform on the cabin is that the sidesteps can be used to help load and unload stuff from. Dumb question but how do others load and unload with a platform when it is on the canopy? I thought either the tailgate or tyre?

To sum up, just wanted to know what are others thoughts/setups are and what the pros/cons are of each of the options.

PS. the main reason for the Vortex bars are because they are going to be used to mount a solar panel in-between them.

[lincolnland]

Simple solution learnt through years of dealing with arb both privately and commercialy. Avoid arb at all costs. Go tjm and for the roof platfotm fit a frontrunner rack. Arb and pioneer racks are junk. If youre unsure please review tyler Thompson on you tubes and i second third and 5th his comments. Riveting racks to the roof off the ranger simply doesn't suffice long term. Youre very welcome!!

[jezalenko]

Agreed with linc's comment - watch this video before committing to a roof rack!

The Ranger only has a 80kg ON road roof weight rating, so allowing a 2/3 OFF road capacity, you're looking at about 53kg, which includes the roof rack and all mounting hardware.

Have a think and plan exactly what you are planning to mount onto the roof before you spend your hard earned $$$. Possible mounting on the canopy might give you better load capacity.

[jstanovic]

What are you planning on carrying up there?

As Linc says do your research on the tracks that rivet to the roof, really depends if you're using the car on rough tracks or not.

[lincolnland]

Having run 12 rangers both on and off road, having suffered rivet failure despite pioneer recommendation on rivet fixing for hd roof bars, pioneer racks etc. I cannot make it more clear: DO NOT RIVET ANYTHING TO THE ROOF OF THE RANGER. USE GRADE 8 STAINLESS BOLT NYLOCK NUTS AND SPRING WASHERS in colaboration with sikaflex body and panel sealant. Many many hundreds of thousands of kms across a fleet carrying roof based racks tools plant and equipment... the answer is very very simple: fit front runner racks all alloy alloy racks & stainless mounting. Do not risk the failure of pi1ss ant alloy rivets... do what you want its your car but ive lived the failure life at my business expense. Its entirely up to you chief!

[AC137]

Thanks for the info. Ive never been a fan of roof top tents and seeing that video has reiterated the importance of load limits!

Id mainly be using it for bulky items that would just take up too much space in the canopy. I've made a bit of a list below as to what would be on the rack when traveling.

The set up I would be going for is the following:
- Awning
- Front mounted 40" light bar
- 4x Maxtrax
- 6x Work/Camp lights
- Swag
- Camp table and a couple of camp chairs
- Shovel
- Hight lift jack (maybe)

Not to mention I will also have a set of standard roof racks so some of the above items might be mounted to the roof racks, for example the solar panel in between the roof racks as perviously mentioned and if the roof racks are on the cabin then the light bar and a few of the camp lights etc.

I don't see myself taking on "rough tracks" most of my driving will probably be touring, beach and private properties.

[lincolnland]

https://youtu.be/sbgFVg-SbqU

Watch the bit about weights. Youll be surprised. I certainly was

[jstanovic]

That guy with the Navara was a bit unlucky, it shouldn't fail like that with only a few kg over.

[lincolnland]

Have had rivets fail several times on rhino racks. Rivets simply arent suitable mounting hardware. Im usually wrong though

[Bill68]

Have had rivets fail several times on rhino racks. Rivets simply arent suitable mounting hardware. Im usually wrong though

I saw a bloke in a 200 series at Dailhousie springs with a Rhino mecano set, I'm sure it would have damaged his roof as it was a pile of bits beside his car.
Where he put all his gear after that I don't know?

[AC137]

By the sounds of things im better off going the platform on the canopy then and roof racks on the cabin! At least that's bolted through the roof and onto the internal supports...

I guess the roof racks on the cab will have much less weight on them so shouldn't be as much stress on the rivets holding the rack in.

Has anyone ever fixed a Rhino Rack platform down with bolts?

[Copie]

As others said, don’t let them use rivets or rivnuts to install it, do it properly with graded stainless steel bolts. Your list is still a lot of weight, easily will be close to 50kg


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[diomac]

By the sounds of things im better off going the platform on the canopy then and roof racks on the cabin! At least that's bolted through the roof and onto the internal supports...

I guess the roof racks on the cab will have much less weight on them so shouldn't be as much stress on the rivets holding the rack in.

Has anyone ever fixed a Rhino Rack platform down with bolts?

I would not be putting a rack on top of a canopy, they generally have 100kg or less load ratings.

- Awning 12kg
- Front-mounted 40" light bar 4-6kg
- 4x Maxtrax 20kg
- 6x Work/Camp lights 3-6kg
- Swag Single 10-13kg Double 14-19kg
- Camp table and a couple of camp chairs 10kg+
- Shovel 4kg
- Hight lift jack (maybe) 14kg

Roof Rack 24-26kg

Total: 105-118kg and that's being conservative and doesn't include any mounting hardware or straps. Then there is the whole dynamic loading to take into count. If you have a full canopy and you need to but 100+ kgs on top of it, there is no way you will be under GVM imo unless you have a very stock vehicle without suspension, tyre, bullbar, winch type modifications.

I would also stay well clear of Rhino racks, had them come off LC200's etc in our work fleet before we moved to strictly using Front Runner and never had an issue.

[AC137]

Ive done a few calculation last night on the weight and its surprising to see how much it all adds up to, with everything listed it would probable be over the 100kg mark which would then be spread over the vehicle roof and canopy roof. Hence this is why my initial thoughts were to have this weight cantered.

Has anyone used stainless bolts on the forum, if so what type of bold head did they opt for and what size?

I did have a thought as the Wildtrak Pioneer platform and backbone mounting use the bolts from the factory roof rails I wonder if this "kit" could be used instead. One would just have to work out the locations to drill the holes. Further to this does anyone know if Ford adds any bracing or additional material for the factory roof rails?

[AC137]

By the sounds of things im better off going the platform on the canopy then and roof racks on the cabin! At least that's bolted through the roof and onto the internal supports...

I guess the roof racks on the cab will have much less weight on them so shouldn't be as much stress on the rivets holding the rack in.

Has anyone ever fixed a Rhino Rack platform down with bolts?

I would not be putting a rack on top of a canopy, they generally have 100kg or less load ratings.

- Awning 12kg
- Front-mounted 40" light bar 4-6kg
- 4x Maxtrax 20kg
- 6x Work/Camp lights 3-6kg
- Swag Single 10-13kg Double 14-19kg
- Camp table and a couple of camp chairs 10kg+
- Shovel 4kg
- Hight lift jack (maybe) 14kg

Roof Rack 24-26kg

Total: 105-118kg and that's being conservative and doesn't include any mounting hardware or straps. Then there is the whole dynamic loading to take into count. If you have a full canopy and you need to but 100+ kgs on top of it, there is no way you will be under GVM imo unless you have a very stock vehicle without suspension, tyre, bullbar, winch type modifications.

I would also stay well clear of Rhino racks, had them come off LC200's etc in our work fleet before we moved to strictly using Front Runner and never had an issue.

Hmmm... thanks for the input mate. Maybe I need to rethink my setup and how equipment/gear in going the be carried.

My main reason for sticking with Rhino Rack is because ive already got a lot of the mounting hardware to suit form the old ute.

[AC137]

Some useful info/a continuation

https://www.newranger.net/forums/viewto ... 54&t=13544

[Torque666]

Just thought I would post these here Front runner still use rivnuts to mount to rangers. https://frontrunner.thirdlight.com/file/42478300974
But use the drill though method on other vehicles such as narava:https://frontrunner.thirdlight.com/file/44924155882 and hiluix:https://frontrunner.thirdlight.com/file/47929617699 I can only assume that the ranger must have something in the roof that prevents the drill though method

[MIKE1244]

Across my rhino bars on the cab and also the canopy I had my flyscreen door maker make me 2 platforms . these are great and cheap Mike

[Fondles]

I can only assume that the ranger must have something in the roof that prevents the drill though method

Am guessing its the airbags as mentioned in step 3.