Xterra stock roof rack weight limit.

[dsa2402]

Hey,
So, I am looking into getting a roof top tent for my 2007 Xterra but I am wondering how much weight the stock rack can hold. I have found lots of info for their dynamic weight limit capacity but I am finding much less for their static abilities. Is it better to replace the whole roof rack assembly or will the stock rack work?
Thanks
Dave

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: If I remember from my '06 OR, the static weight limit for the rack was 150lbs-

You're talking approximately 450lbs/w RTT and two people-the Xterra rack/roof won't sustain that much weight-

My '08 Jeep has a rack that'll support over 750lbs STATIC, but the rack design is much different than the Xtarra stocker--

Better check in some of the X forums for more data-

Good luck

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JMBO

 

[98roamer]

Will the factory stock rack hold the weight, sure and Dave and Ann did it. I had the Nissan wire rack on my 00' and stood in the the basket while I cut a tree off of the X= I'm 180 plus the tree.

But your question is: "is it better to replace it with an aftermarket?" IMHO yes. One reason is the aftermarket, like Gobi keeps the gear low. When you add RRT or another basket to the ractory X rack it can it tall. But you can make the factory rack work.

 

[mike r]

"How much weight can my roof rack hold?

Generally 100-200 lbs. By law you are allowed 165 lbs going down the highway.When you are parked (static weight) it is a different story. *Read your owners manual to get exact weight limit. If you need a rack system or more capacity any local Thule, Yakima dealer can provide a solution."

Bobby at cvt

 

[skibum315]

Jimbo, that 150lbs is the dynamic load limit ... and IIRC, what they put in the manual as a weight limit (been a while since I've looked it up, since I got myself a Gobi a while back).

Agreed that the stock rack *can* accommodate an RTT okay ... there are several on The New X who have, but I also agree with 98roamer that an aftermarket rack will ultimately be more secure (IMO).

-Jonathan
2008 Xterra Offroad

 

[Co-opski]

"How much weight can my roof rack hold?

Generally 100-200 lbs. By law you are allowed 165 lbs going down the highway.When you are parked (static weight) it is a different story. *Read your owners manual to get exact weight limit. If you need a rack system or more capacity any local Thule, Yakima dealer can provide a solution."

Bobby at cvt

Dang, I get a few of my wood boats on top and I'm over the legal limit in some states.
Drives fine, but I also have the Yakama X-tower rack and two more Yakama bars on the camper shell to spread the weight around.

 

[RonapRhys]

All in all, you'll likely be okay. As noted above, several folks run RTTs with no problems. Also, check out Xoskel - he makes replacement racks, too.

 

[XJINTX]

Can't speak for second gens but I know a lot of guys with first gens that broke the plastic mounts... includeing myself. No way 1st gens would they support a RTT.

 

[Co-opski]

Can't speak for second gens but I know a lot of guys with first gens that broke the plastic mounts... includeing myself. No way 1st gens would they support a RTT.

Was it the plastic on the stock cross bars or where the rack attaches to the roof?

 

[roninjiro]

I have ran a XL RTT on my 1st gen for a while but not long enough to break the mounts or anything. Honestly I would not recommend it because I can tell you with the first gen that the only thing the rack mounts to is Nutserts in the sheet metal. The plastic bases on the rack distribute the weight on the sheet metal a bit. It is definitely nothing like a old fashioned rain channel roof rack.

 

[Co-opski]

I have ran a XL RTT on my 1st gen for a while but not long enough to break the mounts or anything. Honestly I would not recommend it because I can tell you with the first gen that the only thing the rack mounts to is Nutserts in the sheet metal. The plastic bases on the rack distribute the weight on the sheet metal a bit. It is definitely nothing like a old fashioned rain channel roof rack.

ok wow good to know.

 

[roninjiro]

ok wow good to know.

Yea I always wondered how and what the nutserts are mounted to the roof. Took off the headliner and was not impressed needless to say. With that said I made sure the frontier I bought purchased from nissan did not have a roofrack on it.

 

[Co-opski]

Yea I always wondered how and what the nutserts are mounted to the roof. Took off the headliner and was not impressed needless to say. With that said I made sure the frontier I bought purchased from nissan did not have a roofrack on it.

I always felt my boats were secure as I find myself driving in 60 mph head winds with a 22 and 17 foot kayak on top at 55mph. The racks like the Xterra and Frontiers were a quick fad in the early 2000s with pathfinders, escapes and even Tacoma’s having similar set ups.

So do the aftermarket baja type racks use the same t-nuts?

 

[roninjiro]

I would assume so. There was a few aftermarket solutions I was looking into. Even if you have the stock rack you can RTV the original holes and do this

http://www.stripersonline.com/t/790574/nissan-frontier-bare-roof-rack-installation

To be honest even with my slicktop frontier I am considering this option.

 

[RonapRhys]

Yep - the aftermarket types use the same nutserts. As it turns out, some of those nutserts are within the roof channels so they wouldn't be particularly replaceable.

By the way - I did a bit of research and found that a small RTT from Cascadia (The Mount Bachelor) weights 125lbs. Well under the dynamic weight limit. Holds up to 650lbs, which would be two very large people.