Tradesman roof Rack

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Spydaz

Spydaz

10 Year 15 Year 20 Year
Joined
May 20, 2005
Threads
41
Messages
384
Location
Long Island, New York
Just trying to see if the Kaymar tradesman RR or the ARB RR are good choices for RR's. I like the ARB but it is $$$ the Tradesman is very nice as well (oval model) and you get the mounts unlike the ARB.....

Anyone have any Opinions. I will be using the rack for basic stuff, i am not doing any kind of insane outback trips that require sleeping on the roof etc...
But i do want a level of quality!
 
I like the Tradesman. I don't have one, but I've seen one in action. on the plus side of the tradesman vs. the ARB is the tradesman is much lighter in weight than the ARB. Additionally, I'm pretty certain that the tradesman is less expensive.
 
Two thumbs up on the Tradesman Oval tube. It fits both my 60 and my 80, looks good and is strong enough to walk on the cross bars no problem. Thanks to dclee, I got it used and cheap, but I would buy another. I have a friend with an ARB-also a good strong rack.

Also consider the Inti racks that Alvaro imported and are being sold through Mudrak. These are very strong and well tested racks.
 
Here are a few action pics. If you want detailed pics, I can take them tomorrow after work.
Expeditionrig.webp
dogcamp.webp
HPIM0649.webp
 
Nice, thanks for quick pics. If you could take some more pics tomorrow if the gutter clamps and a few of the rack itself i would appreciate it greatly (thanks for offering)!! I think i am going to order the Tradesman rack tomorrow after seeing the pics.
 
I also have the tradesman on my rig and find it to be very useful. Lighter than the ARB and the price difference is enough to make up for the differences in the two. I do however wish that it had a mesh floor and a sunroof cut out but those are things that are easily modified by the owner later.
 
Congrats on your decision.

The Tradesman is a great rack. Really strong and well made racks. I would climb up on the roof just to get a better vantage at times. I had one for almost two years, but I sold it. I just never used it enough.

Hard to believe the ARB is heavier. The Tradesman was really heavy. I needed two people to get that thing up and down.


Oh, I know they sell them without the mesh floor. Make sure you get one WITH the mesh floor.


:cheers:
 
I'm not so sure about the mesh floor. I don't have one and have no problem getting my loads up on the roof. You save weight and $$. I forgot about this thread and didn't take more pics, but if you want them I will try and remember this afternoon.

One of the nicest things about the Tradesman, is the full length gutter mount. I can also adjust it to fit from truck to truck in about 10 minutes if that's important to you. I have slept on it, I put almost 700 pounds of lumber on it (stupid but no choice!) The rack weighs roughly 80 pounds, so my son and I can move it from truck to truck no problem. I took it down once by myself and almost dropped it on my head-not reccomended!
 
Last edited:
blupaddler said:
Oh, I know they sell them without the mesh floor. Make sure you get one WITH the mesh floor.


:cheers:
Click to expand...


I wasn't aware they sell them with the mesh floor, course what else is new. Got any pics I would like to see that.
 
Reffug

Sorry, I sold the rack. I can't find any detailed pics of the mesh floor. From what I remember it was just a welded mesh-type floor with about 2" square spacing.

I will let you know if I find something worth while.
 
I have the short tradesman/kaymar, picked up from MAF. It's not adjustable so I can't use it on my FJ60. It does have the full length gutter rail, it's light and it was cheap ~$300 IIRC. I mainly bought it to carry extra fuel cans.

As a matter of fact, I just put it on five minutes ago. Gonna load it up with two kayaks and some gear for a little camping/wheeling/kayaking trip. ;)

I like the small size, it keeps me from putting too much stuff up there, easy to store and handle, and it doesn't block the emergency escape hatch.

rainbow.jpg
 
Jim,

I likey that picky!! Nice set up man! I am going to be pulling the trigger very soon.

Thanks for all the feedback on this one.

One more thing, should i do the oval tubes or the square tubes???
 
oval :grinpimp:
 
I have the full length standard Tradesman, since the oval racks are for girly men. :D


I love the thing. Heavy, but tough. I put 1500 lb. on it one day and it actually improved the ride as the suspension rode a little better with the increase weight dampening. I wouldn't go around any corners fast though.

I know a guy who in a UC Berkeley Professor who takes students out onto the Salt Flats every year for Landscape Architecture and he loads 4 Grad Students in the 1991 FJ80, and 2000 lb. of supplies on the roof rack. He's done this every year for almost a decade now with no problems. The Tradesman Racks are tough. He has the standard unit like mine.


Click on the link and Portfolio to check out some of his stuff. He uses biodegradable dyes and makes some crazy art in the desert. Cool for sure.
http://www.jeanpaulbourdier.com/




...
 
calamaridog said:
What are some sources for these racks?
Click to expand...

man-a-fre has them
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom