I think it's time that I upgrade my roof rack, and I want advice from the LC hive mind on my options.
I run a 2004 100-series with a narrow Thule box and a kayak rack on the stock roof rack. These two things take up most of the room up there. Sometimes, I want to add a water reservoir for a shower. This makes for a cramped roof. Now, I want to add an awning (ideally, a Bush Co 270 awning, but I haven't decided, yet). My stock roof rack cannot accommodate all this.
So I'm thinking about upgrading my OEM roof rack with an aftermarket rack. I am weighing the dissent rack, which is beautiful and hardy (aluminum with great static and dynamic load ratings), and a front runner rack (the slimsport -- which has a look that I like -- is out of stock but the slimline -- which is boxier than I like -- is in stock) is less expensive and local.
I'm neither made of money (the dissent rack, even before shipping, is expensive) nor do I hit the forest roads and rugged trails too often or with huge loads on the roof. (No RTT for me!). Will the Front Runner slimsport do what I need a roof rack to do, or should I invest in the dissent?
Please share your experiences for the benefit of all.
I run a 2004 100-series with a narrow Thule box and a kayak rack on the stock roof rack. These two things take up most of the room up there. Sometimes, I want to add a water reservoir for a shower. This makes for a cramped roof. Now, I want to add an awning (ideally, a Bush Co 270 awning, but I haven't decided, yet). My stock roof rack cannot accommodate all this.
So I'm thinking about upgrading my OEM roof rack with an aftermarket rack. I am weighing the dissent rack, which is beautiful and hardy (aluminum with great static and dynamic load ratings), and a front runner rack (the slimsport -- which has a look that I like -- is out of stock but the slimline -- which is boxier than I like -- is in stock) is less expensive and local.
I'm neither made of money (the dissent rack, even before shipping, is expensive) nor do I hit the forest roads and rugged trails too often or with huge loads on the roof. (No RTT for me!). Will the Front Runner slimsport do what I need a roof rack to do, or should I invest in the dissent?
Please share your experiences for the benefit of all.