sides on a rack?? or no sides??

[bluejeep]

Most racks have sides on them, but a few are completely flat all the way across.

For mounting roof top tents, I can see most likely the flat version is best.

However, I'm wondering if having sides is necessary/desireable while hauling cargo.

pros
-lateral containment of cargo
-vertical strength (if factored into the design)

cons
-larger surface presented to wind (increased drag)
-have to lift cargo higher to load
-may give false sense of security and cause one to not properly tiedown/secure cargo

My current rack does have sides but I'm seriously considering removing them for several reasons. One is that I have a different design in mind for the tiedown points along the outer edges and the sides don't play into securement any longer.
Another is that it will allow me the flexibility to carry something that might be just a bit larger than the width or length of the rack.
Another is that I sleep on the rack (bivy tent) and egress/ingress is nicer without the sides.

What have you folks found to be most useful? Sides or flat top?

:coffeedrink:

 

[teotwaki]

I have a flat config on my African Outback rack. I do have a full side rail and a half side rail but have not put them on. This rack is versatile with respect to tiedown configuration so hardsided cargo only needs to be properly lashed down. I think that if you had bulky and soft cargo that sides on a rack might help to contain those sorts of things.



The Thule bag is pretty well contained and does not need rack sides to be fastened down.

 

[overlander]

I have a full length hannibal with removable sides. Now that I have an RTT on half of it, I have shortened the sides for the cargo portion, and prefer it as a secondary containment. They can be removed if needed. They also serve as a sort of brush guard for the cargo and restraint webbing when going through heavy brush.

 

[bluejeep]

[/QUOTE]

good example here, the shovel on driver's side, the hilift, and the long brownish bag on passenger side would have to be secured differently if there were sides. Not that it couldn't be, but it illustrates my thinking

 

[Ford Prefect]

Personally I would go with NO sides on there. I just do not care for them much. Mainly due to the excess drag.

 

[LilKJ]

I'm having to replace my custom aluminum rack (the awesomeness) because my RTT won't fit with the side rails.... grrrrrrrrrr

 

[ntsqd]

Another in the "no sides" camp. I built it that way mostly because of air drag concerns, but came to like it. I've used the rack for an observation deck, to haul 20' sections of 2" x 2" x .25" wall tubing, and to haul the plywood & folding tables used for a remote pit in Baja. Without rails I can clamp things down using C-Clamps. Either directly, or with a cross-bar and a clamp at each side. Rails would be in the way of doing that.

When I'm to that point I'll be cutting the rack down from fitting a '79 ne '91 Surburban to fitting the FJ60.

 

[Stumpalump]

I'm having to replace my custom aluminum rack (the awesomeness) because my RTT won't fit with the side rails.... grrrrrrrrrr

A hacksaw that would fix that in a jiffy. You could also take it to welder to weld caps on the aluminium tubes for a finished look.

 

[crusader]

I do both and switch it around whenever I need....

--Mark

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Well that's an interesting use of aluminum extrusions...

 

[IZZYDUSIT]

I like the versatility of my Inti rack- keep them on- take them off!
I like them on for the added load security.

 

[teotwaki]

I like the versatility of my Inti rack- keep them on- take them off!
I like them on for the added load security.

Same for my African Outback Rack. I have a full 4-sides rail but I have to modify the half-rail from the 100 series to make it fit.

 

[TooeleCherokee]

I actually just cut the sides off my roof rack yeasterday. no matter what I always strap stuff down on my rack and the sides tend to make it so less stuff can fit. Now my canoe can go on easier as well

 

[bluejeep]

thanks everyone for your insights. great stuff:wings: