Taking on Jeff's Joy Get the Family Kayaking ... - Canoe & Kayak

Technical
New Rhino -
- Canopy with a Difference.
2009 A.A.A.A Award Winner
to carry more than one kayak or a kayak and bike or a roof box or any
other combination then take load capacity seriously. An average weight
of a kayak is twenty five kilograms. A fold a pole or two sets of cradles
adds weight as well. Roof boxes themselves are very light but it’s what
you will carry in them that adds up. The sensible thing to do is have some
cushion in the load capacity especially for windy conditions. Most cheap
roof rack systems have considerably reduced load capacities due to the
quality of the fittings. It’s well worth looking into this before investing. At
the end of the day your roof rack will be carrying some pretty expensive
gear, you don’t want to lose that or cause injury if anything goes wrong.
Anything being carried on the roof of the car creates windage which in
turns puts strain on your roof rack.
The crossbar length is also something you want to consider if you are
carrying anything more than a singular kayak, bike or roof box. There are
two different styles of roof rack, a through bar (below left) and a flush bar
(below right). The first allows you to have a little width greater than your actual
car roof allowing comfortably for wider loads. The second actually reduces
the carry surface to slightly less than your car roof width. It often looks
smarter but can be a hindrance if you ever find yourself carrying more than
your one item.
For a Rhino Sales Centre near you phone -
0800 866322
Roof rack accessories are in the most part transferable between
brands, for example Thule Cradles will fit Rhino and Prorack and vice
versa. However we have had some very unhappy customers who have
opted for a factory mounted roof rack at point of vehicle purchase to find
that no accessories can be fitted. Here’s a hint: if the car dealer offers to
throw in the roof rack as part of the deal, you’re better off without in most
cases. Again think about what it is your roof rack will be doing for you.
Get the professionals to fit your roof rack and
accessories for a good job and piece of mind.
The best thing you can do is visit a Roof Rack Centre and talk to
us. We seriously know what we are doing and will recommend the best
possible solution for you. We’ll often fit it at no charge and give you some
instruction on maintenance.
If you are considering a second hand roof rack then stop and think
about these points to check out. What has the roof rack been used to
carry? Carrying items above the load capacity could damage the fittings.
How were the items tied down? Again carrying a kayak or similar item
without tying it down at the front puts extra strain on the rack and could
have damaged the fittings. Is there a warranty? Is it the correct roof rack
for your vehicle? How old is it? Do you know how to fit it correctly? Are
all the items in the system the original? Is the manual and list of all bits
available?
Finally consider the accessories you might need to make transporting
your items easier. For example, if you are carrying two sit - on - top
kayaks you will find it so much easier to use a fold a pole. With a fold a
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