So, you’re thinking of installing a roof rack on your vehicle, but you’re not quite sure you should. Well, you’re not the only one who ponders about getting a roof rack. Many vehicle owners are often unsure whether they should get a roof rack because they feel they’ll never need it.
However, no matter the kind of car you’re driving, whether a luxury car, minivan, SUV, etc., roof racks can become extremely useful on so many occasions. Since roof racks are installed above your vehicle, they provide you with an alternate yet more affordable way to transport bulky luggage over long distances.
Over the years, the automobile sector has gone through several advancements leading to the development of beneficial features, but not everyone uses most of these features; the same goes for roof racks. If you’re driving a ute, it’d be super helpful to install ute roof racks because they help make up for the shortage of room in the vehicle.
In this article, we discuss the concept of roof racks the different types, and we also answer one question you’ve probably been asking; “Is it worth buying a roof rack?”. Let’s dive in.
What is a Roof Rack?
A roof rack is a set of bars installed on the roof of vehicles. It is a car accessory that helps transport bulky luggage, cargo carriers, bicycles, canoes, and many more. Roof racks allow automobile owners to transport large items that normally won’t be possible to transport using only the vehicle’s trunk.
Roof racks are very effective because they allow bulky items to be transported without reducing the actual space in the vehicle’s interior. Another benefit of roof racks is that they’re temporary accessories allowing you to detach them any time you wish.
Types of Roof Racks
Roof racks come in various forms and functionalities; before installing a roof rack, you should first know the various available types.
1. Naked Roof
A naked roof is the most common roof rack found in most cars manufactured in the last ten years. Naked roofs have tiny plastic rails to which roof racks can be attached. Most people see naked roof racks as a decoration tool, but rather these racks are designed to be the base point for any future installations.
2. Side Rails
Side rails are mostly found in SUVs and minivans. They look a lot like roof racks, but they function slightly differently; they can clamp down items using these rails, it’s not generally a good idea.
Side rails are suitable for transporting lightweight materials like mattresses but not heavyweight materials like couches.
3. Fixed Point
Fixed points are joint points in a vehicle’s roof for installing roof racks. These roof racks are usually located in areas that minimize their visibility.
Are Roof Racks Worth It?
A lot of factors contribute to the overall necessity for roof racks. In general, roof racks are a go-to option for folks that love frequent road trips, skiing, and outdoor camping. On the contrary, you can do without a roof track if you go on such trips maybe once a year.
However, that’s just a general overview. Before you conclude if you should get a roof rack or not, consider some of these essential factors and benefits:
1. Roof Racks Helps in Transporting Bulky Items
This is probably one of the best and most important benefits of roof racks. Moving large items over long distances has previously been difficult because these items take up much of your vehicle’s interior space. However, with roof racks, you can carry a ton of items without having to sacrifice your comfort.
If you’re the type of person that frequently goes on long-distance trips with heavy luggage, getting a roof rack is a no-brainer as it would help organize and transport your luggage without taking up interior space.
2. Improves the Appearance of your Vehicle
Most of the latest roof racks are designed to be very sleek and stylish. Installing a roof rack on your vehicle’s roof helps improve the visual appearance of your vehicle. If you’re someone who fancies fashion and design, adding a roof rack would help add an extra touch of flair to your car.
3. Improves the Ventilation in your car
Just take a moment to imagine the backseat of your car filled with all sorts of bags, luggage, carriers, and sometimes mattresses. You’d agree with me that you won’t have proper ventilation; that can even be made worse if you have sweaty clothes, food, or a barrel of fuel.
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Filling up your car’s interiors with luggage inhibits your car’s ventilation. To help solve this problem, install a roof rack to store all your luggage on your roof to pave the way for cross ventilation.
4. Prevent Damage to your interior
Transporting a bunch of travel utilities, luggage, bags, etc., all pose threats to your car’s interiors. Those items contain pointy and sharp edges that are unsuitable for your car’s interior. I’m very sure you don’t want to get that supple leather of yours ruined; the best way to prevent damage to your interiors while transporting luggage is to install a roof rack to help store your luggage.
Conclusion
There are so many reasons you should buy a roof rack; if we keep going, the list would be endless. However, one of the primary reasons to purchase a roof rack is to create space when transporting bulky items in your interiors.
No matter the kind of vehicle you drive, installing a roof rack is always a good idea.
