[Mike57]

I have a Jimny with the factory rails. I know that there is a 30kg weight limit on these and in any case I think that 30kg on the roof of a Jimny is plenty for stabiliity reasons. What bothers me is that the factory roof rails are attached with plastic fittings. I also have no idea how well the roof studs are attached to the vehicle.

My concern is about travelling over very badly corrugated roads and how these rails would hold up even with only light loads on the rack (like a swag and an extra spare tyre with no rim).

I have found two racks that will attach directly to the studs.

The first one is the Outdoor Auto rack but this one looks to sit very high and I am concerned about wind noise plus the fact that it is not the best looking rack I have seen.

http://outdoorauto4x4.com/p/4539349/suz ... -rack.html

The other one I found is from Front Runner in South Africa. I have made inquiries about this one and it is about $1,000 delivered to Melbourne. It is a strong good looking rack but at this price I am inclined to look for another solution.

http://www.frontrunner.co.za/fr_product ... suzuki.php

So three questions:
1. Am I being overly cautious about the factory roof rails
2. Is there an economic solution for a rack that boths directly to the roof
3. Does anyone know how secure those studs are that hold the rails onto the roof

I am tempted to remove the factory rails and fit a track directly to the roof unless I can have some confidence in those studs. Any advice or opinions would be most appreciated. Thanks.

[45tr0]

I've packed close to 100 kg on the roof of my jimny for 4800km from WA to VIC -held up fine.

[Mike57]

On bitumen?

[vaso]

In regards to how well they are attached- i went to pull some stock rails out of a jimny at a wreckers yard (which they had already pulled out and sold without telling me), the two bolts at each end are attached by a plate, so imagine a "|_|" shape (this is what the guy told me who pulled them out), this is installed in the factory between two sheets of metal, so you actually have to cut thru the inside one to get them out, i wouldn't question the strength of how they are attached, tho i don't know which plastic fittings your talking about. you'd have to peal back the top layer of metal to pull them out

[45tr0]

Mike57 wrote:

On bitumen?

300 on dirt, the rest bitumen.

[monley]

Those are the studs that hold the roof rails on, they have been welded from the inside of the cab. I took my roof lining of to have a look at them cus, i wanted to take my roof rails of, but i found those studs, and did not want to leave them, showing, cus they are ugly. I think, they are fairly strong.... i gave one a good wack, with a hammer, to see, if they would come out they way....they wouldn;t

[woo603]

I asked pretty much the same question, I dont think its a strengh issue I would say it's more of a top heavy issue. I now have a cage on top and I can load it up with the same gear your want to just fine.

Wind noise is a little annoying but you get used to it after a while.
I'm about to drive from Perth to Darwin with that setup, so I'll let you know how it goes when I get there.

[Mike57]

OK, this is all really useful info, thanks guys. So I can take it that the studs are quite strong and well attached to the roof. On my car the rails attach to those studs with what seems to be plastic fittings (you can slide back the metal cover and see them). I am worried that with contunuous vibrations from corrugated roads that the plastic fittings might break from fatigue. If thats not a known problem then I think its all good and I should stop worrying.

[monley]

Mike57 wrote:

OK, this is all really useful info, thanks guys. So I can take it that the studs are quite strong and well attached to the roof. On my car the rails attach to those studs with what seems to be plastic fittings (you can slide back the metal cover and see them). I am worried that with contunuous vibrations from corrugated roads that the plastic fittings might break from fatigue. If thats not a known problem then I think its all good and I should stop worrying.

Those plastic cap things won't he going any where any time soon. Have you tried to take one of them of before???

[Mike57]

Hey Monkey. No I haven't but you have given me an idea. I should buy a couple and carry them as spares if I am worried about them. Problem solved! Thanks.

[BAZZOOK]

I attach the cage to rhino racks. Usually carry solar panel, card table chair tarps.
Too much and you'll be pushing shit uphill to hit 100k