Get To Know Your Vehicle's Roof Racks

Want to know about roof racks? Here we have mentioned everything you want to know about it. The roofs of a motor car can be utilised through a set of bars fixed on the roof of the car, known as a roof rack. A roof rack can accommodate various bulky items which cannot be stored inside the car for example bicycles, skis, canoes or additional luggage.

The purpose of a roof rack is to maintain the interior space and comfort for the occupants in the car and to create extra space in the conventional vehicles (such as cargo area volume that tends to limit too).

Did you know about the location of the roof racks? Well, the roof racks, better known as car top weatherproof containers, can be found in various varieties for the specific kind of cargo that you might be looking for. A number of these are designed in a manner that can be specifically used for skis or luggage.

Looking out for more information? There you go. In general, a roof rack system has a number of auto parts that include towers, fitting pieces, crossbars and great mounts. Also, the basis of differentiation in the automobile roof racks are the vehicle roofs. Here we have listed a number of roof racks that basically split depending upon the vehicle roof:

1. Rain Gutter - So these type of roof racks were mostly found in older times. You could find these roof racks fixed directly to the gutter that surrounded the roof line.
2. Bare Roof - In almost all the modern-day vehicles that do not have gutters, have this type of a roof rack. This can be installed by simply connecting hooks to the top of the door frames.
3. Fixed Point - You can observe that a number of automobiles have fittings for proprietary racks that go well with reinforced lugs in the roof, or sometimes have pre-threaded screw holes.
4. Side Rails - A number of vehicles already have factory-installed rails that may be flushed against the roof or raised off of the roof or running front-to-back on the roof.
5. Factory Bars - Lastly, numerous vehicles have a factory-installed permanent roof rack that you may notice. 

A number of factors determine and play a major role when it comes to making the right choice of roof racks. Usage is another reason that dominates greatly, when it comes to finalizing a roof rack. In addition to these, other reasons include: the weight and strength of the roof rack, the profile for loading and unloading along with the accessories available. Also, for a matter of fact did you know that roof racks increase air resistance? Well, in the US, roof racks have been charged for increasing overall fuel consumption by approximately 1%. It is because if the wind resistance that roof racks add sound on the highways. So, when you are actually installing roof racks, it is essential to load the bars correctly according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Even when driving on road, you need to load the allowed weight minus the weight of the roof rack kit. In case, you plan to use the roof racks for off-road drive, the allowed weight should be divided by 2. Note that this should be the amount allowed to carry on the roof racks in such driving conditions.

It should be noted that the truck bed racks are a derivation of roof racks that are designed in a manner so that they can be installed over the bed of a pickup truck. Usually, the construction of a bed rack includes tall tubes (legs) that enable the rack platform to be higher above the bed surface and also leave space for the cargo inside the bed. These pickup truck racks lead to the formation of a long cargo platform that eases transportation of huge items and are mostly put to use in construction and recreation as a base for numerous works, sport and recreational gears such as ladders, surf boards and tents etc

It is true that roof racks installed have a number of benefits that include:

A roof rack has a number of benefits, such as increasing the legroom of the vehicle as well as the storage space of the vehicle. The roof rack also provides a solid platform for the transportation of sporting equipment and bulky luggage. The secure placement of the sporting equipment is important because any carelessness on this front may prove hazardous to the lives of the other passengers as well as other drivers around.

A roof rack is generally made up of three basic elements, that is, side rails, towers and mounts. The rails are connected to the towers, while the mounts attach the system to the vehicle. The best way to ensure that the items are secured to the roof rack is to tie down the equipment to at least four points, as this will be the most stable arrangement. It is advisable to hold the straps taut as it will not create the need to tie numerous knots. The straps should be wrapped around the equipment a few times, so that it is secured properly to the roof rack.

The roof racks that you install serve a number of purposes that include:

The roof rails serve the purpose of carrying heavy cargo or sporting equipment that use the special roof mounts that can be fixed on to these rails. Well, they can be well regarded as the modern versions of the old luggage carriers other than that they are designed for being fixing points rather than carriers. They are helpful in a number of ways like for example they enable you to carry your surfboards, cycles or even luggage in special containers that use these mounts.

A number of problems with the roof rack can be encountered. Some of these include dust collecting under the feet that ends up rubbing away the clear coat, the straps scraping the paint and the rack displacing in heavy winds. So, we advise you to check the rack at regular intervals in order to make sure that it is properly mounted to the top of the vehicle. Also, they can be sued for a lifetime for saving interior space

These are the list of tools required for installation of roof racks:

• Ratchet
• Screwdriver
• Clear silicone sealant
• Can or bucket
• Thread seal tape
• Rag

Only for our customers we have listed here the tops brands that sell premium quality roof racks:

Planning to change the roof racks? Follow these simple steps:

If the roof rack is noticed to be leaking, it should be fixed immediately to prevent any permanent damage to the vehicle. If left as it is, the leak may damage the interior of the vehicle, including the head liner, carpets and seats. Holes drilled at the time of roof rack installation must be waterproofed using automobile adhesives and sealants. These sealants also secure bolt and screw holes. The interior of your vehicle can get damaged to a great extent because of a leaking roof rack. Over time, a leak will ruin the head liner, carpets, and seats. Fix a leak in the roof of a vehicle immediately after you notice it to avoid permanent damage. For the prevention or fixing of any leaks, the holes which have been drilled for the purpose of mounting a roof rack should be adequately waterproofed. For waterproofing and securing bolt and screw holes generally found in a roof rack installation, you can use automobile adhesives and sealants which are made for this purpose.

Step 1

Firstly, you have to remove all the mounting hardware that includes the bolts and screws from the cross rails and stanchions by employing a ratchet and a screwdriver. Gather all the hardware in a can or a bucket so that pieces don’t get misplaced.

Step 2

Every bolt and screw should be wrapped with a thread seal tape. The advantages of using it are that the thread pattern of the hardware remains mounted in its position and also, the tape makes the bolts thicker. The tape used for wrapping shouldn’t be defected or wrinkled. Don’t over wrap too.

Step 3

A neat and tidy roof is essential to ensure a good seal on the mounting hardware. Use a rag to get rid of all dirt and grim.

Step 4

Each mounting hole on the roof must be sealed using a small amount of automotive silicone sealant. A small drop is enough to provide adequate waterproofing.

Step 5

The mounting brackets and the stanchions will have to be replaced. A bead of clear sealant should be applied on the underside of each bolt and screw head.

Step 6

Now you need to change the bolts and screws in the right holes. Tighten it until they are secured. For doing so, turn them clockwise. Be careful and avoid overdoing the screws as that might end up damaging the threads. Then the cross-rails should be reinstalled by simply following the manufacturer’s specification.

Important tips:

Note the automotive silicone adhesive sealant is rated to be used only on automotive surfaces. Also, you should allow the sealants to fully settle for a minimum of 48 hours before using the roof rack.

Warning:

Be cautious and don’t overload the roof rack system at all.