Outdoor Adventure USA

ROOF RACKS

Roof racks is our topic tonight. Among the many upgrades that we all make to our 4WDs, one of the most common is the roof rack, especially for the type of travel that many of us do. For almost all of our trips, we enjoy the outdoors in what is referred to as dispersed camping, meaning that your campsite is not established nor does it have any of the usual facilities, of any kind. So, no showers, tables, campfire rings, BBQs, chairs, water, or hookups. In most cases, it is merely a wide spot in the wilderness, and sometimes, even the trail is difficult to find.

When required to carry all of the camping essentials for a visit to the outback, it doesn’t take long to fill the 4WD. Roof racks provide the extra storage space required to carry our essentials in an area that normally goes completely unused - the roof.

The advantages of a roof rack are many, but there are also some areas where special attention is required. We hope to cover both areas tonight as well as the many options for roof racks.

Here are the areas we hope to address for the net:

purposes - what do you carry and why

• firewood

• gas

• water

• chairs

• tables

• clothes, sleeping bags, etc in dry bags

• carry others gear

• spare tire

can my vehicle accept a roof rack, and what to look for in a new vehicle

how much weight can the roof rack handle

roof rack accessories

• antennas

• lights

• awnings

different kinds of racks

• modular vs all welded

• mounting solutions

• rack material (steel vs aluminum)

• racks for RTTs

rack covers

roof rack concerns

• higher center of gravity

• cost

• increased wind noise

• how to safely access

• sun roof

• higher vehicle height

• increased chance of entanglement with trail brush and tree limbs

Front Runner Slimline II Roof Rack Kit for Toyota LAND CRUISER 100/LEXUS LX470
$1,545.00 USD
https://offroadtents.com/search?type=pr ... nd+cruiser

PRODUCT SKU KRTL029T


I thought I would start our discussion by showing the rack I decided on for my 2000 Land Cruiser 100 series.
I purchased the rack in 2021 and was quite surprised they had it in stock and shipped the same week.

This a rather large rack and covers most of the space on the roof except a small area over the sun roof.
I ordered the optional side rails since I like a basket style and do not plan to put an RTT on it.

Assembly was fairly straight forward. Some additional hand tools would make it easier to work around corners. As I recall they sell a tool kit.

This from their web site
It has a 660 lbs load rating, as well a durability and endurance that are out of question.
This 1964mm/77.3" long, full-size, Slimline II cargo roof rack kit contains the Slimline II Tray, Wind Deflector and 2 Foot Rails to mount the Slimline II Tray to your Toyota Land Cruiser 100/Lexus LX470.

It easily installs using the existing factory mounting points. No drilling required.
These Foot Rails contain 2 openings to access Front Runner under rack mount tables (1 smaller prep and 1 larger camp size table).

All Front Runner Racks are backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty*

Consists Of:
• 1 x FATL002 - Toyota Land Cruiser 100 Foot Rails - by Front Runner
• 1 x RRSTG10 - Slimline II Tray - 1345mm(W) X 1964mm(L) - by Front Runner

Materials Used:
• Black epoxy powder-coated T6 aluminum
• 3CR12 Stainless Steel


• Approximate Installed Weight 36kg (78lbs)

Weight Rating
My LC100 roof is rated at 200 KG (440 LBS)
Subtract 78lbs for the rack and I have 354 LBS carrying capacity.
I believe this is the dynamic rating for on road.
Rino Rack recommends dividing the on road weight rating by 1.5 to find the max off-road weight rating as a safety factor.

So my load should be in the area 236 pounds for off road travel.

Here are some pictures of various roof racks, with a bit of emphasis on the one I use.

1. Modular vs One Piece

In my case, I chose to go with a one=piece roof rack. My reasoning was that it was more durable and less likely to come apart on the rough trails we normally see. Besides modular vs one-piece, there was one other option - steel or aluminum. Steel was the ultimate choice, and the reasoning was, again, durability and strength.

On a recent trip to the wilds of Southern Utah, we often needed to navigate trails that were just wide enough for ATVs. In one instance, being the widest vehicle in the group, I usually cleared a path for everyone else. As the trail narrowed, due to tree branches and brush, I needed to pass through this one particularly narrow section of the trail. Going to the right was not an option nor was going to the left. So, on I went, and in the process, a rather large tree branch managed to get tangled in the roof rack. As I continued forward there was a loud crack and I knew that one of two things had broken. Fortunately, it was the branch. The rack was not affected at all.

The tree branch that broke and fell on the roof


One of the tree branches


What a one-piece rack looks like. This rack is a powder coated, fully welded steel unit (not modular) that uses the entire space on the roof of the Hummer. Fortunately, the H2 came from the factory with two steel roof rack rails, which this rack utilizes. As seen in the picture below, the rack is held in place, in the rails, by 12 stainless bolts.



2. Accessories For A Roof Rack

The location of the roof rack, being the tallest portion of the vehicle, makes it a prefect location for antennas. When done properly, the antennas will not interfere with the storage space. Here are suggestions for both an HF antenna and a 2M/440 antenna.


2M/440


HF



Roof racks are perfect location for awnings and wind turbines.



3. A small sampling of gear that can be stored on a roof rack

• spare tires

• fire wood

• gas

• clothes bags

• sleeping bags

• chairs

• portable toilet seat

• tents

• water

The natural concern that most will have, is how dirty my clothes or tent will get on the top. Given how bulky these items are and how much room they will occupy inside the 4WD, it is fortunate that there are effective solutions. The first is a cover for the rack.


The second is a dry bag.

Watershed Colorado makes a large variety of dry bags, all made in the USA. These bags offer protection from dirt that even the dustiest road cannot penetrate. While you don't often see a clothes duffel riding on a roof rack, a good dry bag can keep the contents completely free of road dust and water.

The Watershed website (drybags.com) sells a full line of dry bags. These bags are water tight and tested to 300 feet, extremely rugged, come with a purge/inflate valve to accommodate changes in elevation, and a lifetime warranty to the original purchaser. They even note that the bags can be stored on top of a vehicle so as to make more room inside. If you are looking for a way to keep road dirt and dust out of your bags, this is the way to go. And, the recommended storage for river rafting. See: https://www.drybags.com/product/colorado/.



4. Our Members Roof Racks

Please check me in, WY6R -- Bob

You are not always limited to after market companies roof racks, you can build or modify yours. You just need to be creative.

I made a custom gas/water can holder for my stock FJ factory roof rack.
I purchased 2 pieces of angle iron. Had a friend weld 2 Front Runner double jerry can holders onto the angle irons and painted. Mounted the unit to my factory rack using stainless steel U-bolts.

Along with my custom rack I mount a Hi-Lift Jack and ARB Awing on the rack.

At first I was worried about the weight on the factory rack. The listed limit for the rack from Toyota is 150lbs. It turns out the 150lbs is in reference to the factory rack alumimum cross members not the overall rack.

I wasn't sure about the FJ's handling characteristics with the added weight on the roof. With the upgraded suspension I installed the added weight with 4 full jerry cans was undetectable. The other concern I had was how the rack was mounted to the FJ and if mount points would leak with the added weight and vibration. Even after our last Southern Utah trip where we encounter some to the worst wash-board roads I've been in along time with 4 full gas cans, no leaks and the rack is still secure and solid.

Here are 3 close up pictures of my custom rack. In two of the pictures you can see the factory cross members which are rated at 150lbs. I'm not sure what the weight limit is after 15 years exposure to the sun. I use the cross members to carry firewood and other lightweight items.

You can see my outfitted truck in my avatar and in Dave's posting above, Blue FJ.

Please do an over the air checkin with me tonight. I can't reach the Keller repeater without using my mobile rig as a repeater and currently it is on jacks in the driveway for a suspension repair. From the driveway it is a hit and miss with the repeater. Best location is parked in front of house.

Let's try it, and if my transmission is unreadable please have someone else review my posting but I will be listening.

Thanks Phil

Please check in:
Randy KF6KOC
Becky KF6RGR

thanks

Please check in -

John - KN6VL

Bruce - KD6GCO

Check in please - Thanks - Bernie

Please check me in tonight.