A roof rack is a convenient way to safely haul cargo on top of your vehicle. If you frequently go camping, biking, adventuring, and off-roading, you know how important cargo space is. Or, if you haul equipment or bulky tools as a tradie, you likely need every square inch of space possible.
If your vehicle is feeling cramped, we’ll explain how a roof rack can free up valuable space and securely transport items.
What Is a Roof Rack?
A roof rack is an accessory that serves as a secure platform for storing and hauling items on a vehicle’s roof. We at Jaram Australia have been specialising in developing high quality roof racks for 50 years. We made high quality roofracks for tradies & mine-spec use that are built to last.
Components of a Roof Rack System
Traditional roof rack systems are made up of three parts:
- Cross Bars / Cross Members: A roof rack’s crossbar, or load bar, spans the roof of the vehicle. This is the component that does the heavy lifting. There are different types of crossbars, from aerodynamic designs to sports or heavy-duty designs.
- End Supports: The end supports connect the crossbar and mounting kit and attach to the roof of the vehicle.
- Mounting Kit: A roof rack mounting kit is engineered according to the shape of the vehicle’s make and model. This ensures a secure, safe fit. The mounting kit can then fit rails, door straps, roof racks, and anchor points, depending on the intended use. For instance, vans will require a different mounting kit than Utes.
What Is a Roof Rack Used For?
General uses for roof racks include hauling:
- Roof boxes
- Ladders
- Kayak racks
- SUP boards
- Sports equipment
- Gear/cargo
- Bikes
- Conduit holder
Commercially, roof racks are often used in many different trades. Here are some of the industries that frequently contact us for custom roof racks:
- Plumbing: Bulky parts, ladders, conduits, or tools can be safely hauled on the roof rack to free up valuable space inside the van. For plumbers client with vans, we generally recommend the Dreamrider roofrack, 150kg load capacity, with plenty of accessories including easy addition to add bazooka / conduit holder on each side of the rack.
- Construction: The construction industry requires transportation of equipment, ladders, gyprock sheets, heavy-duty tools, and scaffolding. These bulky items are ideal for roof racks. By maximising usable space on the roof, the interior can be used to organise smaller tools and equipment. Since usually the equipment for construction can be quite heavy, it is recommended to get a roof rack like “Super Heavy Duty Maxirack” with a load capacity up to 250kg+.
- Landscaping: Landscaping companies often haul shovels, piping, and other large parts, equipment, and tools. Roof racks provide an ideal way to securely haul oversized items from site to site. At Jaram, we generally find landscapers opt for “Standard Heavy Duty Maxirack” which has a load capacity up to 200kg.
- Electricians: Electrician usually need space externally to carry plenty of ladders and conduit holders on each side of their van / ute . The ability to secure heavy equipment and tools to the roof rack maximises the vehicle’s interior space. This makes it easier to keep the inside of your company van organised and tools easily accessible. We generally recommend electricians to use Dreamrider roofrack as their roofrack solutions, as it has easy access to add bazooka tube/ conduit holder on the side of the rack.
- Painting: Roof racks are ideal for painters who need to haul ladders, scaffolding, rollers, and other bulky equipment. Usually we find painters opt for 3 crossbars system with either our “aero bars “ or “Red Dirt Heavy duty bars. This is the most “bang for your buck “ option for carrying ladders and other painting equipment
How Roof Racks Help You Work More Efficiently
Imagine pulling up to a job site and your tools are jostled around from the trip. You’ve got cords tangled together, loose tools, and your vehicle is crammed full of equipment. Trying to sort through that mess to find the tools you need is a waste of time.
A roof rack helps make bulky or awkward equipment easily accessible while freeing up interior vehicle space. Rather than working around a ladder or large tools, you can quickly see and grab the tools you need.
At Jaram, we can create custom roof racks that maximise your vehicle’s functionality and efficiency. Whatever your trade, we can tailor a roof rack to your industry, items you frequently haul, and vehicle make and model. Custom roof racks make it easy to safely haul tools and keep everything organised for maximum efficiency..
Types of Roof Racks
- Heavy Duty Roof Racks: Heavy-duty roof racks are often utilised in the trades. If you haul heavy items often for your trade, heavy-duty commercial roof racks offer versatility, durability, and high weight capacity.
- Flat Top UTE Racks: Flat top UTE racks are specifically designed for hauling awkward, large gyprock sheets. Efficient hauling and easier loading and unloading at sites.
- Van Roof Racks: Van roof racks are ideal for industries that demand maximum storage space and meticulous organisation. Our top-quality van racking systems are fully customisable, enabling an efficient, streamlined workflow.
Roof Racks vs Roof Rails
Roof racks and roof rails are often confused, as they do share similarities. However, their function and design are different:
- Roof Rails: Roof rails are long bars that run the length of a vehicle’s roof. These bars serve as an attachment point for accessories or crossbars.
- Roof Racks: Roof racks are a comprehensive system made up of crossbars, end supports, and a mounting kit. This system can be used as a transport system for carrying cargo.
5 Things to Consider Before Getting a Roof Rack
Here are 5 things we recommend considering before buying a roof rack:
- Vehicle Compatibility: Make sure your vehicle model and roof type will support the roof rack and mounting system. Use our fit my vehicle function to find the best mounting system suited to your vehicle.
- Weight Limits: Ensure the weight limit of the roof rack will meet your needs. Also, make sure your vehicle will support the weight capacity. Determining load distribution is another important consideration.
- Height Clearance: Determine the height of your vehicle once the roof rack is installed, especially for low clearance instances. If you think your garage is quite low & you need a heavy duty yet very low profile roofrack , you can opt for Flat Top Dreamrider roofrack.
- Type of Cargo: The type of cargo will influence the roof rack type and any accessories you’ll need. Consider overall size, dimensions, and weight to ensure compatibility. If you carrying gyprock sheets / constructions parts definitely choose super heavy duty maxirack 250kg+ load capacity. For general heavy parts likes ladders and conduits you can opt for dreamrider roofrack or standard heavy duty maxirack (200kg load capacity)
- Durability and Material: Steel, reinforced plastics, and aluminum are common roof rack materials. For many trades, aluminium roof racks are an excellent option. Aluminum is resistant to inclement weather, resistant to rust and lightweight. often lightweight.
Unlock Your Vehicle’s True Efficiency with Custom Roof Rack Fit Outs
Roof racks can maximise a vehicle’s functionality, versatility, and efficiency, giving you more time to complete valuable tasks. Whether you’re a fleet manager or a tradesperson, we can customise a roof rack system for your needs.
Don’t waste time digging through a pile of tools or untangling cords when you could be getting straight to work. Our custom van and ute roof racks eliminate clutter-filled, disorganised vehicles crammed with items.
We create customisable roof rack configurations to make sure every tool and component has a secure, designated place. This ensures easy, fast access when completing jobs. Our roof racks are also built to withstand Australia’s notoriously harsh conditions.
Contact our experts at Jaram Australia, and we’ll get to work recommending the ideal van racking solution for your needs.
