rhino rack "back bone" roof rack system

[jamies]

I really like my Rhino rack especially the way everything can be accessed without untying the lot.
Despite comments to the contrary I am still able to wash the roof of the vehicle.
I have drawers in the back and I can get onto the roof by standing on the top of the drawers and kneeling onto the rack
Heres a pic of ours loaded for our trip this week..........

[Rijarth]

I've had the backbone supporting the platform for 6 months now and wouldn't have it any other way!
Compared to my old cheapy Chinese rack the new setup has increased load, less noise and def sits at least an inch or so lower... win win win!
Only downsides so far is of course the clearance underneath, makes it rather difficult to clean the roof and the reduced access to tie off ropes, straps etc... find I have to climb on top half the time to make sure loads are secured properly. Will be investing in rhinos eye bolts etc sometime soon methinks

[mullerwh]

I had the same issue with the nuts, once I found out that they are only meant to spin one way and be up the right way it was a lot easier.

[Rich_150]

I installed my 42102B Pioneer Platform today onto a backbone system. The hardest bit for me was that I had a great deal of trouble getting the nuts to spin within the channel while mounting the tray to the backbone. I had to use a torch to be able see in the channel and use a screwdriver to try and orient the nut the right way. It took a long time and a lot of swearing but I got there in the end. I'm very happy with the result but getting it done took a lot longer than expected and a lot of frustration.

[jamies]

I have just added some Rhino side rails to my platform because I find the rails quicker to tie my swag against.

For anyone interested I have added 5 x ute tonneau clips down each side of the platform and hang a 150 Watt Korr Solar blanket from them.
Very quick to set up and protects the solar panels from damage with minimal handling.

If anyone is interested in one of these solar blankets delivered Australia wide please PM me for a hot price.
They have a 10 year warranty and have a RRP of $899

[jamies]

see below

[malloc]

Anyone know how much lower a backbone is vs legs?

I'm thinking about swapping from the factory rails to the legs or backbone so I can leave the platform on and fit it in my garage. If I could get an extra inch out of the backbone it might mean a bigger lift and would be worth the extra $.

Nevermind, I fitted the backbone last night and it fits in the garage. Had a mate drive round with his before I ordered to make sure it would fit. Install was straightforward, took a few hours because I was measuring everything twice before drilling, but I had no issues like others in this thread.

[malloc]

Anyone know how much lower a backbone is vs legs?

I'm thinking about swapping from the factory rails to the legs or backbone so I can leave the platform on and fit it in my garage. If I could get an extra inch out of the backbone it might mean a bigger lift and would be worth the extra $.

[Phs]

I am using the STD feet and a 1200x 1500 platform clears sunroof fine
I can take a few photos if you like

[HeyJohnny]

Hey mate

I have a Kakadu that leaves me wondering the same thing. How did you go with the clearance under the platform to sunroof?
Really keen to know before putting down some money. Cheers.

[LongHorn]

" 4 hours "

That's like an 8 beer job for me!

By the time I'm finished, it'll be on upside down.

[Coolcol]

Hi All,
Yes I have also fitted one of these to my beloved 150. Tips after my mistakes, when putting the sticky sealing tabs down to cover the holes in the roof make sure the hole in the middle is plenty big enough to allow the bolt to go through without touching the sides. If you get this tar like substance on the bolts they bind like no tomorrow. You defiantly need to sacrifice a 6 mm ball head Alan key to the roof rack gods, and cut one down and use a 6m ring spanner to operate it through the back bone holes on the sides. I needed to drill two holes to pick up the center locking position but as I had the skills and a drill, no issue for me.
Good looking rack when on!
I get wind noise around 80 kph +, which get worse when I put the side awning on. I just turn the tunes up no problem!
Added Benefit I can't hear the hand brake either! Until she wacks me! What's new eh!
Total install from start to finish, remove factory rails, fit cross rails to platform, check placement, drill holes and then install: 4 hours, my myself.
Yes I could be much quicker if I was doing it again, without all the checking then re checking to get the placement and holes right and cutting Alan keys.
Cheers
Colin

[CamJam]

Interesting you had so much hassle, I fitted mine (2016 built) and didn't have any issue. Half the install was in the dark by torch light, maybe that's the key ��

Ha! Yeah, and there are plenty of others that didn't need drilling and so on... anyway - it's on so that's all fine for now. One thing I did note on the boxes though was a net weight of the BackBone being 7.9Kg's, not 9Kg's as indicated in the instruction manual and the tray 2128x1236 (42107B) box having a net weight of 12Kgs. To me, that's a significant difference from what's been posted on here before - which one's correct? To me the load on the roof can now be 100kg (Toyota, who don't list an off-road weight) less 20kg's (near enough) which is 80Kgs now. This happens to fit nicely with the 120Kg less the off-road 50% factor that Rhino suggests (so 80Kgs).

Can anyone shed light on the correct weight? I'd have thought the box would be the ultimate tell-all as it's used for shipping etc?

[5logs]

Well after 8 hours fighting with BS tight holes - using the recommended ball hex and all - the holes that I needed to drill are not fitting a 2016 GXL.

The backbone is on - how tightly is anyones as you lose the feeling of how tight things are when you have to mix a ball hex with a spanner to get the leverage just to compress the spring washers (I'm a rock climber so I like to think my hands and fingers aren't too weak).

The tray is marked and accurately drilled. Now the 6 x locking bolts that supposedly spin around in the bar to lock it off aren't spinning - which means they just keep popping out - and I've tried both ways. Sorry, this may be frustration here - but for over a grand in outlay this thing needs a better design, or better regulation from the factory. From this thread here, there are some that have my model car and didn't even need to drill the holes! WTF?

If its not on in the next hour then it's going straight back.


...finally. Got the silly spinning bolts to spin. If this is the 'it easily comes off with six bolts to wash the roof' then that's probably a true statement. It'll be a hassle for it to go back on though. It makes me feel as if it's installed wrong, but everything has been checked, triple checked and spun back the front and so on. Anyway... it's on. It's not coming off. Considering how tight the 6 bolts were put on though, a test will be in two weeks with some solid 4WDriving with the hope that none pop off or bend.

If I had my time again, going through with the Front Runner - despite the ordering hassles.

Anyway - rant over. Sorry. Prado's a great car though! There - there's my happy part.

Interesting you had so much hassle, I fitted mine (2016 built) and didn't have any issue. Half the install was in the dark by torch light, maybe that's the key ��

[trsmith]

Could you fit an LED lightbar on the front of the platform with the backbone system, in the gap between the tray and roof?
The brackets you can buy through rhino rack all seem to hang alittle lower than the actual platform and the photo's that are shown are not with a back bone system.

easy i got 2 light bars on the back, and thats lower than the front