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How To Choose A Cross Bar System For Your Vehicle

23 Aug 2021

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Whether you’re battling for space inside your vehicle or are after a clutter-free trip, a roof rack system will provide you with a space-saving alternative for carrying luggage and equipment. If you’re not sure where to start on your roof rack journey, keep reading to gain some understanding of cross bar systems and to find out which Rhino-Rack cross bar system is right for you.

First things first, not all roof racks, will fit every car – each vehicle has its own roof profile. Whilst two vehicles may look similar, there can easily be significant differences and because of this, each vehicle has its own specific fitment. Our team of engineers work tirelessly to ensure there’s a solution for your vehicle that’s both stylish, functional and meets industry standards.

Some roof styles that your vehicle may have are:

  • Factory rails
  • Rain gutters
  • Factory mounting points
  • Factory raised rails
  • And most commonly, vehicles with a bare roof
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Bare Roof
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Roof with Raised Rails

The next big question you need to ask yourself is what style of roof rack are you after? And are you after function or fashion? Cross bars are available in an Overhang or Flush style. The functional choice for most users is the Overhang cross bars. They provide a wider surface area to mount your equipment such as kayak carriers, awnings, or trade. Flush cross bars are the fashionable choice. Designed for a seamless appearance, flush crossbars fit your car roof like a factory fitted accessory by the car manufacturer. 

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With Overhang Bar
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With Flush Bar

Rhino-Rack has three bar variations to choose from: Euro, Vortex and Heavy Duty

Ideal for customers needing a roof rack system on a budget, the Euro roof rack system is strong and lightweight, designed for all basic roof rack requirements. Available as an overhang cross bar in black, the Euro Bar is sleek and simple. 

The Vortex roof rack system is our most popular and versatile cross bar option. Aerodynamically designed, Vortex bars have a high load rating, and have a patented VGS rubber strip which has been designed to reduce wind drag and noise. Unlike the Euro bar, Vortex bars are available in both flush or overhang styles – the decision is yours. This cross bar is ideal for the weekend adventurer thanks to the C-Channel at the top of the bar that allows seamless integration with our recreation accessories such as bike racks and luggage boxes.

Perfect for the tradesman and off-roader, our Heavy Duty roof rack system is designed for trade and commercial use. The Heavy Duty bar is a tough and durable carrying solution, and with a huge range of off-road and trade accessories available, you will have no trouble transforming your vehicle from work to play. 

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