Gear
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Start filling the tub or tray of your HiLux with fridges, drawers and all the others things we take with us when camping and touring and you will quickly find there’s very little space left over for bulky items like tents and swags.
Installing a roof rack allows you to carry these bulky items. Maybe you want to mount a roof-top tent or need the space to carry some timber to the job site.
Whatever the use, a good quality roof rack enables you to securely transport extra equipment without sacrificing valuable space inside the cab or in the tray. Plus it allows you to easily transport items that won't fit in the tray.
- What it is: Storage system for your roof.
- Why you need it: The roof is a great place to store light, bulky gear such as tents, swags and chairs.
- Buying tips: The HiLux’s roof load limit is 75kg, and that weight has to include the weight of the rack. So if your rack weighs 30kg, that’s 45kg of gear you can carry. That 75kg only refers to the cab of the vehicle; any service body or canopy will have its own limit.
Here's a selection of roof racks we recommend. They’re intended as a starting point, to give you an idea of what’s available.
JUMP AHEAD
| Material | Dynamic load rating | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wedgetail | Aluminium | 100kg | 22kg |
| Rhino Rack | Aluminium | 85kg | 20kg |
| Yakima Ruggedline | Aluminium | 100kg | 21kg |
| Thule Wingbar | Aluminium | 75kg | 5kg |
Wedgetail Platform
Wedgetail roof racks integrate the all-new Wedge-lock glass-reinforced corners that significantly increase the strength of this design, allowing a full offroad rating regardless of what road you travel. All Wedgetail racks are manufactured in Australia and come standard with a wind deflector to reduce wind noise.
Specifications
- Material: Aluminium
- Dynamic load rating: 100kg (HiLux roof limited to 75kg)
- Weight: 22kg
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Pros
- Full rating applicable off-road
- Australian designed by an Australia company
- Easy to remove for low height car park visits
Cons
- No quoted static load rating (assumed to be equal to roof load rating)
- Warranty information is scarce but this is likely due to how new the product is
Rhino Rack Platform
Rhino Rack’s backbone mounting system has suffered from a little bit of bad publicity regarding off-road load rating reductions in recent times and, from an off-roaders perspective, that’s fair enough.
But with this recent upgrade, the load rating is now totally uncompromised and applicable anywhere, anytime. At 1528mm long and 1236mm wide, the platform is a decent size and ready to take a rooftop tent if required. There are optional wind deflectors available to help reduce wind noise and drag.
Specifications
- Material: Aluminium
- Dynamic load rating: 85kg (HiLux roof limited to 75kg)
- Weight: Approx. 20kg
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Pros
- Updated design includes no off-road load rating limitations
- Perfectly flat surface ready for a rooftop tent
- Large size takes full advantage of available roof space
Cons
- Vague static load rating we assume relates directly to the maximum roof rating of the vehicle
- For the price, the wind deflector should be included
Yakima RuggedLine
Coming in a little cheaper than others in this category doesn’t mean the Yakima Ruggedline isn’t built to last. Yakima claims it torture tests its products and as a result can offer a limited lifetime warranty. This is a no-frills, tough roof rack that is ready to work. The platform is rated to 100kg and is, therefore, limited to 75kg by the HiLux roof load rating.
Specifications
- Material: Aluminium
- Dynamic load rating: 100kg (HiLux roof limited to 75kg)
- Weight: 21kg
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Pros
- Sturdy and simple design
- Good value
- That warranty
Cons
- Not as efficiently designed as some competitors
- Might produce some wind noise
Thule WingBar
A more basic option for those who don’t need a full platform, the Thule WingBar is a basic two bar design with efficiency of higher end options.
The Thule WingBar Evo has been designed to imitate an aeroplane wing to make it one of the quietest and most aerodynamic roof racks on the market.
The owners manual does state that under no circumstances should a vehicle fitted with these racks exceed 130 km/h. Not generally a problem in Australia but worth noting if we ever get unlimited speed roads back in the NT.
Specifications
- Material: Aluminium
- Dynamic load rating: 75kg (HiLux roof limited to 75kg)
- Weight: 5kg
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Pros
- Lightweight and simple
- Quiet (no horrible whistles like some square bars)
- Built to last (my set on my old 4WD is up to 10 years and running)
Cons
- Not the cheapest simple option out there
- Static load rating of 100kg is on the low side (not suitable for roof-top tents)
How we review products
4X4 Australia has been reviewing four-wheel drive vehicles and aftermarket products for more than 40 years.
When looking for the best accessories for your make and model of 4WD, there are some things essential to making sure you have the best off-roading experience.
When we compare products, here are some of the things we consider:
- Warranty
- Build quality
- Value for money
- Time and ease to set-up/install
- Weight
- Fit and finish
- How well it gets the job done
- What materials they’re made from
- Corrosion/UV resistance
- Coatings
- Compatibility with other accessories
- Compliance with ADRs and vehicle safety systems
- Country of manufacture
- Load ratings, to determine what's the best product across each price point.
We also consider user reviews and our own experience with these products to make sure our recommendations are for the best on the market.
Disclosure: When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. We also include products that we do not earn a commission from.
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