Exploring the Benefits of Installing a Car Roof Rack

Experienced off-roaders and tourers who have explored our continent in their Jeep will tell you that one of the greatest challenges when touring this vast land is optimising the limited cargo space they have. In order to do it right, every expedition will require a specific, meticulous setup. And if the expedition lasts a couple of weeks – you’ll need to make sure every inch of available space in your Jeep is utilised and that the weight is evenly distributed. The best way to accomplish all of this is by installing roof racks. Roof racks are one of the most valuable Jeep Cherokee accessories you can install, for a wide range of reasons.

Benefits of Installing Roof Racks

Firstly, roof racks allow you to utilise the space above your Jeep, thus clear up space in the cabin, whether it’s to fit more people, valuable cargo that needs careful transport, or your furry little friends. These beneficial Jeep Cherokee accessories can make touring life much better. They offer a safe place to transport dangerous equipment and items such as spare tyres, flammable items like fuel, and give you easy accessibility to all of your belongings from all sides. Furthermore, they make your driving safer by distributing the weight of everything you bring with you evenly across the board.

What to Look For in a Roof Rack?

In order to get the most out of a roof rack, you need to make sure you get one that’s made with quality construction, fit, finish, and that it meets relevant standards and regulations. With the many different roof rack systems available nowadays, it’s important to find a setup that meets your specific needs. In other words, the mounting legs play a crucial role. For instance, a serious 4x4er would benefit from a fixed-mount roof rack, whereas the casual 4x4er would benefit from a removable, clamp-style roof rack. Permanent roof rack fixtures are sturdier, durable and more robust, and they feature a more versatile setup that allows for extra customisation options to attach a wide range of accessories. Common materials used for manufacturing roof racks are aluminium, steel and reinforced plastics. Steel is ideal for those who tour in high-vibration environments and carry a huge load, whereas aluminium is preferred by those who want to cut some weight.

As briefly aforementioned, there’s a variety of roof rack styles available. Baskets and trays, bars only, platforms only, etc, roof racks can be specified to fit a wide range of gear, such as jerry can holders, awning brackets, bike and kayak carriers, ladder rollers, luggage carrier bags, fishing rod carriers, etc.

Installing a Roof Rack

Anyone with some basic handyman skills and basic tools can install a roof rack in the comfort of their garage. However, there are some complex setups that may require professional fitment. Regardless of who installs your roof rack, you should make sure all the fixtures and bolts are tight before every trip or once every 1000km or so. This number will depend based on the type of environment you’re driving through. You basically want to make sure your cargo is properly secured at all times.

Pay Mind to the Roof Load Rating

One of the most important things to figure out, before you start loading cargo up the roof rack is your Jeep’s roof load rating. Every vehicle has one, and most ratings vary from 50kg to 100kg. Check your specific Jeep’s manual to be sure. Make sure you stick to the load rating, or you risk serious safety issues and voiding your Jeep’s warranty. Keep in mind that the roof rack may have a different rating than your vehicle’s roof, so make sure you get a roof rack that has the carrying capacity of your vehicle’s roof. This is extremely important because roof weight can impact how your Jeep handles, its braking ability, and its aerodynamics.

There are three basic types of load and cargo rating – static load rating (when your Jeep is stationary), on-road load rating (when driving on sealed roads), off-road load rating (when driving on unsealed, uneven or dirt roads) and the cargo rating (the amount of gear you can place on the rack and roof rack accessories).

Securing the Load

Once you’ve distributed the load properly on the roof rack, you need to make sure all of the items are properly secured to your Jeep. The last thing you want is slamming on the brakes and having your surfboard sliding into the back window of the driver in front of you. In order to accomplish this, you’ll want rated securing straps. Further, make sure you store combustible items like fuel and gas bottles outside of the vehicles. For longer equipment, like canoes and kayaks, remember to tie down their front and rear to the front bar and roof rack. Only when you’ve made sure everything is well secured should you venture on your journey.