4x4 Roof Racks

The primary purpose of 4x4 roof racks is to increase the cargo area of your vehicle. Secondary purposes include temporary storage of chatty passengers, but we don't recommend this, and neither will your local law enforcement folks. Automobiles need roof racks on occasion because there are two large problems you encounter when carrying cargo directly on your roof. First, your roof wasn't engineered to support any real weight, and second, its shape makes it very hard to secure anything on. An effective roof rack will be a frame to which you can secure cargo and some sort of rack to keep the weight of the cargo off your roof.

Many new 4x4s come with either roof rails or base racks, which can be used by themselves to tie down large items or as a foundation for more specialized racks. These more specialized racks are often aftermarket options and are engineered with a specific sort of cargo in mind. Luggage baskets and clamshell carriers provide a larger container for storing suitcases, bags or camping gear, while bicycle racks and surfboard racks are made specifically for carrying those items securely.

The advantage to having a base rack or set of roof rails is that when you don't need the larger racks, they can be easily removed, leaving only the low-profile base racks on your roof. These rack systems are slightly less sturdy than a specialized rack which is bolted to the roof of your 4x4, so if you need a particular roof rack every time you move your vehicle, you might want to consider a permanent rack.

4x4 roof racks and rack systems can range in price between $40 and $1600, so the possible configurations are only limited by your imagination and your budget.