A Roof Rack too Big? Rhino Platform vs Tray

[Silver petrol manual Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Silver petrol manual]

Just hoping someone can offer their experience. I am trying to choose between these two:

I am putting a roof rack on the 120 and looking mainly at Rhino options. I want to carry spare wheel, two tents, table if possible and 4 swags on the Gibb River Rd. So the size makes a difference but the specs apparently dont allow for a longer than 1800mm x 1140mm in the tray variety, but goes up to 1928 x 1236 on the Platform. Has anyone taken this seriously before? I know weight is an issue but I would have thought if you are under 100kg and pack well you should be alrite.

Also has anyone noticed good or bad things about the Platform - ie tying down, more room to hang things off a bit - easier to get stuff on and off, too big/overhang etc?

One more thing, I would like to keep the racks on and take the tray/platform off when I am city bound.

be thankful for any tips

Specs and Names below

Pioneer Platform Rack System
Length 1928mm
Width 1236mm

Pioneer Tray system

Length 1800mm (internal)
Width 1140mm (internal)

[Guest Close Guest]

I prefer the platform as it keeps everything low, including getting into undercover carparks and loading things on (especially with a suspension lift). A platform also allows long items to rest fully on the floor of the platform and not supported over the rails of a tray. However, a tray is slightly better for chucking things on and you can be a bit lax with tying it down properly when going for short trips.

With the Pioneer Platform, the platform is mounted to the legs. So once you take the Platform off, you will have a clean roof with just the 6 pads left. There are no HD crossbars under the Platform.

[Silver petrol manual Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Silver petrol manual]

Thanks a lot or that, I followed your link to your custom roof platform- looks great. Do you think the length or width of your platform works well - ie right size, and do you find it noisy with nothing on it?

[Guest Close Guest]

I had to make my own because the platform was designed to carry crates and bags. I needed the channels so I can use eyebolts and slide them anywhere along the channel to fit my cargo. At that time, the Pioneer platform did not exist.

The 2m length is about right. Any longer and I find that that if the eyebolts are at the extremities, I can see the bars flexing up when I tension up the ratchet straps.

As for the width, it is fine for most uses although I have 2x 1350mm long HD bars which will make the platform wider again. However, this isn't so aesthetically pleasing anymore as it juts out past the corner of the roof. We've been looking at a 3 person kayak from BCF, hence, the longer bars to accommodate the kayak and holiday luggage.

[Guest Close Guest]

As for noise, I stuff dense foam into every channel of the cross bars. This stops the whistling. Since the longitudinal bars have such a small cross section, there is virtually no noise from them. The only noise really is from the crossbars. I've been looking at making the cross bars more aerodyamic but it's too much hassle for little gain. I'm better off taking the platform off when I don't use them. It's about 10 mins to take off, 15 mins to put on.

You can do a similar but much cheaper version using Unistrut but it would be heavier, and therefore, reduces the roof carrying capacity.

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

i have the rhino 1800 x 1140 tray it has served me well i like the idea of the raised sides, gives you somewhere else to tie down besides the eyebolts, the weight is around somewhere in the 20kg region i think, it can easliy be taken off with 2 people (10min), it doesn let me into low carparks but thats a blessing if you ask me. cheers samo

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

I also like the platform style racks. Main reason is a height issue. Once the car is lifted, every extra inch counts. I built my own platform out of square hollow section and 50mm x 5mm mesh (I really need to post these things up here!). It is 2000 x @1140. So far it has worked a treat with being able to load tents, chairs etc onto the roof. It is a little noisy at 100kmh when there is a strong wind blowing. Otherwise, with normal city driving I do not hear it.

Either of the alloy trays look good, and it mainly comes down to the height as I said. I don't think the extra 100mm on the platform is a deciding factor.

[yowie78 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie78]

Have you looked at whisbar for your cross bars. Same load rating and price as the rhinos I think and supposedly quiet as. Haven't got them myself but looking at going that way.

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The 3 bar HD cross bars sold by Toyota are the cheapest compared to anywhere else (even compared to the equivalent Rhino model). That is the reason for going that way (and put up with the noise which is easily cured by plugging up any holes/gaps). But the Rola sport, Rhino aero and Whispbar roof bars do look good.

[rabs Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rabs]

Did a trip to the Snowy mountains and had a Rhino Pioneer Alloy Tray (41102) and had the tent (blackwolf turbo plus 300) small rhino luggage bag, camping toilet and 2x10l jerry cans and still had some spare room. was fitted onto roof rails by the local tjm dealer

[Lorenzo Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lorenzo]

Hi Silver Petrol Manual,

I've been looking for an alloy tray as well but money at the moment is a little tight... I've come across some alloy racks + cross bar kits which look like Rhinos (but are a chinese made imitation)

They come in 3 sizes:

1270 x 965 - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Heavy-Dut...item43a76cfcc9
1397 x 1003 - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Heavy-dut...item43a76d219f
1610 x 1110 - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Heavy-Dut...item43a76ce8c9

Has anyone used these and can comment on the quality? At $229 for the small Tray and cross bars it's a bargain price. Their warehouse is 30 mins from home and they have a showroom where you can check out their gear. Only thing that sucks is a 30 day warranty!!!

Lorenzo

[Seththecursed Member Find all posts View Profile Close Seththecursed]

Hi Silver Petrol Manual,

I've been looking for an alloy tray as well but money at the moment is a little tight... I've come across some alloy racks + cross bar kits which look like Rhinos (but are a chinese made imitation)

They come in 3 sizes:

1270 x 965 - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Heavy-Dut...item43a76cfcc9
1397 x 1003 - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Heavy-dut...item43a76d219f
1610 x 1110 - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Heavy-Dut...item43a76ce8c9

Has anyone used these and can comment on the quality? At $229 for the small Tray and cross bars it's a bargain price. Their warehouse is 30 mins from home and they have a showroom where you can check out their gear. Only thing that sucks is a 30 day warranty!!!

Lorenzo

The legs that come with these will only fit the 90 series. You would have to buy the legs separate to fit the 120. Still cheap but.

[Guest Close Guest]

Lorenzo,
That is very cheap. I wonder if these guys are selling unbadged Rhino stuff. i.e. it all comes from the same factory???

[iantz Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close iantz]

Lorenzo,
That is very cheap. I wonder if these guys are selling unbadged Rhino stuff. i.e. it all comes from the same factory???

That's what I was thinking AMTS. They look pretty good! I've emailed to see whether I have to buy them with the roof bars, as I don't need them. Will let you know what they say.

[Guest Close Guest]

That's what I was thinking AMTS. They look pretty good! I've emailed to see whether I have to buy them with the roof bars, as I don't need them. Will let you know what they say.

Unfortunately, the large size is not long enough to go over the 3 bars on the 120 or 150. Best mounting spot is over the front and middle bar.