Traveling With A Roof Rack: 5 Dos And Don’ts 

We’re just about a couple of weeks from Christmas, “the most wonderful time of the year.” Families from far and wide traveling to meet at an agreed home to spend Christmas or New Year together.  

With the holidays drawing near, you’d need to prepare for the journey ahead. If you’re traveling by air, you have nothing to worry about, but if you’re going by road, you’ll need a roof rack to help you convey your luggage. 

If you already have a roof rack installed on your vehicle, there are certain things you need to know. For example, a defender 90 roof rack is fitted for a specific car and weight. You must ensure that you do it properly if you’re traveling with a roof rack. In this article, we’re going to briefly cover five dos and don’ts of traveling with a roof rack. Stick with us and find out more. 

Dos 

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Traveling with a roof rack? Here are five things you should do: 

1. Read the Instructions Manual 

The instruction manuals are often the most overlooked components of each gadget we purchase; I can’t remember the last time I bought something that had an instruction manual and actually read it.  

However, reading the instruction manuals of a roof rack is extremely important. Roof racks aren’t mobile phones or video games that you can quickly get by without reading the manufacturer’s instructions.  

Roof racks have carefully written instruction manuals that state the maximum weight of the roof rack, safety guidelines, and, most importantly – the installation instructions. If you attempt to install a roof rack without thoroughly reading the manual, you might get stuck midway through your installation, or you might complete the installation, except you did it all wrong. 

The latter is more dangerous because an improperly fitted roof rack tends to fall apart during your journey.  

2. Grease the Rack regularly 

Roof racks are always fitted to the outer parts of vehicles; this leaves them prone to the harsh effects of the weather. The significant components of roof racks are metallic, and metals are highly prone to corrosion. 

Leaving the roof rack exposed to the weather will wear down the metal’s integrity and leave it susceptible to rusting. The best way to get around this weather effect is to regularly grease or oil your roof rack. 

Copper grease is very efficient for lubricating roof racks. You can use this grease to occasionally oil the roof racks’ mounting bolts. Greasing doesn’t just protect your roof racks from corrosion, but it also simplifies the removal of the rack.  

3. Install When Needed 

As we’ve rightly stated in our second point, roof racks are prone to corrosion and rust. Installing roof racks when you do not need them increases the risk of corrosion. However, most modern lightweight roof racks are fitted with non-corrosive materials, but they can also weigh down your car. 

Roof racks take up the considerable weight on your car even when not loaded with anything up top. When your car weighs increasingly more than necessary, it increases fuel consumption and tyre pressure, and the aerodynamics of your car might become a bit twisted.  

 
It’s always advisable to remove the roof rack when not in use and install only when needed.  

Don’ts 

4. Avoid Overloading your Roof Rack 

Roof racks are built differently; in weight, length, height, etc. This is where your instruction manual comes in; your manual would clearly state the maximum weight your rack can stomach. 

Aside from the weight, the instruction manual would also indicate the roof rack’s specific use cases, which must be followed diligently. The weight limit isn’t just a precaution for the roof rack itself; it’s a safety standard that prevents damage to your vehicle or accidents. 

Car manufacturers also explicitly highlight the maximum weight the car can carry. To ensure a safe journey, take the weight limit of your vehicle and compare it with the roof rack’s limit. After much consideration, you should be able to come up with an estimated maximum weight that both your car and your roof rack can bear harmlessly. 

5. Don’t Overspeed 

Traveling on long journeys allows drivers to accelerate at insane speeds that wouldn’t be possible on everyday roads. However, depending on the road and the level of traffic, speed limits are enacted to prevent drivers from causing accidents or harming pedestrians. 

Speed limits become much more crucial when traveling with a roof rack. Remember that you carry a load significantly more than the original car limit. Driving within the speed limit is essential for your safety and for the safety of others plying the route with you.  

Yet again, your instruction manual comes into play. Manufacturers of your car roof rack would indicate the speed limit you should maintain with respect to the load you’re traveling. Over speeding while carrying heavy cargo can put pressure on your car’s tires and can tamper with the aerodynamic stability of your vehicle.  

Conclusion 

Roof racks are essential devices that help cargo transportation be less stressful and cheaper. With a roof rack, you don’t have to pay to get your luggage delivered to your destination; you can save a lot more. 

However, traveling with a roof rack has its pros and cons. Safety should be your top priority when traveling with a roof rack. Thankfully, our five little dos and don’ts should give you the basic things you need to know about traveling with a roof rack.