ARB Canopy Roof Rack Hilux

Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 at 19:08
ThreadID: 91457 Views:16927 Replies:5 FollowUps:4
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Has anyone had any experience with an ARB Roof Rack sitting on top of a ARB canopy? Need some extra storage space for camping and wondering if the roof rack is a practical solution as opposed to getting a trailer made. I realise their are advantages in both ideas however I was wondering if anyone has comments regarding quality of ARB racks and also the impractical aspect of NOT being able to remove the roof rack from the canopy. Not being able to remove the roof rack is what is holding me back at this stage.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

thanks in advance
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Reply By: Member - Lachy T - Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 at 19:23

Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 at 19:23
I have a rodeo with an ARB alloy trade rack on the canopy, did 5000km in july through Birdsville and Flinders with it on, performed flawlessly. The alloy is defiantly lighter than the steel, means less weight on the roof, and doesn't rust. Being unable to remove it you shouldn't stop you too much, the only carpark i have met so far that I can't get into is my work one, which is 1.9m and my car has a 50mm lift, so it's just a little too close for comfort.

I know several people who have bought cheaper roof racks too and have had them break, in my opinion if you are going to have it on your roof at 100km/h paying the little extra for a good quality product is worth it. I got the trade rack so I could put my water pipe of tent poles up there, one of my many reasons (including being a scout leader to carrying canoes, and the fact it can carry a ladder so was a tax deductible item). Fitment is rock solid, 2 steel pipes inside canopy, bolted directly into the steel of the tub/canopy join.

I have a couple of pics on my profile, if you want some more, let me know and I shall upload some of the rack itself.

Lachy

P.S. Check the size, mine came in 2 widths, 2450mm & 2250mm. Both the same price, however the 2250mm is the same width as the canopy, I got the larger as it would also take a sheet of timber etc if needed. Co-incidently it is also the perfect width for the tent pole tube & the southern cross tent. :)
AnswerID: 476005

Follow Up By: Turbo Lux - Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 at 19:57

Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 at 19:57
Thanks Lachy

Interesting about the carparks, I thought it might be a good thing the Lux may not make it to the shops. I was also thinking about getting the alloy rack, do you find it creates allot of noise when driving?
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FollowupID: 751030

Follow Up By: Member - Lachy T - Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 at 20:07

Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 at 20:07
Most car parks now are min 2m anyway, all new ones must be 2.2m and I fit into a 2m carpark, so you should be ok. I haven't noticed any change in noise or fuel. Truck does 11.5L/100km around town (with roof rack and all the extra bits on), on our trip with tyres aired down, full load of fuel (150L) water (90L) and gear for 3 weeks, with tyre, tent, poles, 20L of diesel on roof, I got 11.6L/100km doing 100km/hr. So I wouldn't be too worried about fuel consumption.

I think part of the noise thing is that the rack is on the canopy, and only just hangs over the back seat of the car, so your front seats are well in front of the roof rack.

Lachy
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FollowupID: 751032

Follow Up By: stoney123 - Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 at 13:13

Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 at 13:13
good post, i am looking for a canopy and didn't know ARB had alloy ones. I want to permanently mount a monocrystalline solar panel on top so the alloy with support struts should do the job.
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FollowupID: 751067

Reply By: Les - PK Ranger - Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 at 23:09

Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 at 23:09
TL, I got the Thule type on the back of my crew cab utility back, they are fairly low profile.

I also got 1 x front cab rack fitted, and they line up perfectly.
Needed this because I fitted an Ironman 3m long canopy.

If you rack or canopy right through from the ute tray to the front cab rack, you need to have any fittings to the front rack (or 2 if using a second) buffered with some rubber padding, and the bolts not done up tight (I left them a little loose with lock nuts fitted).

The flex between cab and canopy on back tub can be quite substantial and you can break things if all too tight.

Because my back to front bar is exactly 2.5 apart (nothing over 2.5m made in Rhino or other baskets), I am eventually getting an ali rack custom laser cut and bent up / welded to take some light gear, 2nd spare wheel, etc.

Cheers,
Les.
AnswerID: 476027

Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 at 08:07

Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 at 08:07
The most important thing to consider with an ARB canopy is required strength to support any load you place on top.

For this reason there are three components.

Firstly, ARB mount a supporting frame underneath the canopy to provide the strength.

Secondly, there is the cross bars. In my case I chose the Rhino racks which are bolted to the four corner posts of the frame.

Lastly, there is a basket which can be either steel, or aluminium, which is mounted to the cross bars.

I remove the basket when not required as I don't see the point in carrying it around town when using my vehicle as the daily drive.


Bill


I'm diagonally parked in a parallel Universe!

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AnswerID: 476035

Follow Up By: Member - Lachy T - Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 at 14:02

Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 at 14:02
My ARB one has no crossbars, it is bolted directly from the rack through the fiberglass into the internal frames, with go up from one side of tub, across the interior, and down the other, a bit like an upside-down U shape.

Lachy
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FollowupID: 751073

Reply By: Member - Lachy T - Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 at 15:57

Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 at 15:57
Here are a couple of photos of mine and how close it sits to the roof, you can sort of see the brackets that hold it on.


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AnswerID: 476063

Reply By: River Swaggie - Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 at 18:03

Thursday, Jan 26, 2012 at 18:03
Hiya Bud

I hated the idea of drilling holes in my ARB Canopy so i went this way...Its been brilliant...

Its a touch bigger than my 6x4 Trailer...Its stores heaps of gear and it even holds my Burk N Wills Redgum double swag up there if i wanted to sleep up there...

A company called Lowline made it for me...

Hilux

2004 Hilux
AnswerID: 476074

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