Analysis paralysis: roof racks.... tips, tricks, opinions, experiences. Discuss.

[Cooperd0g]

Rhino Rack charges over $400 just for two basic cross bars and almost $1000 for their platform. Front Runner’s half slimline is $966 with the full priced at $1253. The Gobi Stealth is $1600.

I don’t know, $599 for the Rago 5 modular bars seems inexpensive compared to the competition with almost as much functionality.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

I’ve seen at least a couple more vendors who offer replacement cross bars for the stock oem roof rack rails. Here’s one that offers 5 cross bars for like $360, but you can order 2 or 3 or 4 at a prorated price:

Shop | Apex Overland | Off-Road Part Accessories

Shop for all things for your overland rig. Roof racks, storage solutions, bumpers, recovery gear, suspension, air, fuel and power solutions. Camping gear, front recovery points, lighting, Armor, skids plates, sliders and more!

www.apexoverland.com

 

[Cooperd0g]

I had not seen the Apex ones. Those look like a decent option too.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

And of course, I bought two heavily used factory oem cross bars from somebody locally for $20 and installed them. So I have 4 oem cross bars with drilled holes for the new tie down rings.

Not as functional as new aftermarket crossbars nor roof racks, but way cheaper and fits my rare need to use the roof rack.

 

[Cooperd0g]

Definitely a solid, and inexpensive option. It really comes to to a few things I think. Some people just want the look and are willing to pay for it even if the functionality is way more than they want. If you know specifically what you want to carry up there, and it is just a few items, then you can easily do it cheaper.

Trucks and AR-15s are like Barbie dolls for dudes.

 

[DRANGED]

Rhino Rack charges over $400 just for two basic cross bars and almost $1000 for their platform. Front Runner’s half slimline is $966 with the full priced at $1253. The Gobi Stealth is $1600.

I don’t know, $599 for the Rago 5 modular bars seems inexpensive compared to the competition with almost as much functionality.

Totally frustrating!
I think the RR premium is mostly for fit and finish, fit tying the unistrut-like crossbars to the longtudinal slotted platforms is nicely tied together with the aluminum framing. I think that's the Crux to a DIY extruded, is load-sharing crossbars to whatever goes front-rear...
But yeah, like Prinsu, considering it's just 80/20, why a grand?

It's the finish of the whole product, and the properly arched towers/feet that tie the roof mounting to the crossbars

It's hard to cough up a grand though, for like $300 in bits.


Personally, I'm only trending toward RR because of pro deal pricing through my wife's job, BUT only if I can get the Prado 120 back bone (PN: RTPB2) which isn't on the USA Rhino site, but shows up in new Zealand and Aussie RR markets.
The prado150 (gx460) is on USA rhino site, but not the 120 (gx470)...

 

[DRANGED]

I had not seen the Apex ones. Those look like a decent option too.

Yeah, good options!
I'd forgotten those. Good addition.
Great point for adding options/virsatility without going too big too much.

It's a good point to determine what you want to load on the roof and compare budget/options for that. I agree, most people $pend for the bling and RARELY use it nearly to the full potential because realistically, they don't NEED all that capability yet want to look.

 

[DRANGED]

Supposedly the backone for Prado 120/GX470 is populating to the RhinoRack USA site
( crossed that i helped with that).
With that, I think I'm narrowing to my goal, given Pricing through Wife's employer.

Additionally, I'm told the trays are going through a redesign for fall introduction, more slots!!

 

[subspd]

So these guys were @ jeep expo (EJS-Moab)...

View attachment 1957408

supposedly the backone for Prado 120/GX470 is populating to the RhinoRack USA site ( crossed that i helped push that).
With that, I think I'm narrowing to my goal, given Expert Voice pricing (wife's pro deal through NPS ).
View attachment 1957410

Additionally, I'm told the trays are going through a redesign for fall introduction, more slots!!

So what's the pricing like with that?

 

[DRANGED]

So what's the pricing like with that?

Pro-deal pricing varies through agreements, typically25%-50% off. Depends on the product and agreement. Definitely can lose some of the savings on bigger items in shipping.

Definitely worth looking to see if you can/do qualify for pro deals.....

 

[Cooperd0g]

Pro-deal pricing.
25%-50% off. Depends day on the product. Deffinitely can lose some.of the savings on ****** items in shipping.

Definitely worth looking to see if you can/do qualify.

So it turns out I qualify as well. Oh boy!

You could mount the Rhino Rack pioneer via their crossbars that work with the factory rack. But yeah, I emailed them about the Prado 120 backbone.

 

[Cooperd0g]

I just traded some emails with an engineer with Rhino-Rack. He confirmed what we knew, the GX470 and the Prado 120 are compatible. He also said they have it in stock and have a request in for the website folks to add it to the inventory; it just hasn't made it on the website yet.

 

[Cooperd0g]

One downside is that it doesn't look like it would be easy to mount a Yakima Skybox (that I already own) to a Rhino Rack Pioneer platform.

 

[DRANGED]

Once downside is that it doesn't look like it would be easy to mount a Yakima Skybox (that I already own) to a Rhino Rack Pioneer platform.

There are auxiliary "bars" for that, but I can't speak to SkyBox mountinf clamps. If they're universalish then it could work... It's adding horizontals to the verticals... combersone, but doable.... Since they're stnadardized C channels, I'm pretty sure you could fab something similar and equally functional ...

 

[Cooperd0g]

I did think about those. I wouldn’t want them running all the way across, but just enough for the Skybox might work. The Skybos will Mount to just about any crossbar.

 

[DRANGED]

I did think about those. I wouldn’t want them running all the way across, but just enough for the Skybox might work. The Skybos will Mount to just about any crossbar.

maybe just 6mm bolts and nuts then conduit wide enough for the skybox....

 

[captainva]

I’ve seen at least a couple more vendors who offer replacement cross bars for the stock oem roof rack rails. Here’s one that offers 5 cross bars for like $360, but you can order 2 or 3 or 4 at a prorated price:

Shop | Apex Overland | Off-Road Part Accessories

Shop for all things for your overland rig. Roof racks, storage solutions, bumpers, recovery gear, suspension, air, fuel and power solutions. Camping gear, front recovery points, lighting, Armor, skids plates, sliders and more!

www.apexoverland.com

Anyone have experience with these? This looks like a really good option to me but I wonder how much weight you could realistically put on them since they connect to the stock roof rails

 

[MNGX]

Ok, this is timely. I'm also looking at the Pioneer with a secret discount you're not supposed to talk about.

However, figuring out the mounting is making me feel like a moron, and I am not a moron. Why are there so many feet to choose from and why is there no way to tell what the difference is? I mean, good lord. You have SX, RLCP, RLTP, etc., all of which in theory can go with the 120. I'd also go for the backbone, but unless it shows up stateside and at a discount soon, ain't happening.

So, people...what legs do I get for this thing and why? Are they all the same?

Also, are the 2 cross-bars that come with the platform used in place of the 2 OEM or in addition?

 

[DRANGED]

you're not supposed to talk about.

It's about sharing product awesomeness through influence and experience, but yeah, I think the 'expert's' access might not supposed to be advertised
Although, if one can help generate more 'experts' by showing the path that's okay.

It's also the factor that like, all pro deals, it's NOT competing with retailers for products yet promoting the product to others.

But maybe you're right.

So let's keep talking about product options, fitment and use/intent.

Right?

 

[DRANGED]

Anyone tried the Rago Fabrication modular rail system? It is pretty low profile, seems like it would be decently capable and still retains the stock look.

Tho are pretty cool, but across all 5, you still won't have a flat "deck" from front to rear because they each and all mount into an arched channel. It's not much but maybe like 1/2" different from level.

We discovered this with someone's 80/20 crossbars. He had 4 1x3 80/20 bars and when he put a level on the front bar, it was elevated from the rear-most bar, ergo not flat front-rear b/c of the arched roofline and therefore arched factory side rail slots.

Gamiviti towers allow for a flat tray/platform b/c they have adjustability . The RR backbone, frontrunner, and others account for the arch in their side rail/tower design.