Don't trust your standard Roof Racks

I got a sheet of plywood to make some rear shelves in the Jimny.

Thought three strops and it should be ok. Anyway cruising along the motorway at ~70k the whole roof rack system ripped off. No damage to the car with only the mounts left. The roof racks were still attached to the ply.

Luckily it was not very busy and it didn't hit anyone. A guy in ute picked it up and off we went.

A lesson learnt, now have to sweet talk the old man to make me some nice aluminum ones.

:ohmy:

you've got to post a pic showing where it ripped away from
are the bars bent ?

:blink:

Yea i will in the day light tomorrow.

Basically right around the bolt mounts. not the bars arn't bent just sheared off.

Pretty intense.

I'd say 70 is a bit harsh for having a large load on the roof anyway myself but bloody hell! I'd have expected the wood to break as opposed to the bars removing themselves

i think its the force created by the plywood. it will flex and lift in the oncoming air and the more it lifts , the more pressure it will exert. if carrying sheet ply i would try to stay under 30mph. rigid items like kayaks and surfboards do not flex and will not impart the same stresses. i have carried them at normal road speeds ( up to 60mph ) with no issues. however the standard "bars", the rails on the jimny are not meant to carry on. they are designed to fit roof bars to for load carrying

Yea 70 kph not miles ...

In hindsight and actually looking at the construction of how the rails mount I was foolish. I did not know that the front mount were plastic. :blush:

You live and learn.

I did have the bars going across.

Oh well time for construction of the rear shelves.