Roof Racks
In this, the first part of our Transport Solutions mini series we’re going to take a look at the different types of Roof Rack, the basis for carrying anything at all on the roof of your car.
There are a number of different types and styles of Roof Rack but they all perform the same function. They mount to the cars roof transversely and are designed for carrying all manner of things such as Roof Boxes, Cycle Carriers, Ladders, Canoes and Surfboards. They are not to be confused with Roof Rails which are a factory fitted item and run longitudinally on the cars roof.
So what are the different types of roof rack available and which one do you need for your car?
Railing Roof Racks are designed for cars that have Roof Rails which run from front to back (As seen in the picture above). There are two types of Roof Rail, raised and solid. The raised type you can get your hand under and the solid type you cant. Generally, Railing Roof Racks are available with square section steel bars that are coated with a protective plastic sleeve or Aerodynamic aluminium oval section bars which perform exactly the same function but perhaps look a bit more attractive and are slightly more aerodynamic.
Roof Rack fitting video for cars with railings:
Fix-point Roof Racks as the name suggests fix on to a ‘Fix-point’ in a channel in the roof of your car. Often covered by 2 long black strips running the length of the roof. These Roof Racks are all car specific and the mounting brackets are designed to fit exactly to the shape of the cars roof.
Fixpoint Roof Rack fitting video:
Door Jam Roof Racks are designed for cars where no fix-points or rails are fitted and generally speaking they mount to the car in between the roof and the door. As with the fix-point kits they are all car specific and the mounting brackets are designed to fit exactly to the shape of the cars roof.
Here's a few of the most frequently asked questions we get about Roof Racks:
Q: How much weight can the Roof Rack Carry?
A: Well, the weight limit on each kit is different but on average it would be about 60kgs
Q: Will my Roof Box/Cycle Carrier/ Surfboard Carrier fit onto these bars?
A: Yes, most accessories use simple U clamps to attach to the Roof Racks and the cross section of our Roof Racks is the industry standard.
Q: How does the Roof Rack fit to my car?
A: All the Roof Racks supplied by MicksGarage are car specific and we have detailed fitting instructions for all of them which can be emailed to you if you wish.
Q: How long does it take to fit them?
A: Well this does depend on the type of kit and your skill level. As a rule fitting takes 10-20 mins. The kits are all pretty simple and anybody should be able to fit them. No special tools (that aren't supplied) are required.
