Go Big or Go Home? How much rack do you really need?

Q: How much rack do you really need?

A: more.

Seriously I like the big one. 

The rack should be big enough, to lay pipe on. A full joint. If you can't see it out the wind Shield how will you carry a canoe?

I've never needed anything beyond two sturdy cross bars and I've been haulin' junk on the roof for nearly 50 years.  Lumber, toys, bikes, boats, furniture, even a chest freezer.

Expedition rack on SUV in suburbs = posers

(ducks and runs for cover)

bludroptop said:

I've never needed anything beyond two sturdy cross bars and I've been haulin' junk on the roof for nearly 50 years.  Lumber, toys, bikes, boats, furniture, even a chest freezer.

Expedition rack on SUV in suburbs = posers

(ducks and runs for cover)

yes, that is part of the reason I do not want one on my Disco. That and I have been trying hard to increase it's MPGs. I am up to 15 now, I do not need a big, heavy, and un-aerodynamic rack on the roof to ruin it just so I can carry a kayak or two or the mast to my sailboat.

What I am thinking of doing is buying the steel roof bars from Rocky-Road and adding a single crossbar from Yakima across the back. At least the Crossbar I can easily add or remove myself without needing to shanghai my neighbors like I would a full rack

Best cheap rack (that you can cut to size) is using an extendable aluminum ladder cut into two or (three) 4-6’ lengths and through-bolted to each other and I believe it was u-bolted to the factory rack.

How many extra gallons does the big one eat up on the highway ?

In reply to Appleseed :

I have no idea. This isn't a DD and only sees about 3k miles a year, so MPGs aren't super important. 

ebonyandivory said:

Best cheap rack (that you can cut to size) is using an extendable aluminum ladder cut into two or (three) 4-6’ lengths and through-bolted to each other and I believe it was u-bolted to the factory rack.

that would make it easy, but Rover only ever gave the Disco a half set of rails, they only sit over the front of the passenger compartment. There was an option to extend them full length, but good luck finding a set.

I like a big rack. I built this one, but will probably extend it to the front of the roofline this summer. I don't need side rails for it (mostly just carry rally car tires up there or use it as a track viewing platform and a mount for lighting/shelter). Anything that goes up there is getting strapped down good, so who needs sides :)

Maybe just remove the rack, fill the mount holes, lower the vehicle, add a turbo.  

It's kind of funny how long it took for people to ask: What is it you need to do with your rack? Get the rack that best fits your needs - unless it's a fashion statement that you're after.

Big rack. I have the stock one on my FJ with the moveable crossbars. I have had canoes, tires, kayaks, bikes, ect, up there.