rhino rack "back bone" roof rack system

[andoland]

Went into Autobarn today with their 25% off sale and bought the 2128mm pioneer platform with backbone system. Delivery will be a week or so but I'm in no hurry, just wanted to grab it while they were cheap.

[trsmith]

I would love your opinion... rather urgently.

I just purchased (sort of) a 1928mm Backbone system. In WA. After the store installing the backbone rails and then trying to fit the tray, they noticed the holes for the bolts don't line up. They contacted the "WA State Manager" for Rhino and apparently the new rails are still a few weeks away to WA. I pointed out this thread and the part number and was told that the Rhino state manager said there is an error in the Rhino system. Disappointing as I now have rails on my roof and sealed (original rails have been removed) that do not fit the platform I purchased. And No Platform.

I now have one of 2 choices, instal the larger rack and pay extra, this is the solution I am considering or...
The store said they can drill new holes in the backbone system to accomodate the platform. I am not comfortable with this, although they called the State Manager for rhino again when I was there and they all feel this will be OK.

Your thoughts? I will be hunting for photos of the 2120mm platform on a prado.

get the 2120 u will love it :P
https://goo.gl/photos/pkHt2cDDtYGCJo296
https://goo.gl/photos/bUGZJLusHYJxxQyY7
https://goo.gl/photos/FRN2mSP832VyMHsLA
https://goo.gl/photos/5XVqf9TqhzYfWYNp8

Selthy,

If the shorter platform can fit on the longer backbone, you should be able to move the 3 crossbars on the platform to match the holes on the backbone.

I wouldn't be drilling the backbone. Better to drill the platform.

[jamies]

Surely Rhino could upgrade you to the larger tray at their own cost given it is their incompatability.
I have the larger platform on my own Prado

[Selthy]

I would love your opinion... rather urgently.

I just purchased (sort of) a 1928mm Backbone system. In WA. After the store installing the backbone rails and then trying to fit the tray, they noticed the holes for the bolts don't line up. They contacted the "WA State Manager" for Rhino and apparently the new rails are still a few weeks away to WA. I pointed out this thread and the part number and was told that the Rhino state manager said there is an error in the Rhino system. Disappointing as I now have rails on my roof and sealed (original rails have been removed) that do not fit the platform I purchased. And No Platform.

I now have one of 2 choices, instal the larger rack and pay extra, this is the solution I am considering or...
The store said they can drill new holes in the backbone system to accomodate the platform. I am not comfortable with this, although they called the State Manager for rhino again when I was there and they all feel this will be OK.

Your thoughts? I will be hunting for photos of the 2120mm platform on a prado.

[trsmith]

I am looking for a low profile rack for my VX. Can someone who has installed one please measure the height and advise the height from the ground. I need to get my car under some low car parks.

Has anyone noticed an increase in noise since installing theirs?

I fit in 2m carparks with 265/70/17 tyres and m8 tie down points on the tray using the backbone
(i dont have a lift yet)

[Selthy]

I am looking for a low profile rack for my VX. Can someone who has installed one please measure the height and advise the height from the ground. I need to get my car under some low car parks.

Has anyone noticed an increase in noise since installing theirs?

[HaaHn]

Message for Will:

I picked up my RTPB1 Backbone + 42102B (1928x1236) on 3rd Nov from the Welshpool depot in Perth. Unfortunately after fitting the backbone rails I have discovered the instructions are Issue03, and the Backbone does not fit the platform. It seems I have been given rails CA1466 & CA1467.

I will contact the retailer for this to see if I can arrange a swap. How can I determine if the Backbone box contains rails CA1626 & CA1627? These are not printed on the box, the only indication was a very small "Issue 03" on the instructions inside the box.

How did you go daz? Get it sorted? If so can you pop some pics up please?

Cheers

HaaHn

[HaaHn]

I ordered mine on the weekend. I get it next week and paid 1300 with me picking it up an installing myself.

I have a sunroof on my 150 Altitude so it will be interesting to see if the open tilt will not be affected.

How did you go with the install evl? Any pics?

I am still deciding whether to go the 21 or the 19 especially now the backbone is out for both.

[skips80]

ORE at the Perth 4x4 show are doing 15% off Rhino gear guys. I ordered the 2100 long backbone platform for the GX today with free shipping to my door. Not a bad deal and Tim the sales manager has his 150 Series there with the backbone on it so that you can get a good look. Ill be interested to see how much noise I notice once I install it.

[andoland]

Longhorn,

My two reasons for looking at the pioneer rack over a new frontrunner are the extra length (2128mm vs 1968mm) and the pioneer is a little cheaper. Otherwise I'd be happy to have another frontrunner rack. Neither of these is a deal breaker, just reason to investigate the alternatives.

I've not found wind noise to be a significant issue on my frontrunner rack, but it is only 1700mm long so doesn't sit too far forward. It also came with a wind deflector.

Interesting comment about the accessories - the frontrunner seems to have more than the pioneer system, but in any case any that are designed to bolt onto the top of the slats should be interchangeable between the brands. One thing I did notice about the pioneer is that it doesn't have slots in the underside of the bars which is probably a non-issue for most people, but I have my awning brackets mounted on the underside to reduce overall vehicle height and if you want to store a slide out table under there (or say solar panels) the pioneer makes this difficult.

The other thing is that the frontrunner has rails right at the very edge for tying stuff to whereas the pioneer has a slot at what looks to be 50mm or so in from the edge where you would have to screw on tie down points so it would seem that you'd really loose a bit of space.

Gee, I really seem to be talking myself into another frontrunner here, if only it was slightly longer.

beatit99, thanks for the feedback. Good to know it is going strong. One of the vehicles I travelled with on the Anne-Beadell Hwy and other Len Beadell roads last year had an aluminium, full cage-style rack from one of the cheaper 4wd outlets and it collapsed onto his roof. We discovered that everyone of the legs had cracked and the welds had broken. Once we fixed it all up with fencing wire I reckon it was stronger than new!

[beatit99]

For those that have fitted the Pioneer tray and have used it in anger, how have you found the durability? I have a frontrunner rack at the moment which has been across the CSR, Madigan Line a couple of times, French Line, etc., and has not missed a beat. I'm looking to get a longer rack through and I've got my eye on the pioneer 2128mm long model. Are the corner connector pieces made of plastic? How do they hold up? Any issues so far? Are the backbone mounts holding up okay?

Hi andoland, I have the 2128 and done nearly 15k with plenty of corrugated roads and 4wd'ing in the Kimberley. Had one of the the underside channel nuts (that connects to the backbone) rattle loose but tightened up all good now for awhile. Am thinking it was just an installer stuff-up (not me). Corners are plastic but seem sturdy. I have a loaded Pelican case, 2.5m awning and maxtrax permanently mounted, plus extras as required. Very happy with the purchase ;-)

[LongHorn]

For those that have fitted the Pioneer tray and have used it in anger, how have you found the durability? I have a frontrunner rack at the moment which has been across the CSR, Madigan Line a couple of times, French Line, etc., and has not missed a beat. I'm looking to get a longer rack through and I've got my eye on the pioneer 2128mm long model. Are the corner connector pieces made of plastic? How do they hold up? Any issues so far? Are the backbone mounts holding up okay?

Been asking myself a similar question, except I'm leaning towards the Front Runner Slim line 2 (which also uses a 'backbone' system), because of the ally content and the 'perceived' superior strength over the Pioneer Platform. The Pioneer corners are plastic (perhaps nylon?) and the rack doesn't look to be weathering as well as the SlimLine.

Something I like about the pioneer though is the range of accessories that suit me and the slats are longitudinal not lateral which would (in theory) reduce wind noise.

Glad you asked the question.

[andoland]

For those that have fitted the Pioneer tray and have used it in anger, how have you found the durability? I have a frontrunner rack at the moment which has been across the CSR, Madigan Line a couple of times, French Line, etc., and has not missed a beat. I'm looking to get a longer rack through and I've got my eye on the pioneer 2128mm long model. Are the corner connector pieces made of plastic? How do they hold up? Any issues so far? Are the backbone mounts holding up okay?

[5logs]

When I fitted mine I just used a normal ball ended alen key and didn't have any dramas. Don't think I tried the key that came with the rack, I like my own tools