ARB roof rack size -- 43,73 and 87 incher --

[erics_bruisers]

I just spoke to a local dealer and it turns out they have three ARB racks -- the 43 incher (1/2 rack), the 73 incher, and the 87 incher --

-- they said the 73 incher begins right behind the sunroof, and the 87 incher begins forward of the sunroof --

-- does anyone have this 73 incher? How is it? Before now, I thought there were only the 43 and the 87 incher available?

I would go down and measure it myself, but someone stole the tape measure from work's toolbox -- :whoops:

On my way to Rick's last weekend, I ended up in NH at a kennel at 7 AM -- taking a nap on my rack until they opened at 8 AM -- they certainly looked at me a bit bewildered --

thanks --

eric

 

[concretejungle]

I gots the 73 incher. My takes on the rack are as follows:
1-it screws the pooch for the sunroof. Makes the sunroof basically too friggin' loud to open even with the stereo really cranked.
2-heavy. The cruiser feels slightly tippy, not bad but noticable.
3-gas mileage decrease. I noticed a very slight decrease in gas mileage at highway speeds with the rack on. Backed this up by taking a few trips with it off.

But, just this weekend used every square inch of it at the beach. So i was glad i had it. Very sturdy. I have slept up on it with a girlfriend and it got some durability testing! The mesh floor makes straping things down very easy. Takes at least two if not three people to take it off or put it on.

 

[erics_bruisers]

I gots the 73 incher. My takes on the rack are as follows:
1-it screws the pooch for the sunroof. Makes the sunroof basically too friggin' loud to open even with the stereo really cranked.
2-heavy. The cruiser feels slightly tippy, not bad but noticable.
3-gas mileage decrease. I noticed a very slight decrease in gas mileage at highway speeds with the rack on. Backed this up by taking a few trips with it off.

But, just this weekend used every square inch of it at the beach. So i was glad i had it. Very sturdy. I have slept up on it with a girlfriend and it got some durability testing! The mesh floor makes straping things down very easy. Takes at least two if not three people to take it off or put it on.

dogg -- these are good infos -- i have the 43'er plus the (somewhat) white trash aluminum rack on the receiver hitch -- http://tinyurl.com/4o6dy -- I have to tell you, I love the rear rack, too -- you can strap anything to that and haul it around -- I never take it off my truck --



e

 

[Curran]

I've got the 73 inch rack.
With the rack pushed back as far as it can go and still allow clearance for the wind deflector on the upper hatch in the open position, it will hang about three-fifths of the way over the sun roof.

CJ

 

[erics_bruisers]

so the dude was wrong -- the 73 doesn't clear the roof -- it'd be perfect otherwise --

 

[ian]

Looks sweet. Three fifths.. does that mean you can still squeeze thru the sunroof to help secure kit on the rack? I'd need a good 12" to get my arse thru.

 

[Curran]

He is sort of right. It clears the sun roof vertically.

 

[concretejungle]

I do not have the rear wind deflector, so mine is pulled back as far as it will go so that the rear door just barely touches when raised all the way. Still, i'm a relatively skinny dude and i can barely squeeze up through the sunroof to acess the rack.

 

[ian]

Scandal! I'm a tubby bitch and most certainly won't fit. Guess a ladder will have to do. Anyone have pics of the half rack on an 80?

Also, isn't it damn near impossible to get ARB racks now? I had read a thread that says few are being imported due to size.

Does the optional ARB wind deflector help w/ noise?

 

[erics_bruisers]

here's the half-rack -- i have better pics at home -- will post more later --

e

 

[concretejungle]

ian, it must have been urban legend about them no longer being imported. Long story short....i bought an ARB bull bar for my 3.2 isuzu trooper. The mounting brackets did not fit and i ended up having to use a grinder and plasma cutter to cut the frame so it would fit. Took pics and discussed the whole thing with an ARB rep in Washington. He said for my troubles he would sell me the next ARB product at his cost. So.....a few months later no more trooper hello cruiser and hit him up for the rack. He told me i just got the last one. He said they are not profitable to put in containers and have them shipped over so they have been discontinued.

 

[ian]

Now I'm confused .. can you still get ARB racks in the states or not?

 

[Curran]

Yes.
Check with OK4WD in Jersey.
Ask for Chuck, and dont mention a Junk's name

 

[Junk]

Yes.
Check with OK4WD in Jersey.
Ask for Chuck, and dont mention a Junk's name

I sooooooooooooooooo regret you winning the
iest cruiser at CMCC

Yeah, OK will get them for you if you want. Chuck can be reached at 908.454.6973 - slight affiliation as I'm a happy customer and appreciate their great service .

 

[Curran]

Ditto Junk's post.
Chuck hooked me up with the rack and a set of tires at a good price. I'm a happy customer.

 

[sleeoffroad]

Some ARB dealers get containers direct from Australia. In that case you can order what you want as long as you pay for it. That is how some dealers still get them. Other dealers can order from ARB and I believe they will put them in a container when space permits.

 

[erics_bruisers]

here's my 1/2 rack --

e

 

[scottm]

2-heavy. The cruiser feels slightly tippy, not bad but noticable.

Takes at least two if not three people to take it off or put it on.

How heavy? I can't imagine even a light rack going up without two people. Are these steel? What's the mesh, welded wire or expanded metal? Would a flat floor be a big drawback to strapping things down? Would a wind deflector help the noise, and would it survive off-roading? How much weight would you dare put up there, and does it flex at all when you walk around on it?

I'm working on my homemade rack: waiting to hear back from an aluminum extruder, tracking down stainless hardware, and trying to design the perfect foot. The latter not as easy as I'd hoped, but there's no point in building something that's not better.

 

[Doc]

^ You might consider using Yakima's towers as your 'feet', they are very sturdy, and easy to come by. Plus, lockable!

 

[concretejungle]

How heavy? I can't imagine even a light rack going up without two people. Are these steel? What's the mesh, welded wire or expanded metal? Would a flat floor be a big drawback to strapping things down? Would a wind deflector help the noise, and would it survive off-roading? How much weight would you dare put up there, and does it flex at all when you walk around on it?

I'm working on my homemade rack: waiting to hear back from an aluminum extruder, tracking down stainless hardware, and trying to design the perfect foot. The latter not as easy as I'd hoped, but there's no point in building something that's not better.

When my friend helped me put mine back on we estimated that it weighed at least 90 lbs. I guess the mesh floor i refer to is the weled wire you refer to. It is great as there are unlimited strapdown points. I really don't think a wind deflector would do much good, the rack is really long and relatively tall. The wind deflector would have to be pretty darn big. Like i said earlier, i have had me and my girlfriend sleeping and moving around (lots of movement ) and the thing was very, very sturdy. So i estimate that was about 300 lbs. No flex when i walk around on it.