Who uses a roof rack and what for?

[JackW]

There's not an abundance of room in a Defender 90 so having a rack allows me to move the sleeping equipment upstairs as well as giving me a mount for an awning, place to attach the hammock, carry a fuel can, and a few other things. The Hannibal rack is light, strong, quiet and well built.

 

[Frankspinz]

Fuel cans, chain saw, misc tools ... and of course the canoe !

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[Squatchout]

I've had a roof rack on all my trucks including pick up caps for years. In the early days it was mainly for hauling bikes and occasionally the canoe. Now it's more for the canoes and yaks. I've carried ladders, lumber, boats, bikes, plywood, PVC pipe, even railroad ties (I don't recommend that). I love my old Trooper because of the real rain gutters which let me mount 3 wide Thule cross bars. Even with a fairing a roof rack will often cost you 2-3mpg. You can feel the drag in headwinds on some vehicles. The new tracks from yakima and Thule with the snap on snap off cross bars are a great way to add racks. That way they are easy on in seconds and you only use them when needed. I'm not much for the spare tire on the roof thing. Great way to blow out your back under the worst possible conditions. Blown back in the back country on a rainy night with a flat tire is not my idea of a great trip. Keep the heavy stuff down low.

 

[refried]

In the winter I usually have one or two Thule boxes on top for snowboards, skis and other assorted winter gear, in the spring the rack gets used for Kayaks, raft frames (raft goes in the back), coolers, oars, ect.

 

[colodak]

I have a Yakima Load Warrior with Extension on mine. I have a custom mount, soon to be replaced, on my cross bars for a hi-lift, I keep my MaxAx and shovel attached to the rack, I added a custom light mount to the front as well as side and rear lights (all soon to be replaced/upgraded). Recently also added Yakima BOA bike mounts to the cross bars (learned I need longer cross bars). At times I've carried my spare up there and other things.

 

[grimbo]

on my old Patrol it seemed to be used mainly for fire wood

while the current Patrol it gets used for carrying the kids bikes or prams etc and a place to mount the awning