Roof rack/tray options pro's-con's

[maliyanjourney Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maliyanjourney]

2011 GX, so up top is a blank canvass. Want to go camping in her, remote from time to time. Been to all the local 4x4 shops but only got influxed with options and choices.

Can anyone tell me why you get the Rhino Pioneer Tray or ARB style trays with all round bars? They look better for sure but limit you both in height (getting under low carparks/garages) especially when the lift kit eventually goes in and I imagine limit you from loading on a long kayak etc. it seems these are by far the most common around these parts on the road. Can't imagine much better luggage security than those without bars really once tied down?
http://www.rhinorack.com.au/products.../pioneer-trays

The Rhino Tradie seems to do the same job but being open at both ends allows for longer loads. Is that it?
http://www.rhinorack.com.au/products...ioneer-tradies

Rhino Pioneer Platforms / Dollium Windcheeters are flat. Pro's cons? I've heard someone say lack of tiedown points.. but for anything don't you just tie down onto the base anyway? Not sure about that.
http://www.rhinorack.com.au/products...neer-platforms /
URL="http://www.dolium.com.au/Retail_Catalogue/cat/Slimline_Trays.html"]http://www.dolium.com.au/Retail_Catalogue/cat/Slimline_Trays.html[/URL]

The shops have tried to sell me on getting a set of heavy duty crossbars (or the aerobars) on which I can mount a rhino basket or AT Tray. idea being obviously able to take the cage/tray off and mount kayak/bike clamps, still bring home the big sheets from the hardware etc. Apart from the utilitarian look, pro's con's? The idea sounds appealing but don't think I gain anything in clearance (because the racks are about the same height as a standalone low Pioneer tray). And for me with a base GX i don't save any cost because i have to fit the feet, crossbars and also buy the cage/tray... which ends up within $50-100 of a standalone platform!

Advice greatly appreciated. really want to untangle this ungainly web.

Cheers

[Green dog Member Find all posts View Profile Close Green dog]

I am just fitting up a roof rack to my 2012 GX this week..
we stock Ironman4x4 roofracks at the moment so best to try them first..
I already have a 2 inch lift so pretty much rules out getting in my garage at home anyway..

The steel cage style Ironman rack is great as it looks good and has the cage bottom, and built in sparewheel holder/bracket.. only issue is that it is quite heavy. $555.00
The alloy one is a lot lighter and looks the same minus the caged bottom.. but is $190 more expensive..

mounting feet kit is $120 and is easy as to fit..

[Nadgey Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Nadgey]

Maliyan, I just went through this process.

Ended up going for Rhino Platform for less weight and drag when mounted directly to the vehicle (no cross bars as such, except those actually part of the platform). Cost about $950. I get into most carparks (I have no lift though). Less weight of the rack means more weight on the platform, these only weigh around 25KG and are extremely strong.. I've always been a cage man, but I have been converted and love it! But of course it's your choice!

See thread below inc pics at end:

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...nder-ARB/page4

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

Big question is what do you want to put up on the roof?

You have mentioned kayaks, sheets of ply from Bunnings, and bike carriers. If it's only these then just the three cross bars suit the best. These are cheapest through Toyota spare parts, the HD 3 rack set. It is the exact same rack set at the Rhino rack set for about 2/3 the price.

When you go camping what are you looking to put up there, this is the big question.

[maliyanjourney Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maliyanjourney]

Ended up going for Rhino Platform ...
http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...nder-ARB/page4

Gday Nadgey. Think that looks good. No dramas tying down things? So you tie down onto eyebolts and are they part of the parcel? Presume somhow can mount winch hodler etc. Looks good on your rig man, something about the side awning makes it look less plain too. As i don't have rails no nee to remove, will place straight into mounts so will ahve the 100kg rating, great!

Mrs wants to know if we can fit a 'pod/box' onto it. I said we wont need it, we'd just get a luggage bag, but she still wants to know lol! Also bike mounts, kayak mounts later a probably out?

[maliyanjourney Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maliyanjourney]

Big question is what do you want to put up on the roof?

You have mentioned kayaks, sheets of ply from Bunnings, and bike carriers. If it's only these then just the three cross bars suit the best. These are cheapest through Toyota spare parts, the HD 3 rack set. It is the exact same rack set at the Rhino rack set for about 2/3 the price.

When you go camping what are you looking to put up there, this is the big question.

Gday Andy. Yes it'd be great to have the versatility to swap between the weekend kayak, bike bunnings, and then the outback adventuring. Apart from the weekend warrior stuff like bikes and kayaks..i want to be able to go camping. All the bulky, light weight (as possibly) camping gear we can't fit into the 'boot' space in these vehicles (have the front and middle seats filled up with people)! Probably spare-spare wheel for remote travel, and although i don't like it spare jerry can/s up there too. I don't suppose a pioneer platform is convertible.

[BlakMoth Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close BlakMoth]

There's loads of different accessories for the Rhino Platform. They are very versatile. And sit on the same legs as the 3 bar setup so it's as low as that too. Only 25kg so you can then put 75kg of stuff on it.


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[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

Ok, so reading between the lines I would actually recomend the 3 bar set up, reasons as follows

General light luggage, clothes, etc fit into a pod great, and as the missus has asked about it im sure that is what she would prefer
Kayak holders bolt directly to the cross bars, and don't require an adapter kit like the platform does
Bike holders are the same as above

Only problem is the jerry cans and spare tyre, but keep in mind the weight of that. A full steel jerry can I alot 25kg for, spare tyre I would guess (and may be corrected) 40kg (for a LT construction A/T), so two jerrys and a spare, plus the weight of the rack puts you over, and that is without any "light" stuff up there.

How often do you plan on doing remote outback travel where the second spare is going to be needed? The reason I ask is the 3 bar kit may be much better suited for you everyday use. That being said the platform is great, and is what I will be getting. I already have the three bar kit for the bikes, kayaks, Bunnings, etc. and will only be using the platform for trips away.

[maliyanjourney Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maliyanjourney]

By chance I found a workmate with a spare basket, and a brother in law with a pod (roofbox) from Aldi. Figured if i get the rhino roofracks (crossbars and mounts) I can always take the crossbars off and fit a pioneer style tray straight onto the mounts.

We're off, will see how it all goes for a few weeks!

[BlakMoth Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close BlakMoth]

Beauty 👍 enjoy the hols


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[foxpro Member Find all posts View Profile Close foxpro]

Our GX had the HD bars on for a few weeks before switching to the huge Rhino 42107B platform retaining the mounted feet. Having had roof bars on cars for years I don't think the Rhino kit offers much over the HD bars. We utilize the bars very often for double kayaks and sheet material. The only advantage Rhino has for us is that it protects the upper paintwork from scratches and dents. We had lots of those with just the bars.

[foxpro Member Find all posts View Profile Close foxpro]

Calculating purchase and running costs might be another consideration. Rhino platform $700 plus maybe an extra half a liter fuel per 100km will add to about $1400 after 100'km on the road.

[LongHorn Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close LongHorn]

I'm in the same boat (ahh ..truck) I've used roof bars in the past but now I'm leaning toward the pioneer platform cause of it's versatility. It's clean, light and low profile when empty and has way more accessories than other brands making it so adaptable. It's expensive and then you have buy eye bolts etc but the options the concept opens up appeals to me at least.

[tdprado Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tdprado]

+1 for the Pioneer platform. Heaps of accessory fittings that take seconds to fit, very versatile, low profile. Initially expensive but well worth it in the long run. Will be easy to move to next 4x4 or sell at a later date as well.

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[reggie426 Member Find all posts View Profile Close reggie426]

I've got a Pioneer SX platform, does anyone else have theirs move slightly when you pull on it? It's mounted with the 6 clamp down things in between the boards onto the bar