Rhino Rack Pioneer Vs. Front Runner Slimline II

[1meancruiser]

So I was sold on the pioneer rack, in black. Called slee last Thursday and they had one in stock. For whatever reason decided to hold off, just wasn't sold on the rack. Only to come across the Slimline. websites are enclosed:

Pioneer: http://www.rhinorack.com/AccSubCate...Page_1_Accessory_Pioneer-Platform_478_65.aspx
Price: Approximately $1100 shipped to me.

Slimline: http://www.frontrunneroutfitters.co...NE-II-FULL-RACK-LAND-CRUISER-100-KIT-p76.html
Price: Approximately $1289 shipped to me.

I priced our a custom build and it's $600 in material and powder coat and 40 hours of my time so that's a no go for now.

So the Slimline looks better (IMO) and I think has better built quality. It is more expensive by $200 or so, but the accessories are cheaper, sometime by quite a bit (sunseeker cover, jerry can holder and tie downs are around a 1/3 off the rhino rack stuff). I still have to see if the Slimline will fit into all the garages I usually travel to. Lastly, I know I can add a tent to the slimline but not sure on the pioneer. Any thought and experiences on either of the racks?

Lastly, one convincing video from Front Runner;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tz-Zw5cyBEo

 

[mpho]

Call Steve at frontrunner. Love mine...have a few accessories...table, Jerry cans, etc....love it!

 

[1meancruiser]

I will, thanks.

Do the horizontal bars cause a lot of noise on the freeway?

 

[OregonLC]

Not saying anything bad about frontrunner at all, but the vid really only shows the strength of the body mounts. While it is impressive that they didn't pull out, it's not really stressing the rack.

 

[phsycle]

So I was sold on the pioneer rack ... For whatever reason decided to hold off, just wasn't sold on the rack....

Seems like you may or may not be sold on the rack. To further complicate the issue, you should check out the EeziAwn rack. Heard really good things about them.

 

[1meancruiser]

Seems like you may or may not be sold on the rack. To further complicate the issue, you should check out the EeziAwn rack. Heard really good things about them.

Can you tell me the website for the rack. I googled it and I couldn't find anything.

 

[jonharis]

Eezi-Awn
http://www.equipt1.com/companies/eezi-awn-k9/

I have a rhino rack and am happy with it with no intention of changing. I wish the rails had multiple T-slots like the other offerings, but I have not run into an issue with it yet. I think of the three, the rhino is probably the weakest one. However, I can stand on it, walk on it and feel comfortable doing so. I wouldn't hesitate to put 500lbs of evenly distributed weight on it if needed. It's quiet and low profile which makes it very livable in daily use. I can still get into my garage and parking garages. If price (I paid considerably less than that so either prices went up or I got mine on sale) is a deciding factor and you like the bare metal look, go with the rhino. If you want the absolute strongest rack available and want black, go with one of the others.

Edit: one other consideration, the riveted, not welded construction on the rhino would make it easier to repair in the event you smack it into a tree or a rock.

 

[ckkone]

Get the Rhino and save a few bucks, never had any issues with mine not being strong enough.

 

[mpho]

No...the rack comes with wind fairing that works well. It's just solidly built. With free shipping and a discount; it was a reasonable deal. Steve has handled a few issues without a hitch. Awesome customer service!

I will, thanks.

Do the horizontal bars cause a lot of noise on the freeway?

 

[1meancruiser]

Eezi-Awn
http://www.equipt1.com/companies/eezi-awn-k9/

I have a rhino rack and am happy with it with no intention of changing. I wish the rails had multiple T-slots like the other offerings, but I have not run into an issue with it yet. I think of the three, the rhino is probably the weakest one. However, I can stand on it, walk on it and feel comfortable doing so. I wouldn't hesitate to put 500lbs of evenly distributed weight on it if needed. It's quiet and low profile which makes it very livable in daily use. I can still get into my garage and parking garages. If price (I paid considerably less than that so either prices went up or I got mine on sale) is a deciding factor and you like the bare metal look, go with the rhino. If you want the absolute strongest rack available and want black, go with one of the others.

Edit: one other consideration, the riveted, not welded construction on the rhino would make it easier to repair in the event you smack it into a tree or a rock.

I checked out the Eezi Awn. Nice rack (no pun intended)! I'll check it out in detail, my knee jerk reaction is, it's another $100, plus shipping and i'm getting way out of my budget.
Slee has the Rhino at $969 plus shipping, so around $1100 total. I thought it was $640 for the rack, only to find out the legs are not included at an additional price of $270 or so. Do you know where you may have bought your rack from? Also, FYI, Rhino just released their rack in a black anodized color.

 

[jonharis]

I checked out the Eezi Awn. Nice rack (no pun intended)! I'll check it out in detail, my knee jerk reaction is, it's another $100, plus shipping and i'm getting way out of my budget.
Slee has the Rhino at $969 plus shipping, so around $1100 total. I thought it was $640 for the rack, only to find out the legs are not included at an additional price of $270 or so. Do you know where you may have bought your rack from? Also, FYI, Rhino just released their rack in a black anodized color.

I picked mine up locally from Safari-Ltd. so no shipping, which explains most of the price delta. The black ano looks nice. And ano won't chip like PC....but it does turn purplish over time.

Here is a pretty comprehensive thread for the Rhino. https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/578415-rhino-rack-platform.html

They are all great racks and you can't go wrong with any of them.

 

[1meancruiser]

I picked mine up locally from Safari-Ltd. so no shipping, which explains most of the price delta. The black ano looks nice. And ano won't chip like PC....but it does turn purplish over time.

Here is a pretty comprehensive thread for the Rhino. https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/578415-rhino-rack-platform.html

They are all great racks and you can't go wrong with any of them.

Thanks. I did some checking around. I can get the rack here: http://www.backcountryracks.com/rhino-rack-pioneer-cargo-basket.html for $640 with free shipping and the let kit for $230 from Safari-ltd. for $230, $870 out the door. and one of the main reasons I was looking so seriously at the Rhino was everyone on this board speaks so highly of it.

 

[ckkone]

Hmm, am I the only one that likes bare aluminum? I couldn't imagine crawling around on a black rack in shorts in the summer doesn't it burn the s*** out of you.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

No LabRak in contention? Too expensive?

I compared the Rhino, the LabRak, building custom and using a yakima basket on the OEM rack. LabRak won out for build quality, customizability and versatility. Plus the mounts seem better than FrontRunners.

 

[jgray]

I don't have much useful input other than I've looked into all these rack options myself several times. I have not purchased a rack yet as I looked at some less expensive options and decided I would wait and go with a premium rack . I really like the low profile the look and flexibility of the Frontrunner and LabRak. The Equipt Eezi-Awn setups look very nice too. Here is the link to the LabRak site for reference:

http://shop.labrak.com/Toyota-Land-Cruiser-100-Series-98-2007-LR-Rack-100.htm

 

[1meancruiser]

I don't have much useful input other than I've looked into all these rack options myself several times. I have not purchased a rack yet as I looked at some less expensive options and decided I would wait and go with a premium rack . I really like the low profile the look and flexibility of the Frontrunner and LabRak. The Equipt Eezi-Awn setups look very nice too. Here is the link to the LabRak site for reference:

http://shop.labrak.com/Toyota-Land-Cruiser-100-Series-98-2007-LR-Rack-100.htm

The lab rack is very nice, but with a couple of extra bars(a must for me), the price really goes up... The front runner is $1289, shipped to me.

 

[1meancruiser]

No LabRak in contention? Too expensive?

I compared the Rhino, the LabRak, building custom and using a yakima basket on the OEM rack. LabRak won out for build quality, customizability and versatility. Plus the mounts seem better than FrontRunners.

Nice dog! I have a rottie. U gotta love big dogs.

 

[LandCruisers4Life]

Roof racks always cause more wind noise, but if you close the sun/moon roof cover it's pretty minimal. I have hauled tons of crap on my rack, so it's been a well worth it investment. I have an Inti rack on my 100.

I will, thanks.

Do the horizontal bars cause a lot of noise on the freeway?

 

[1loudLX]

Hmm, am I the only one that likes bare aluminum? I couldn't imagine crawling around on a black rack in shorts in the summer doesn't it burn the s*** out of you.

My aluminum African Outback rack is black, it doesn't burn me in the summer sun.

 

[jonharis]

Hmm, am I the only one that likes bare aluminum? I couldn't imagine crawling around on a black rack in shorts in the summer doesn't it burn the s*** out of you.

I actually really like my bare Al rack after living with it for a while. It not only offsets the Black on Black of the rest of the truck but it doesn't show scratches and like you said it's cool to the touch in the summer. I hop up on the rack to take pics occasionally and like that it's not hot. I've never had an Al black rack so I can't speculate on the temperature difference.