WK2 Roof rack - roof strength?

[Jeep56]

I'm a bit worried about the strength of the roof and wondering if anyone else has any opinion on that.

I've just fitted a Rhino-Rack roof rack. The bottom brackets go inside the existing roof rails and pick up on the three existing 6mm captive nuts (1 at the rear and 2 at the front, on each side) Then the Rhino feet are bolted to those brackets, then the platform to the feet. (See attached pics)

I've noticed that if I stand alongside the car and pull down on the side of the platform with just a reasonable one handed force, I can see the roof deforming a good 2 or 3 mm. It seems to me the captive nuts are only in sheet metal and not into any substantial piece of load bearing metal.

For the bigger trips I was planning to have a second spare rim and tyre, and the tent up there. I am confident of just scraping in under the 68 kg limit (including the weight of the rack itself) but having seen how easy the roof metal moves, I'm a bit nervous about that now.

Anyone had any problems or issues with this sort of thing?

[scarps]

I've got the mopar bars and had the Thule roof basket on top of my WK2 and had loaded with tent, eskies and chainsaw in a timber box. Was possibly just pushing the 68kg load limit, but found having the roof basket attached to front and back rails seemed to strengthen the whole unit up nicely.
I would be happy to put a spare wheel on top except I'd struggle to lift it up or down these days
I definitely wouldn't load anything on top that could be impacted by wind force. i.e. Canoe etc a definite no


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[Jeep56]

Thanks Scarps. I think what I am most worried about is that as part of my business (and the camping trips) I sometimes do fairly long trips from Perth to the Pilbara, and taking in a fair bit of gravel road driving up there. Some of those corrugated sections can make you wish you had a hovercraft (or a memory foam bum...)

Even with just the 2nd spare up there and nothing else, that constant pounding over rough roads will have me thinking about it constantly.

[shannonohalloran]

Which rack and basket did you fit as I went and had a look at some rola ones today, would like to see what you have?

[Jeep56]

Sorry, I forgot to post the pics. They should show you what I have well enough. It is a Rhino-Rack setup.

[Kev.]

Originally Posted by Jeep56

Sorry, I forgot to post the pics. They should show you what I have well enough. It is a Rhino-Rack setup.

Hi mate,

Please can you measure from the roof to the top of the tray for me?

I'm 90% sure I'll be getting one of these in Black, but need to check the height!

Thanks

Kev.

[Jeep56]

From the underside of the cross bar at the front, is 75mm, and at the rear bar is 95mm. You will need a spacer on the rear legs to get the basket level because of the slope of the roof. See the photos I posted, particularly the one of the legs. The measurements I took are from the underside of the bars between the legs.