Roof rack overload!

Odog - There is a recommended load limit for all properly designed and engineered roof racks for a reason.
Overloading a roof rack will start panel flexing and cracking - and corrugated road surfaces will exacerbate the potential problem.

Any roof damage becomes a very expensive fix. Remember that all body panels today are high tensile steel, and therefore much thinner than they used to be.
Todays body panels are stiffer because of the high tensile steel - but this also means that they won't tolerate flexing like the older panels used to.

Then there's the stability problem. The load is imposed not only because of panel strength limitations, but also because of the height of a roof rack load, it has a large leverage effect on vehicle stability.

If you have a rollover, I can guarantee that crash investigators will examine whether the roof rack was overloaded - even if the overload played little part in the crash.

If the investigators determine that it was, this information is readily available to insurance companies, who will more than likely use it as a reason not to pay out.

Stick with the roof rack manufacturers specified limits, and you won't set yourself up for potential troubles.
Personally, I prefer to stay under the manufacturers limits - and limiting what you carry on the roof rack - particularly as regards height of items - also improves fuel economy a tad.

Cheers, Ron.

ODog
Even if you think you are "driving to the limits" you may come in strife.
Friend of mine in a Prado with an OL roofrack, properly secured and all that, came to grief when he hit a bulldust filled hole at just 30km/hr. The car decelerated promptly, the roofrack went ahead and landed partly on his bonnet. How is that for 'driving to the conditions'?
And, with weight imbalance, you may have a much higher chance of coming to grief if a tyre burst even at 60km/hr.

All I's saying is if you "think" you are safer by dropping your speeds from 100 to 80 or from 60 to 40, a top heavy overloaded roofrack still has the potential of exacerbating the problems.

All of that said, if you loaded it to the limit the above may still occur, just less of a chance.
CJ

I think it was Jack Absalom that once said "A small trailer is better than a big roof rack."

I put the bulky relatively light stuff on the roof rack, my canoe bedding and roof top tent. As has been said 1000 times, the high C of G does make for significant changes in handling and on high speed dirt things can get out of shape quickly.

Consider re-assessing what you are taking. If hauling fuel on the roof, only fill the drums when you need to and transfer it to the main tank when you can. Some haul 60L of fuel 1/2 way around the country, just so they can save $20 in a remote area. Doesn't really add up in the end.

Owen
I take it you are not taking the Cub?

I've seen the results of a ''slight bit more'' on a Patrol
I think he had beat 100 Ltrs of fuel on the rack doing the Birdsville Track.
By the time he got back onto the black top the patrol doors wouldn't shut and I think it was at least 2'' flatter in profile.


Ron

odog,
like thousands of others I overload my rack all the time in the desert and get the weight off as soon as I can. It can go wrong if you don't have a strong rack and strong suspension. Never gone wrong for me. If it does, you accept it and get on with it.
Lots of people spend most of the time worrying about things that never happen. Just have a go and have a good trip. As you said, you will take the load into account with conditions and speed.
ian

When i owned a landrover discovery the specs for weight on roof were max 100kg on good roads and 30kg in off road conditions
(This includes the weight of the roof rack ).

Just illustrates that people need to realise how much extra strain can occur when travelling offroad.

We did the Simpson a few years back with the old 80 series and I had 80 litres of extra fuel on the roof rack plus the tent etc. Filled the fuel at Oodnadatta then got rid of it at the first chance. My rack support ran the entire length of the roof on both sides and over the years never saw any sign of metal stretching or distortion. I would not put the same load on the Prado though as the roof and supports are much lighter. I polished it two days ago and you could feel the flex in the roof just with a polishing cloth.
In the prehistoric times I had a series 2 LWB Landrover and boy with some of our epic trips around the country we ran that roof rack way over limit. All the camping gear, plus the boat went on the roof, the inside was filled with food, fridge, icebox, 2 kids, outboard motor and spares for the Landy. Was never game to weigh it but would have blown GVM to the moon and never had a problem, but they built them different in those days.

Roof rack overload no such thing when it comes to Cape york adventures.....hahah
I'v never seen so much gear on to of vehicles...
Dont think there following any rules .

I’ll throw this out there given it is Friday afternoon and we’re heading to beer o’clock…

Thinking aloud here…

I wonder if we put all the gear out that we intend to take on tour, leave it for half-an-hour and come back a beer later, reviewed and took away stuff that would be nice to have but not essential – then did the same thing again (that would be two beers later) and shifted through the gear again, discarding stuff you missed in the first round, whether there would be a need for a roof-rack!

Good weekend to all, Baz – The Landy

My comments refer to a Nissan GQ wagon. Full length old school steel rack.Weights include pack weight. Last simo trip around 200 kg, previous 4 trips around 180-220. My first outback trip in 89, I shudder to think it might have been closer to 300 !
Can't comment on relative vehicle roof strengths, but to date the roof is fine, and other than my first trip ,the car has never felt top heavy, maybe because the rest of it is packed full !
Have a good trip .

Thank you all, I'm getting the weight down, might have to starve myself as well, before we leave.. Ha! The weight up top is a concern, but should get it right.. It's a work in progress job.. Thanks again. Safe travels all.. Owen n Sue