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Roof Racks Buying Guide

When your vehicle has the right type of roof rack on it, you can haul all your gear with ease. Whether you need to transport bikes, kayaks, ladders, tents or any other equipment, you can rest assured there’s a roof rack to suit. However, there are various factors that need to be considered before you decide on which roof rack to buy. Roof Rack Superstore has compiled this detailed roof racks buying guide that will help you better understand how roof racks work and assist you in finding the right roof rack for your vehicle.

Available Types of Roof Racks

Recreational Roof Racks

Roof racks that are intended to carry items used for recreational purposes are designed to fit on top of vehicles such as SUVs, vans, station wagons and similar types of heavy duty recreational vehicles. These roof racks can transport a wide range of items that are perfect for a weekend getaway, including:

• Roof top tents
• Canoes/kayaks
• Mountain bikes
• Skis
• Surfboards
• Snowboards
• Water cans
• Fuel cans
• And more

Commercial Roof Racks

Commercial roof racks are designed to be used for commercial purposes, such as carrying particularly heavy items. Tradespeople across all fields highly depend on having these racks installed on their vehicles so they can transport the equipment they need to complete a job. These racks are usually attached onto the top of vans and SUVs and are commonly used to carry the following items:

• Toolboxes
• Pipe clamps
• Load stops
• Ladder slides
• And more

What is the Weight Limit of Your Vehicle?

Although you will naturally want a strong roof rack that can safely hold and transport your items, there is only so much weight that your car can accommodate, so it’s important to find out your vehicle’s weight limit. If your vehicle isn’t able to carry much extra weight, aluminium racks are a good alternative to steel racks – in fact, they’re up to 30 per cent lighter than steel. Aluminium also boasts a high level of strength and a great load carrying capacity.

One of the best ways to find out how much weight your vehicle can carry is by reading your vehicle’s owner manual. It will state your vehicle’s maximum load capacity – this weight should never be exceeded under any circumstances.

It’s also recommended that you work out the weight of all items you plan on placing on top of your vehicle. Knowing how much weight you will be carrying will help you to choose a suitable type of roof rack. Keep in mind that the rack’s duty rating will need to be higher than the weight of the items you need it to carry.

Strength and Durability

Many great camping spots can only be accessed by driving off-road and on dirt trails. This type of trekking can only be done with a 4WD, SUV or other durable vehicle that’s equipped with a roof rack to carry all your equipment. You’ll need to make sure the rack installed on your roof is high in quality, strength and durability. You can then rest assured that it won’t fail you when you need it to safely transport your equipment. It’s important to buy a roof rack from a reputable dealer who can help you find the right roof rack for your vehicle, especially if you plan on driving through rough terrain.

Contact Roof Rack Superstore Today

We hope our roof racks buying guide has been helpful. If you would like any further information, Roof Rack Superstore is happy to speak to you regarding your roof rack requirements.Contact us online or call one of our stores across Australia today.