Roof Racks

Getting a heavy duty one fitted myself tomorrow on me cruser and have the same drama with garge and wife. Will let you know how we go!!

G'day GazzaS,

2200 is a big rack, and steel? I don't think you'll manage with just the two of you . For what it's worth, I grabbed a "Rak" set off ebay for our 90 series. While not the full on rugged style, I can use just the rails for my kayak trips and for longer trips could add the luggage holder. Not too large but large enough. The rails are aircraft aluminium and key locked so putting them on or taking them off is very easy. It suits my activities anyway and Rak are an Australian company I believe. Maybe not what you are looking for capacity/ruggedness wise but check out

http://203.147.251.236/platinumrak/index.cfm

and give them a call.

Jeremy.

Whats the max weight you can put on the roof of a Playdoe . . . 100kg isn't it.

You put a Steel Roof rack (is it possible anyway without gutters ?) of 2200 up there , and I would suggest , there would be little room , weight wise , for much anyway.

Call Andrew Williams (awill4x4 off here)

he makes alloy racks that are used by many in nissan and pajero clubs (hes in both)... No failures from many cape trips and center crossing trips says a lot to me.

Much lighter to take off at end of trip too...

Andrew
9775 0558

gazza
go and lift rack and see for yourself
i have arb steel one for 100 series and think maybe 2 guys would struggle to get it into position
i use ropes on rafters in garage to get it on /off which you cant do from height
mate has alloy arb for same and (can get it on) with his wife(heheheh)
i would prob go alloy for this reason next time
before u buy see if you and wifey can put on yourself
good luck

G'day GazzaS

Past experience with relying on the other half ( no detriment intended ) to lift
anything awkward or slightly heavy past chest height is a pretty good recipe for
a domestic, unless yours is a power lifter.
I run a 2200 steel ARB ( but dont have the pain of having to remove it). Excellent
rack, good size and has been bounced around some pretty gnarly tracks up here
on a fairly regular basis without any problems.
Got a mate close by that for the price of a couple of beers after work will help ya chuck it on/off when required??????????
Have fun choosing.

Cheers

Gazza,

I have a 90 series prado with TJM steel rack. Its very strong but very heavy - too heavy for my bride to lift one side. It takes two big guys to lift it off and I still find it very very heavy. If you have a suspension lift it makes it even harder.

Cheers

Kevin

Mate I went rhino sportz racks and a basket with a roof rack bag in it. I'll never look back, it's great. Easy to pull it off and whack it on (for the garage) by youself, because it doesn't sit right up the front there is barley any change in fuel economy or any wind noise. Done some very rough stuff with it on and loaded, no problems. The only thing I would say is that if you do lots of corrugations, just check the tightness of the "U" bolts at each smoko, sometimes they can start to work loose. If you were leaving it on all the time, some nylox nuts would stop that problem, but as I only put it on for trips they are no good.
The sportz racks and basket are rated to 95kg, I think that's all you'd want on top anyway. We whack most of our stuff up there, tents, chairs, table, sleeping bags, air matresses etc etc.
Down below are gas bottles, jerry cans, misc camping gear, food, cooking gear etc etc.

I have the same problem re garage and have to remove the rack after every use and put it on when required.

I have an ARB full length steel rack and a 2" lifted GU and have to get one of my sons (22 or 20) to help me. We are all pretty strong and it is not easy at all. The wife can just lift one side to thigh height and that is the easy part.

Can't comment on the durability of the alloy but the ARB steel is an excellent rack.

To suit your requirements , if you can find an alloy with the required durability I suggest you go that way.

:)

Hi Gazza How many passengers are you carrying ?
is it 90 or120 series ?

Cheers

Hope this helps a little Gazza, we have an 80 series with 2400mm rack it is TJM and aluminium. There is virtually no way the wife and I can do this without a lot of huffing an puffing. My wife and I have done it twice but it was hard work( both emotionally and physically). I now do it with a mate or two and it is a lot easier but still no piece of cake. i have carried at least a couple of hundred kg's up there, (I can feel the car sway around corners so not recomemded). It was fire wood and a neccessity but wouldn't do it again. Steel sounds like a lot heavier and I think it would take 2-3 strong guys. My thoughts anyway.

Charlie

Gaz,

I've got a Rhino on my Prado:

- full size
- relatively light (I can put it on and off by myself with ropes, or with my wife if we lift it on manually)
- strong - have done a fair bit with it, including double crossing of the Simpson

Very happy with it..

Roof rating is 75 Kg...

Hi,
I run an ARB on my Prado. Excellent rack. Have done the Gibb River Road and some other pretty rough stuff. I usually have it fairly well loaded up and have had no drama's

GeeTee