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Car Roof Rack Guide 

We’ve taken the time to construct this in-depth guide about roof racks in hopes that we can explain more about what roof racks are in general, what they are used for, and even how to select the right roof rack that will fit your needs and your lifestyle. So stuck around and learn about all the different types of roof racks there are, all the different parts of the said rack, and even see a few models that we think are the best on the market right now!

 

Quick Links 

(Click each link to jump to section)

 

 

What Is A Car Roof Rack?

 

Now let’s first talk about what a roof rack is. A roof rack is a frame that goes on top of your vehicles roof and sits on the roof rack legs that can either be drilled into the roof of your vehicle or in some cases just bolted into the already existing holes.

Roof racks are there to increase the weight capacity of our cars roof and let us transport longer and heavier loads with increased security. You can use them to haul construction materials and even use them on your off road or overlanding trips to transport that extra cargo that cannot fit inside your vehicle and other things such as kayaks, bikes, skis, snowboards, water tanks, awnings, and you can even mount a roof top tent on top of them.

There are roof racks for a lot of different vehicles models out there are there are different types of roof racks as well. They can be made out of steel or aluminum and in some cases the combination of the two. Some roof racks have a lower weight capacity and can be used to carry lighter loads whereas some have an incredibly high weight limit and can be used to load up weeks' worth of supplies for your overlanding trip.

There are thousands of roof rack models on the market right now and we know that it can be confusing to choose the right one as many of them have a lot of good features. But that is the next thing that we want to talk about so stick around and let us help you learn how to choose the right roof rack for you!

 

 

Roof Rails Vs. Roof Racks

 

Most cars usually have pre-fitted roof rails. They run from the front to the back of the roof. They can be one of the attachment points for roof racks. While they are not suited to carrying heavy items such as roof top tents or any of your extra gear, they may be used to safely transport some of the smaller items.

Roof racks on the other hand have been specifically designed to carry a heavy load. They can be used to transport a variety of items on a daily basis and even on longer overlanding trips. You can add a variety of attachments on to serve you better on your next off-road trip.

 

How To Choose A Roof Rack?

 

Now this is the part that will take most of your time when you’ve finally decided that you want to get a roof rack for yourself. However, making this decision doesn’t have to be a hard thing to do. There are a few things that you should keep an eye out for when choosing the roof rack that will fit your needs and your lifestyle and we will go through them right now.

 

Roof Rack Material

 

Now as we already said, roof racks can be built from steel, aluminum or a combination of the two. And if you are asking which one is the best, we cannot give you the answer because that completely depends on your needs.

 

Aluminum Roof Rack

Let’s talk about the aluminum roof rack first. Car roof racks that have aluminum construction are lightweight and are resistant to corrosion. They may not be as durable as the steel ones and not as cheap, but they can still carry heavy gear and valuable items.

The Prinsu Roof Rack 4Runner 5th Gen Full Rack Non-Drill 2010-2022 has an additional powder-coated black finish to protect it from harsh elements.

 

Steel Roof Rack

Now when it comes to steel roof racks, they are very sturdy and built to last. They are unfortunately more prone to corrosion than the aluminum ones, however you will almost always see a rack that has zinc coating to prevent that. They are heavier and thus affect the fuel economy of your car more, but they are also less expensive than the previously mentioned aluminum roof racks.

The GOBI Stealth Roof Rack for Toyota 4Runner 5th Gen w/ LED Lightbar Set Up is one of the most durable racks. They are 100% fully welded, using only the screws to secure the racks to the vehicle, making the rack noise and rattle-free.

 

Alloy Roof Racks (Aluminum And Steel)

And finally, we have roof racks that are made both from aluminum and steel and with them you get the best of both worlds. You get the durability of the steel roof rack and the lightness of the aluminum one.

Slimline II platform roof racks by Front Runner get the best of aluminum and steel.

Another notable feature of this particular rack is that it can be installed with drill and non-drill options.

 

Roof Rack Weight Limit

 

This is yet another important thing that you should look for when deciding which roof rack, you should get. Not all roof racks have the same weight limit meaning that not all roof racks serve the same purpose.

If your plan is to load up the rack with weeks' worth of supplies and maybe even a roof top tent for your next overlanding adventure, then you should look for roof racks that have a higher weight capacity so that they can withstand all of that load.

Now if your plan is to use your vehicle and your roof rack for shorter off-road trips that don’t require you to carry a lot of gear or at least a lot of heavy gear then you can settle down for a roof rack that can withstand a lower weight load.

 

Dynamic Weight Capacity VS Static Weight Capacity

 

Each roof rack has a dynamic and static weight capacity. Dynamic weight capacity is the load that your rack can withstand hen your vehicle is moving, and the static weight capacity is the lad that you roof rack can withstand when your vehicle is static or not moving. The dynamic load rating will always be lower than the static one and you shouldn’t go above the dynamic load rating (at least when driving) as that could be dangerous for you and for your equipment.

If you happen to mount a roof top tent on your roof rack you should also think about the weight of the people that will sleep inside it and add that to the already existing weight of your entire gear that will go on top of the said rack so you can calculate exactly how much you can load it up without crossing the limit.

 

Roof Rack Purpose

 

Now let’s talk about what you can do with your roof rack. Now a lot of people tend to use their racks for carrying any cargo that either cannot fit in their car because of its shape or size. You can use a roof rack to carry anything from construction materials to off road and camping equipment.

You can use it to carry longer loads that again cannot fit inside your vehicle or truck bed or you can use it to carry stuff like kayaks, bikes, skis, additional luggage, furniture, and even a roof top tent. Having a roof rack gives you the ability to safely fasten any load you put on it and that way it makes it safer to transport both for you and other people on the road.

 

Car Roof Rack Storage

 

Roof racks add additional storage space for all the things that might not fit inside your vehicle, or you just don’t want them there because they will take up most of the space and will not leave enough room for the passengers.

You can mount a variety of stuff on a roof rack like kayaks, canoes, skis, snowboards, paddle boards, bikes, extra luggage, liquid tanks, and so much more. You can tie them up to your roof rack so that they won’t slide off during your commute.

However, there are also a variety of roof boxes or roof cargo carriers that you can mount onto your roof rack and use them to store a variety of smaller items that would otherwise be difficult to attach securely on top of said roof rack.

 

Roof Rack Price

 

When it comes to the price of roof racks, we already know that it depends on the material of the rack itself. Aluminum roof racks are more expensive than steel ones. However, that is not the only thing that will affect the price.

The price of the car roof rack will also vary on whether the roof rack requires any drilling or modifications done to be installed. What items you need to bring and whether you need additional accessories to load them can also add to the expense.

There’s a bunch of roof rack models on the market right now and the best thing you can do is to just look around, find a few racks you like, compare their features, and after that decide on one that best fits your needs.

 

Types Of Car Roofs

 

Before heading to the store or adding a roof rack to your cart, you need to understand what kind of roof your vehicle has.

Depending on the type, you'll know what type of roof rack you can get, or if there is more than one option.

In this section we'll mention the main car roof types, so you can determine yours and select the preferred roof rack option from there.

 

Common Roof Types:

• Naked or Bare roof
• Roof with rain gutters
• Factory-installed raised sidebars
• Factory-installed flush side rails
• Factory track or fixed-point

 

Naked Or Bare Roof 

Naked roofs, or bare roofs, are those without pre-installed attachment points at the top of the car. You can still install a platform rack on this roof type. There are clip or clamp-mount roof racks. Clip-fit racks consist of the tower and the clip-or-fit kit. They can be easily attached and removed, so no drilling is required.

They fit snugly on the outer edge of the roof or into the car door. Some racks can also be permanently fixed or installed by drilling them onto the roof. Drilling is not necessarily dangerous; if done correctly, it is actually safer, sturdier, and can handle more weight.

 

Roofs With Rain Gutters

Rain gutters are usually found in full-sized cargo, passenger, commercial vans, and some Jeeps. There are many racks available that can be installed on the rain gutter roof type.

 

 

Factory-Installed Raised Sidebars

Raised rails are elevated off the roof and are good attachment points for installing platform racks.

 

 

Factory-Installed Flush Side Rails

Some manufacturer-installed bars sit directly against the roof. They are where the roof rails are connected, but since there are no spaces between the roof and the rails, they usually have grooves where the cross bars are installed. They have channels or pinholes that the towers fit into. A clip kit, leg kit, and crossbars are needed to install roof racks on this rail.

 

 

Factory Track Or Fixed-Point

Some cars come with factory-fastened connector points located on the outer edge of the roof, with two points for each side. If you don't have this, it can be drilled into your vehicle's roof. Fixed points serve as the mounting points for roof racks. They can either be a Crossbar Overhang or Crossbar Terminating, also called the Flush style.

Most overlanders use the overhang because it gives them an extra surface for mounting their cargo. As a matter of fact, if you have overhang cross bar systems, you can easily mount an awning to them. The flush crossbars look seamless and clean as they do not extend outside the bar.

 

Types Of Roof Racks

 

 

Crossbars run perpendicularly from the driver’s side window to the passenger’s side window. They consist of two to three bars made of steel, aluminum, plastic, or a combination. The crossbar roof rack is ideal for mounting almost any type of equipment, such as bicycles, snowboards, or kayaks, because its dynamic load rating ranges from around 65 lbs. to up to 220 lbs. Its feature allows an even distribution of weight across the bar itself.

Now cross bars may not be the best option for you if you plan on putting heavy loads on it as it simply cannot withstand that. Some cross bar models can withstand a lightweight roof top tent, but you should still be very careful when calculating how much weight you are going to put on your said cross bars.

If you want to see more cross bar models that we have to offer feel free to check out our Cross Bar Collection!

Cross bars have 3 different mounting styles and those are;

• Gutter-Mount
• Bolt-On
• Clip-On

 

Gutter Mounted Cross Bars

 

Gutter-mount cross bar models are as the name suggests, installed in the rain gutter of the vehicle. For this type of roof, a durable platform gutter mounted rack will also be used where kayaks, boards, fishing rods, tents, and other overlanding essentials can be securely placed.

They are the sturdiest cross bars out of the 3 mounting styles. They are capable of carrying more weight than the clip-on or a grab-on system.

 

Bolt-On Cross Bars

 

Bolt-On Cross Bars are attached to the rig’s factory mounting points or to a track, which can be sometimes provided by the rack manufacturer or bought separately. This feature makes them very well attached and secured and fixed.

They are secure and durable but easy to install and remove. They are perhaps the strongest crossbar rack systems available. The weight distribution across the roof of the car and across the entire body of it enables heavier weight loading.

 

Clip-On Cross Bar

 

The cross bars are clipped on the car roof’s side rails or directly to the bare roof. These crossbars are not meant to carry heavy weights. Use them only for lighter items. They are very efficient and are able to be installed in just a couple of minutes.

The Clip-on crossbar clamps on effortlessly to the rig’s roof but can securely and efficiently carry your gear on top. Here are great examples of clip-on crossbars:

 

Platform Roof Racks For SUV

 

Platform roof racks are undoubtedly the most popular type of roof rack on the market right now and they have a good reason for it. They are sturdy, versatile, and have the highest weight capacity out of all roof rack types (some have over 1000lbs of weight limit)!

They have a platform with slats which you can use to put a wide variety of items on it including longer and heavier loads. The platform over the entire roof and makes the whole roof of your car usable and gives you a platform on which you can store away pretty much anything including a roof top tent.

You can also mount a wide variety of accessories to them and even things such as awnings. They have the best weight distribution out of all racks out there. Platform racks can be grab-on mounted, bolt-on mounted, or even attached to the already existing roof rails. Most of them, however, are generally no drill racks and they are just bolted onto the already existing holes on your vehicles roof.

 

Car Roof Rack Basket

 

Basket racks are very similar to the aforementioned platform roof racks with one exception. They have high railings around the base of the rack which makes them look like a basket, thus the name. They are another great type of roof racks as they can also withstand a heavy load and provide additional security thanks to the rails.

You can also use them to haul longer things such as kayaks, planks, skis, snowboards or pretty much anything that fits into the weight limit of the rack itself. They have more tie-down points and thus adding even more security to your cargo, making it virtually impossible for anything to slip from it.

 

Roof Rack Parts

 

 

 

Roof Rack Mounts

This is one of the essential parts of any roof rack system as you cannot mount a roof rack to your vehicle without it.

 

Foot Set Or Tower

Foot set or the tower connects the mount to the cross bars or the platform of the roof rack and is there to bear the weight of your load.

 

Cross Bars

Those are bars (usually 2 of them) that run from the front to the back of the roof. They are there to bare the load that you put on them whatever that might be.

 

Adapter

The roof bars can be mounted to the vehicle with the help of an adapter. Some roof racks work well with crossbars alone, while others require an adapter. Aftermarket roof racks sometimes come in kits. Other times, you need to buy the parts individually, which allows you to mix and match.

 

Frame

The surrounding frame gives the platform roof rack structure and helps keep the rack together. Since the frame is solid and strong, it helps resist lateral and gravity loads or forces. This enables the whole roof rack structure to support more weight and sustain a more extensive beating when off-roading.

 

Slats

The vertical cross bars that you see on platform roof racks are called slats. Without them you wouldn’t be able to mount anything to your roof rack. The more you have them the more weight capacity your roof rack has.

 

Wind Deflector

The wind deflector is a piece of aluminum that sits at the front of the roof rack and is there to reduce the noise when driving and improve the aerodynamics of the rack itself.

 

Best Car Roof Racks

 

Now that we have covered pretty much everything that you should know about roof racks it’s time to show you what we think are some of the best roof racks on the market right now and hopefully help you find the one that will suit your needs.

 

Prinsu Roof Rack 4Runner – 5th Gen

 

This is by far the most popular choice when it comes to good, high-quality, reliable roof racks systems. This particular one was made to fit the 5th gen 4Runner model. It is lightweight, durable, and also affordable no drill roof rack system made by Prinsu. But there are a lot more features that this rack has to offer so let’s dive right in and see what else makes it so great.

The greatest roof rack for a 4Runner, in our humble opinion, is this one. It doesn't require drilling to install and is lightweight, inexpensive, strong, and low profile. It is made of high-quality, long-lasting aluminum and has a black powder coating to shield it from scratches and even erosion when driven through muddy terrain.

Also, because it is a modular roof rack system, you may choose how many crossbars you wish to have on it. The more crossbars you have, the higher the weight load rating your rack will have. They are rather simple to install and remove if you don't require some of them. With the exception of one, all of the crossbars are made of black anodized aluminum.

They include built-in drop-in points that make it simpler to attach your cargo, and they also provide a variety of tie-down options that improve the stability and security of the aforementioned cargo or certain accessories. One of the lowest profile roof rack systems available at the moment, this Prinsu roof rack has a height of more than 2".

Together with its low height, it also has an aluminum wind deflector that improves your car's aerodynamics, lessens wind drag, and lowers road noise. A roof top tent can even be mounted with the help of this sturdy rack set, which has a weight capacity of more than 500 lbs. This is more than enough to carry items like kayaks, motorcycles, extra luggage, or additional goods.

Be sure to check out this 4Runner no drill roof rack!

Drill Or No Drill Weight Weight Capacity  Warranty No Drill 50 lbs 500 lbs+ Limited Lifetime

 

 

 

Front Runner 4Runner 5th Gen Cargo Roof Rack

 

This top-notch 5th Gen 4Runner roof rack was made by Front Runner. All 2010–present Toyota 4Runner models are compatible with this full-size Slimline II 4Runner roof rack. Please keep in mind that this roof rack is available both with and without drilling options for attachment. A ladder that allows you to ascend to the top of the 4Runner roof rack would be a nice feature that would allow you to secure your cargo or add extra items. The ladder, however, must be purchased separately.

The rack is made of tough T6 aluminum, sturdy stainless steel, and is erosion-resistant black epoxy powder coated. Even though it weighs only 80 lbs., this roof rack is sturdy enough to hold the weight of almost anything you put on it, including kayaks, motorcycles, extra luggage, fuel tanks, or even a roof top tent.

The 660 lb. static weight capacity of this roof rack is more than enough to transport anything you can imagine. This rack's great feature is that, when mounted, there is room underneath it to store other objects, such as a camping table or pretty much anything else that is similar in size.

In order to increase aerodynamics and reduce noise, this 4Runner roof rack can be fitted with a wind deflector, while an LED light bar would aid in illuminating any roads at night. You only need to utilize the hardware that is provided, follow the directions, and it is very easy to install. This is yet another very popular choice for roof rack models on the market right now so feel free to check it out.

Drill Or No Drill Weight Weight Capacity  Warranty No Drill 80 lbs 660 lbs+ Limited Lifetime

 

 

 

Prinsu Cab Rack Tacoma – 2nd & 3rd Gen

 

Let's now examine yet another design for the Prinsu roof rack. The Toyota Tacoma vehicles from 2005 to the present are compatible with this roof rack. The Tacoma's roof rack is shorter and less expensive because it is designed for a pickup truck. It is the same length as the Tacoma's roof since it was designed to fit onto the cab of the truck. It won't fit over a camper shell if you have one.

Yes, it has the same characteristics and is constructed from the same materials as the Prinsu roof rack mentioned before. It is inexpensive, durable, lightweight, and installation doesn't call for any drilling or modifications. It has a black powder coat finish to prevent any chipping, scratches and even erosion when driving around in muddy terrain.

It is a low-profile roof rack that also comes with an aluminum wind deflector to improve your car's aerodynamics and lessen wind drag and road noise. Also, this rack system is sturdy and has a weight capacity of more than 500 pounds, which is more than enough to carry items like kayaks, motorcycles, extra luggage or gear, and even a roof top tent.

They have built-in drop-in points that make attaching your cargo easier, and they also offer a range of tie-down options that increase the stability and security of the mentioned cargo or a variety of accessories. The height of this Prinsu roof rack, which is one of the lowest profile roof rack systems at the moment, is just over 2".

It is a modular roof rack system, so you may choose how many crossbars you want on it as well. The more crossbars your rack has, the higher its weight load rating is. Installing and removing them is simple if you don't require some of them. Apart for one crossbar, the crossbars are entirely made of black anodized aluminum.

It is also a little bit lighter than the full-length model of the Prinsu roof rack because less material was utilized in its construction. This implies that your off-road vehicle won't have to carry as much weight. Be sure to check out this Toyota Tacoma roof rack kit!

Drill Or No Drill Weight Weight Capacity  Warranty No Drill 38.5 lbs 500 lbs+ Limited Lifetime

 

 

 

Front Runner Roof Rack Subaru Forester – 2013-Current

 

We already mentioned a Front Runner roof rack model, but we have another one that Is designed to fit the Subaru Forester model from 2013 up to the current one. It is a very reliable, durable and string roof rack kit that is very easy to install as it requires no drilling, or any modification done to your vehicle. But stick around and let’s see what else makes it so great.

This roof rack is made out of high-quality, built to last, T6 aluminum and stainless steel and has a black epoxy powder coat to increase resilience of the rack and prevent it from eroding in muddy environments. It is also a very lightweight model as it weighs only 45 lbs. This is yet another low profile roof rack that can be fitted with a wind deflector to increase aerodynamics of the rack and prevent the noise when riving on road or even an LED light bar to illuminate the road when driving at night.

It has a string and durable construction and can withstand 660 lbs of weight capacity which will be more than enough to fit all of your overlanding gear and even mount a roof top tent on top of it. You can also fit this roof rack system with a variety of Front Runner accessories which will come in handy on any off-road trip. Another cool thing about this rack is that you have enough space between the roof and said rack to store something like a foldable camping table or anything similar in size.

As we already mentioned this is a NO DRILL roof rack system. However, in order to use it on your Subaru Forester you need to have OEM roof rails. You would then attach the rack to those rails, and it will only take you a few minutes to do so. This is an amazing Forester roof rack so feel free to check it out!

Drill Or No Drill Weight Weight Capacity  Warranty No Drill 45 lbs 660 lbs+ Limited Lifetime

 

 

 

Gobi Roof Rack Jeep Cherokee KL

 

Now let’s have a look at the basket roof rack model made by Gobi. This roof rack was designed to fit the Jeep Cherokee KL models from 2014 up to the current one. Gobi is famous for manufacturing high-quality, durable, and lightweight basket roof racks and this one is no exception so let’s take a look and see what makes it so great.

First of all let’s start by saying that this basket roof rack has a built to last, stainless steel construction with an anti-rust undercoat and a black powder coat to increase the resilience of the rack. It comes with a integrated wind deflector which will improve the aerodynamics of the rack and the vehicle and will also reduce the noise when driving on the road.

This is a no drill roof rack meaning that it does not require any drilling or further modifications to the roof of your vehicle in order to install it. A special feature about Gobi Stealth roof racks is that they make less noise than the majority of roof racks on the market as they are fully welded and have fewer screws in them.

They are pretty strong and can withstand a 600 lbs + weight capacity which is enough to load the rack with pretty much anything you want and even mount a roof top tent on top of it. Another great thing about it is that it comes with a ladder which will make getting thing up and down the roof rack so much easier.

It is a great basket roof rack system that will surely be a great addition to your next overlanding adventure so be sure to check it out!

Drill Or No Drill Weight Weight Capacity  Warra