Roof rack storage tips for work and play

As the old saying goes, time is money. This applies to both recreational four-wheel drivers as it does to tradies who are using their vehicles for work during the week and as an escape machine after Friday afternoon rolls by. You can’t buy time back, so why waste it?

One of the frustrating things about camping can be how long it takes to set up and pack away all your gear. And for tradies using roof racks for storage of ladders or tools, this is a daily battle that eats into productivity and overall profit if the process isn’t streamlined.

Here are some tips and tricks to help make storing gear on a roof rack easier, safer and quicker for both work and play using quality accessories from our range.

EYE BOLTS WITH ZWIFLOC

Do yourself a favour and get some quality tie-down points or eye bolts like the PEB Eye Bolts. These will however open up your storage possibilities dramatically, by providing a secure tie down exactly where you need it when you need it.

Eye Bolts with Zwifloc will give you the correct place to tie down your load without having to loop around the slats of the roof rack. They are perfect for securing swags, kayaks, toolboxes, ladders… anything basically. And they make the physical act of securing your tools or camping gear much quicker. Now, that’s the aim of the game.

Our Zwifloc are a game changer when it comes to securing loads too. They are simple and easy to install on any Pioneer Platform or the Reconn-Deck system. Costing just $79 for a four-pack, they are also an affordable solution for a wide range of uses.

TIE-DOWN STRAPS

You won’t find a more versatile product than a good quality tie-down strap. They are strong, adjustable in length and secure loads to roof racks safely. We offer a large range of load-securing tie-down straps and tie-down points to suit a variety of applications.

For everyday tasks like securing a ladder, storage box or a swag, we offer a twin-pack tie-down strap, which will work with fixtures up to 25mm in diameter. They are ideal for use with their Eye Bolt Kit, and have a lashing capacity of 225 kg which shows just how strong they are.

Another innovative tie-down strap is the Rapid Locking Straps, which are available in a 3.5m length, and the Rapid range of straps which are available in 3.5m, 4.5m and 5.5m lengths. The cam buckle system results in an easy-to-use tie-down strap, and the 3.5m Raid Locking Strap, as the name suggests, is also lockable for added security and peace of mind.

For more task-specific tie-down points, we have you covered. There are tie-down solutions including Recovery Track Straps, Paddleboard Tie Down Straps, Bonnet Anchor Straps, and a Kayak/Ski Bow Strap Bonnet Tie Down.

STOW IT UTILITY HOLDER

Having a place to store long items like fishing rods, a paddle or a shovel can be a hassle. We have a solution for this problem, the Stow It Utility Holder which can hold items that are 10-50mm in diameter and weigh up to 8kg.

The Stow It Utility Holder is a universal fitment item that is a single-person installation on the Pioneer, Heavy Duty Bars and Vortex Bars. It’s also simple and easy to use thanks to the ratchet-style locking mechanism. Best of all, you can store your longer items, such as a shovel out of your vehicle safe in the knowledge that it isn’t going anywhere thanks to the durable design.

PIONEER ROLLERS

If you are on the shorter side of life or just want to make things easier, something that shouldn’t be overlooked is a set of rollers mounted to your roof rack. Rollers on a roof rack have been traditionally used for sliding an aluminium tinnie into place. This couldn’t be further from the truth these days, as there are so many more uses for them.

Rollers are perfect for tradies wanting to transport long ladders on a roof rack, as well as getting long bits of wood to the job site. This method is safer, quicker and won’t potentially scratch the roof rack surface in the process, by relying on the roller to slide the item into place. You can also use rollers to put a long double swag into position on your roof rack, or even a kayak after a long day exploring on the water.

USING STOW IT TO MOUNT ACCESSORIES

The neatest way to mount accessories such as an awning or high lift jack to your roof rack is to use the correct bracket that is specific to the task. Gone are the days of drilling holes into roof racks and using ugly U-brackets from the hardware store to bolt on an awning. The same goes for your high lift jack.

Having specific mounting brackets, such as those offered in the Stow It range, makes the installation of accessories quick and easy. More importantly, they make removing accessories simpler. This is important when you are bogged in the sand and need to access your shovel and jack as quickly as possible. It’s also handy in the event you need to alter the roof rack layout to suit a different job or trip.

Our Stow It system is super versatile and will save you time and effort every time you need to use it. The Stow It Base Bracket will allow you to secure anything from vehicle-mounted awnings, an LED light bar, the Utility Holder for your shovel or even the large Utility Holder to secure a high-lift jack.

To take a closer look at the massive amount of mounting possibilities offered by the Stow It range, click on the link below. With EOFY just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to upgrade your roof rack with gear from Rhino-Rack.