Comprehensive Roof Rack Comparison 5/2024

[Dr Dan]

Hey Joel, thanks for jumping in. If I hear you right, you're measuring 28" from the center of beam 2 to center of beam 3, labeled in green, giving you a 28" mount in blue, with a 13" gap between bars assuming a 2" or so wide bar. I'm also assuming you're not using beam 1 since it's awkward with the wind screen, but maybe I'm wrong there and you've got the second gen bar with lag bolts, or whatever they're called. If I'm right, this puts me pretty close to where I need to be. I could either run it without the wind screen or cut two notches with a grinder in the screen (red hashes) to let my Thule's claws grab onto the first bar. I realize the wind screen must be screwed into something there, I'll need to measure the width of the claw. This may actually work. I'll get the rack I need for fitting my ski gear and still be able to easily remove the rear panel. I'm excited about spending even more money on this before I even make my first loan payment!

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[Dugout]

1-4 are crossbars
1 is the wind deflector
2 & 4 are 28” to center.
@Dr Dan

 

[Dr Dan]

First off, I'm loving this Bronco community. This is great. Looks like Trailrax may have changed things around as they have specs for a 2dr half rack and a 4dr half rack. We may be looking at different products if you look at the number of cut outs in the 90 degree bend. If you're coming it at 28 and the model with the 3 slits is a bit longer, this may work. Thanks for your input! I'll confirm with them. Other than that, are you liking their half rack?

 

[Dugout]

Double checked my purchase and it’s a four door half rack. Your diagram is the 2door. My apologies if you wanted someone with a 2D Bronco. Mine is 4D I really enjoy the rax. It allows me to fit my gear cases on top, but still gives me the freedom to take my mic top off. I have the Pak Rax, but haven’t found what I want to put on it yet.

 

[Lakelife36]

What is a TOR?

I use the Trailrax with a PakRax and it's been so fun to play with.

One thing I'd like to add: I've now gotten my timing down to
under 20 min to remove the rack and roof,
and almost the same time to get it back on.
The main thing is to leave the wind deflector on,
and remove the roof rack from the sides of that.

Roof off with wind deflector and light bar still on:

Fylly loaded without the RTT on:

RTT with Awning:

The RTT takes about 10 minutes to put on with the
Front Runner quick connects.
It took about 5 trips to dial in the location for the mounts.

I've been waiting years for someone to figure out a rack that allows the front panels to come off while on, and can be pulled apart for the entire toof to come off while leaving the deflector and light bar in place!

Does this rack have a half configuration as well? Or is it full-length only?

 

[mikeeshim]

Does this rack have a half configuration as well? Or is it full-length only?

This is the full length rack, but the front panels come off easily with the full rack in place without any adjustments to it, but they need to slide out above their respective doors. Still very easy, but you can't do it while you're sitting in traffic anymore.

 

[Gronco2024]

Has anyone had any experience with this rack from OHMU? Price point looks great and pictures look very similar, if not the same as OEM, but obviously can't trust those too much.

https://www.ohmu4wheels.com/product...rd-bronco-hard-top-2door-4door-2021-2022-2023

 

[mikeeshim]

Has anyone had any experience with this rack from OHMU? Price point looks great and pictures look very similar, if not the same as OEM, but obviously can't trust those too much.

https://www.ohmu4wheels.com/product...rd-bronco-hard-top-2door-4door-2021-2022-2023

A roof rack that doesn't specify dynamic or static load rating is kind of suspicious. Technically, they should hold as much as the plastic roofs will support, but who knows what that limit is.

 

[ZNC]

I’d like to add a couple data points…. I think the companies publishing static and dynamic load ratings are doing a disservice to themselves and their customers. I’m pretty sure if they are testing at all they are not trying to make their racks fail - they are using an ideal load and praying (flat piece of steel bolted to the rack?) They are not doing the crazy stuff people (like me) do IRL.

I have the trail rax moderately loaded up, according to “specs.” I have about 200 lbs on it and it’s a little forward biased and not inside the perimeter of the rack. So I get that this is not ideal and adding stress to the rack. And… it has broken twice now. Second time with added reinforcement plates.

I have no beef with the folks at trail rax-Honestly, they have tried to stand behind the product but imho the design is flawed. The rack, as it comes down to the front, gets very narrow and any side load (from washboard dynamics, imagine) has to be absorbed by that little section of aluminum plate. Which has a hole in the middle of it, a sharp corner-stress riser next to the hole, and the end of the extrusion pushing against it from inside.
What’s more, those four screws (two per side) are holding the entire weight of the front of the rack… in shear. Even if you tighten them up real good and they clamp the rack in place (as a screw is meant to do) any settling or vibration or loosening and those screws become pins, which is poor engineering. I’d much rather see the side rails rest on the cross bar and the screws hold it in place, but… I digress.

The first time it snapped was after 800 miles of highway and then 20 min of washboard dirt road at 14-30 miles per hour (we were being cautious as everything on the rack was vibrating like hell). Both sides. Oh shit moment for sure. We sistered some steel angle on as a temp fix until we made it to Montana and then added beefier side plates. These worked for the rest of that trip but here in the Nort East, a couple thousand miles later, our dirt roads once again did the rack in.

I’m looking for something beefier. I may just make it myself!

the second break

 

[kcmusa]

Great thread for me as I am looking at racks.
my requirements, want to remove tops. Would like an easy to remove rack when I don’t need it. Bronco is a toad behind an RV.
im interested in the height that’s needed to remove the top from the bronco.
i will be carrying kayaks as this sits behind the RV.

 

[TLO]

I've gone over every 4 door rack I can think of, and the only one that comes close to filling my bill is the Westin.
I don't like how it doesn't clamp on the inner part of the clamshell...

Anyone have experience with the Mesa?

 

[flashpunk]

Anyone have experience with the Badass Tents Rack?
https://badasstents.com/product/2021-22-ford-new-bronco-full-size-roof-rack/

 

[mallaki]

Is there an OEM roof rack available for the 2025 Bronco Raptor? I can’t seem to find one.

"The M2DZ-9955100-BA is the genuine Ford OEM production-style roof rack kit for 4-door 2021-2025 Ford Broncos with a hardtop, featuring side rails, adjustable crossbars, and mounting hardware, made of heavy-gauge steel with a textured black powder coat for durability. It offers factory fitment but is not compatible with Bronco Raptor models or 4-door Badlands with the 2.7L engine."

 

[khill007]

I am late to the game here but wanted to know if "anyone" has the Thule Caprock S platform on their 2 door? It's been discontinued but I found one in stock. The Yakima looks cool too but no aerodynamics.

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