Integrated roof rack rails - are they strong enough?
Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 07, 2004 at 17:01
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Member - Chrispy (NSW)
Hi all Smile
Jenny and I are looking at taking a trip to
Cape York next year. We are debating whether we should take our 65kg EezyAwn roof-top tent attached to the integrated roof rails (on Rhino cross-bars connected to the standard roof rails) or sitting on top of our off road trailer.
I'd rather not take a trailer due to the additional problems that involves on the corrugated roads... springs, bearings, etc, etc... not to mention the extra fuel consuption.
My question is if anyone has taken a fourby with these integrated rails fitted on an extended desert trip or one to the Cape over these type of corrugated roads with weight on their roof rack and had the rails fail? There are three fairly substantial bolt-down fixtures holding the rails to the roof on each side, but even in day to day traffic they loosen off after a few months and need re-tightening. I can only imaging what stress they'd be under over millions of jarring corrugations. Of course I could LocTite them in, but is the underlying construction of the roof rail system inside the roof itself strong enough to handle 60-70kg shuddering up and down incessantly for thousands of kilometers? I've never had a fourby with these before - they've always had the older and (I think) stronger roof gutter mounts for a roof rack.
Should I just take the trailer?
Anyone with any experience in this type of trip with these rails?
Cheers
Chris
Reply By: Member -Dodger - Tuesday, Dec 07, 2004 at 17:53
Tuesday, Dec 07, 2004 at 17:53
Go see the jeep mob if they are reluctant to advise you then don't.
If they say ok then go is the word. See what weight they recomend on these bars and work from that.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Chrispy (NSW) - Tuesday, Dec 07, 2004 at 17:57
Tuesday, Dec 07, 2004 at 17:57
I have Rhino cross-rails that tightly grab the rails, and the system is conservatively (the best way !!) rated at 112kg. I presume that is "static" weight, meaning that the tent, at 65kg falls
well within the limit. I understand that this "static" weight limit means that it will take a lot more - such as sleeping two people inside the tent at night, so total weight including both people is in the range of 200kg. But, it's only 65gk while on the move.
To be totally honest, the "Jeep mob" (hehe..) probably won't be able to advise me... as this is probably the first time a Grand has been asked to go to the Cape. Then again - there are LOTS and lots of Americans who own one..... maybe the Yankee forums will be able to point me straight.
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Reply By: Glenno - Tuesday, Dec 07, 2004 at 18:48
Tuesday, Dec 07, 2004 at 18:48
I spoke to Rhino about a similar scenario for my racks on my Hilux. My racks are rated 25kg per rack - so 50kg for the pair. They said for corrugated roads to add a factor of 50% as their stated weight applied to soft birumin driving. I would assume a similar load factor would apply to your rack (regardless of the load rating).
I dropped them an email via their webpage and they responded same day. I called up the bloke who responded and fired some other roof rack questions I had. Their after sales service was excellent, they were happy to offer up suggestions to solve my problem.
Cheers,
Glenn.
AnswerID:
87643
Follow Up By: Member - Chrispy (NSW) - Tuesday, Dec 07, 2004 at 19:08
Tuesday, Dec 07, 2004 at 19:08
Thanks Glenn... this is helpful! The 50% factor is sensible - considering that the inertia of the rooftop tent (at 65kg) would be considerable given the number of corrugations per minute.
50% addition to the 65kg totals around the 100kg mark. Still within the conservative limits, but not by much..... hmmm....
Then again, the roof racks that sit in the gutters of Cruisers and Patrols rely on the roof actually staying bonded to the body - and I've seen a few 60-series roofs literally slide off the front of the car after a hard stop.
Cheers
Chris
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