Rhino-Racks,

Submitted: Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 14:00
ThreadID: 42109 Views:4757 Replies:4 FollowUps:9
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Good afternoon peoples,

Have just purchased a Quintrex Dart car topper and a Rhino-Rack boat loader for the Troopy.

No going back, but how do the Rhino-Racks compare with standard steel roof racks.

Thinking is that when not using the boat could put a Rhino basket on top for light bits n pieces.

They seem well made and have a zillion accessories, but what about the back road corrugations??

Anyone with experience??

Cheers
Michael
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Reply By: Member RayJen Paj05 (NSW) - Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 16:17

Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 16:17
Me too Michael, just had a Rhino Rack boat loader fitted in Sydney and am in Melbourne, on way to SA. Carrying 3.5m tinnie so far only on highways.

I have a small Rhino basket: fitted small stuff so that when the boat goes on top, the stuff (even though tied down) is locked in between the seats of the tinnie.

I was surprised to find some of the fittings quite loose. The rear roller on passenger side had sagged not quite to the point of falling off.

Lesson so far: check all nuts and bolts/fittings regularly. Maybe I will get some spring washers as well, or nylon nuts.

At this stage I'd say beware of corrugations!! Cheers, Ray
AnswerID: 220587

Follow Up By: Member - Michael J (SA) - Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 18:01

Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 18:01
Thanks for that Ray,

Bit like everything I guess, needs to be checked at regular intervals.

I intend to loctite all nuts and bolts as soon as I fit it.

Cheers
Michael
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Follow Up By: madcow - Friday, Feb 09, 2007 at 07:35

Friday, Feb 09, 2007 at 07:35
Have a look at the "Nord-Lock" range of washers. They will not come loose under vibration. Even nylock nuts work themselves loose although they will not be lost.

have a look here

www.nord-lock.com/
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Follow Up By: Wok - Friday, Feb 09, 2007 at 08:30

Friday, Feb 09, 2007 at 08:30
2nd the Nord-locks...just make sure your fitting is in the correct position before tightening!

eng
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Follow Up By: Member - Michael J (SA) - Friday, Feb 09, 2007 at 09:32

Friday, Feb 09, 2007 at 09:32
Thanks guys, these would be well worth checking out for other areas too.

Another day not wasted, something new -to me anyway........

Cheers
Michael
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Reply By: RobAck - Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 17:40

Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 17:40
Michael the product is certainly strong enough. The big thing to keep in mind is that all roof rack fittings do settle and flex. So a daily check of all fittings is necessary. Just remenber to ensure you have the appropriate tools in a safe place all the time as without them you are in dfficulties. We have used rhino racks with fully loaded wire baskets for lots of off road travel without any problems. In fact after around two days of checking all the nuts and bolts we normally find things settle down but complacency leads to disaster.

A note on the wire baskets. They can be noisier than the others but they also flex which allows the carried load to distribute a bit rather than transferring the shock/load into the B and C pillars and fixing points. We have seen way too many cracked pillars due to overloaded roof racks so remember the 100 kg limit

Regards

RobA
AnswerID: 220597

Follow Up By: Member - Michael J (SA) - Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 18:08

Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 18:08
RobA,

The boat only weighs in at 61kg and the rack itself seems very light tho' I have not weighed it yet.

Will be no trouble keeping under 100kg......don't want too much on top of a Troopy anyway:))

All part of the big scheme for when we finally get to travel.

I have to change the legs before fitting, the unit was originally on a Disco so will not bolt straight on.

Cheers
Michael
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Reply By: Member No 1- Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 18:07

Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 18:07
I have three bars on my cruiser
carry ladders all day every day...except when i need to put on steel rack fastened to rhino bars with unistrut bolts and nuts

never had a problem and never have had to tighten..i do use spring washers
do do all that much corrogation work though
AnswerID: 220605

Follow Up By: Member - Michael J (SA) - Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 18:18

Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 18:18
From what I can see Nudie, the bolts that are used to attach the legs to the gutter have a flat and spring washer.

Did you add another or use what was provided?

Cheers
Michael
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FollowupID: 481242

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Friday, Feb 09, 2007 at 07:37

Friday, Feb 09, 2007 at 07:37
no..just used the originals ...stainless spring washers
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Reply By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 20:13

Thursday, Feb 08, 2007 at 20:13
I carry my boat on Rhino Rack bars (no boat loader, I load by hand using rollers). I also have a basket on the bars that goes under the boat and holds fuel tank, anchor, seats, fishing tackle bag and the wheels for my fold up trailer. I also carry a couple of lengths of 100mm pipe on the bars (outside the boat, one on each side). One is for a home made roll out awning, the other is for fishing rods that I can't fit in the othe pipes on the CT. You can never have too many fishing rods (or lures).

The bars are strong enough as long as your roof is.
AnswerID: 220627

Follow Up By: Member - Michael J (SA) - Friday, Feb 09, 2007 at 09:42

Friday, Feb 09, 2007 at 09:42
I thought about lifting it by hand, but too old and feeble (the wife, not me).......lol, plus I got the boat loader at a good price.

Nice rig pictures Norm.....and if I can catch a barra like the one in the photo I will be a happy chappy........

Cheers
Michael
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FollowupID: 481390

Follow Up By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Friday, Feb 09, 2007 at 11:36

Friday, Feb 09, 2007 at 11:36
I looked at boat loaders Michael, but decided I need the exercise. I can get it on and off pretty easy by myself. I've done a bit of fancy construction work to make it easier to lift it over the carry basket when it is full of stuff. When I update the 4B (hopefully to one of the new V8 Diesel 76 Series utes) in a couple of years, I'll probably get a boat loader then.

The barra in the photo was 680mm from memory. On the most recent trip (got back a few days ago) we got 3 over 800mm and I had two lures smashed by metre+ monsters. I'll put a pic of wy wife with her 865mm one in my profile in a while.
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