A roof rack is an essential accessory for most road trips. The platform, designed to be mounted on top of your SUV, provides storage for heavy and bulky travel gear. It lets you free up space in the vehicle’s trunk and cabin, creating extra legroom for your travel companions.
However, a roof rack’s safety and performance depend on proper installation and usage. We’ve prepared a checklist of roof rack safety tips that every road tripper must observe.
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Why Are Roof Rack Safety Tips Important?
A roof rack is undeniably one of the most useful road trip accessories. Besides maximizing your vehicle’s storage capacity, a proper Jeep roof rack also gives your Jeep an athletic appearance and improves its fuel economy (through uniform load distribution).
However, as hinted, a roof rack can prove risky if poorly maintained. Understanding those inherent dangers is the first step in appreciating the significance of following proper roof rack safety tips.
The biggest risk of poorly installed roof racks is potential damage to your vehicle’s roof. This usually happens when the platform isn’t properly secured to the roof, causing it to shake uncontrollably as the vehicle cruises.
Besides, an ill-fitted rack can cause your valuable travel gear to become loose and fall off the vehicle. You could also suffer severe injuries, especially while attempting to mount or dismount the platform.
Top Roof Rack Safety Tips to Observe
1. Get a Rack That’s Tailored for Your Vehicle
Some Jeep models come with preinstalled roof racks.
If yours didn’t include one, you must find a custom-made rack for the vehicle’s specifications. That may require you to take your vehicle’s roof measurements before visiting a roof rack fabricator.
The type of gear you plan to carry on your roof rack is also critical when determining the best rack for your Jeep.
2. Calculate the Roof Rack’s Height
Many road trips involve driving through low-clearance bridges and tunnels. Attempting to pass through these sections while exceeding the recommended height limit can result in severe accidents.
Therefore, calculating a roof rack’s height before purchasing it pays. If you’re in doubt, insist on low-profile racks.
Low-profile roof racks let you access low-clearance bridges, car packs, and garages. They also reduce wind resistance and noise, improving your car’s fuel economy and comfort while road tripping.
3. Inspect Your Roof Rack Before Installation
Most roof racks are constructed from durable and corrosion-resistant materials, with steel and aluminum being the preferable options. However, both metals can corrode over time.
It’s best to inspect your roof rack thoroughly for signs of rust before mounting it on your Jeep.
If corrosion has formed over the platform, grease or repaint it to preserve its strength.
4. Tap Into Professional Roof Rack Installation Services If Need Be
Roof racks can be super easy or painfully difficult to install, depending on the rack type and your learning pace.
You may install a roof rack simply by following the manufacturer’s guidelines and taking inspiration from various online video tutorials. But if you’re ever in doubt, it’s best to seek professional roof rack installation services.
Working with a technician helps to minimize damages to your vehicle roof and injuries during the installation process.
5. Know Your Roof Rack’s Limit
All vehicles have a defined payload capacity, which refers to the maximum weight a car can safely carry in the cargo area in addition to its curb weight.
For instance, the 2024 Jeep® Gladiator Sport has a maximum payload of 1,725 pounds. Exceeding this capacity can increase the truck’s aerodynamic drag and reduce its fuel efficiency.
Observing your vehicle’s weight limit is critical while shopping for and loading a roof rack.
6. Distribute the Load Evenly
After mounting a spacious roof rack over your vehicle, it may be tempting to toss your travel essentials on the platform with careless abandon. A grave mistake!
Once you’ve loaded up your roof rack, be sure to distribute the weight uniformly across the platform.
Having excess cargo to the front of a roof rack is particularly risky while braking, while piling up much of the gear to the back affects your vehicle’s steerability. Both can increase load shifts, which might result in grisly accidents while cruising at top speeds.
7. Secure the Load
Spreading travel gear evenly across a roof rack isn’t enough. To improve your safety further, it’s important to secure the items with the straps or other provided mechanism.
Read the manufacturer’s guidelines on how to properly secure load on your roof rack.
Pay particular attention to taller and lighter gear, as these can easily be lifted up by the airstream and tossed across the roof rack, affecting your vehicle’s stability.
8. Speed Thrills…But It Kills Too
Most road trippers have been there! You hit the open freeways and your first instinct is to put the pedal to the metal.
Unfortunately, speed remains a leading cause of road accidents. Even if you’re lucky to walk away in one piece, your vehicle may suffer severe damage, with the roof rack bearing the brunt.
Besides, speeding increases aerodynamic drag. This consequently exerts negative force on the roof rack, reducing your truck’s fuel economy.
Summary
Following these pointers can cushion you from common roof rack malfunctions and enhance your safety while road tripping.
Remember that the most important tip is to invest in a premium roof rack tailored for your Jeep’s model, then get the platform installed by a professional roof rack technician.
