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Roof Racks: Your Off-road Buddy

May 29th, 2010 · No Comments

A roof rack is a set of bars attached to the roof of a motor vehicle. It serves as an additional storage and allows safe transport of personal belongings. It is used to store bulky items like luggage, and various carriers like bicycle, canoes and skis. It could also carry large containers that could not fit inside the ordinary compartment of the vehicle.

A roof rack is very useful for people who undertake out-of-town vacations and off-road camping trips. It eliminates the worry of how to bring and pack all the necessities. It also offers convenience to the passengers inside the vehicle as they would not be bothered with excess baggage that cannot be stored anymore inside the usual compartment. It provides maximum capacity for all your things.

When going home, the roof top is also an ideal place to store your rubbish. The smell will not contaminate other belongings as long as it is kept on a separate bag and tied securely on the bars to prevent slipping on the road.

Having this luggage system on top of the roof also has its disadvantages. One obvious disadvantage would be the added height it would give to your vehicle. It may not be a problem when you are in an open driveway but you should always check clearance when passing through underground car parks. And do not forget to check first the clearance of your own home garage! Also, the rack and the extra baggage on top of the car will add weight to the load of your car. It could increase vehicle swaying and affect performance of the vehicle on the road.

You should also take into account the things you will load. Lessen the loading of liquids, like water and fuel since their weight load may shift as the vehicle moves. It could possibly cause an unwanted lurching of the vehicle when turning into corners that could be very difficult to be handled safely by the driver.

The type of material is also a factor to consider. A rack made of steel may be the strongest, but it is also the heaviest. When passing through underground car parks, assess if it could be easily removed from your car to allow entry. On the other hand, rack made of aluminum is lighter than steel but it could not carry such heavy load that could be carried by a steel luggage tray. But, those made in aluminum do not corrode unlike steel. You should also invest in a roof rack storage bag to protect your things from dust and rain and to keep them neatly tied together.

In buying, you could choose between racks that come as one single unit or the type with detachable luggage tray. The one with detachable luggage tray would be very useful on your everyday trips when some sporting equipments and large and long items need to be transported.

After weighing the pros and cons, it is up to you to decide putting up roof rack on your vehicle and the type you want to install. It would all depend on the nature of your trips and the things you would like to transport.

Nowadays that gas prices are remarkably increasing using bikes are becoming popular. Investing on high quality roof rack is really a great thing. You may want to buy Hollywood Racks.

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