Choosing roof racks

• 4 min reading time

Go Overland roof tents are designed to be installed on vehicles fitted with compatible crossbars, including city cars, vans, 4x4s, utility vehicles, pick-ups, station wagons and more. 

Roof racks are an essential part of your installation, enabling you to securely fasten your roof tent to your car. Let's take a look at the essential weights to consider when choosing them.

What type of bars to choose and where to buy them?

First of all, it's crucial to distinguish between transverse and longitudinal roof bars.

Longitudinal roof bars

These are the bars that come as standard with your vehicle. Longitudinal roof bars are not necessary for the installation of a roof tent. However, if you do have them, you need to check whether they are decorative or functional (the original ones usually aren't). If they are purely decorative (solid or hollow), they are not suitable for installing a roof tent.

For non-decorative longitudinal bars that are strong enough, you can add crossbars with clamps, which attach directly to the longitudinal bars, without the need for mounting feet.

Transverse roof bars

This is the essential element needed to set up your roof tent. The tent is attached to these poles. So it's essential to choose them carefully.

Depending on your vehicle, these bars can be fitted :

• On longitudinal bars
• On roof anchors (or rails)
• In vehicle roof gutters

The choice of bars depends on the model of your vehicle. To install a roof tent, two transverse roof bars are all you need.

 

Which roof rack to choose?

Go Overland tents are compatible with most roof bars, whether ultra-thin or extra-wide (up to 11 cm), round, square or flat. However, a few criteria must be respected to ensure optimum installation. The shape of your bars should be as simple as possible.

	Our tent is compatible with all roof racks approved for a load greater than the weight of your tent.
	The width at which our mounting system can be attached to your roof bars, otherwise known as the useful width, must be 70cm.
	The distance between the roof and the top of the roof bar must be greater than 5cm to allow our fasteners to fit.
	The width of the roof bar tube must be less than 11cm.
	The distance between the two roof bars should be around 70cm.

In the case of panoramic or opening roofs, the bar fixings (transverse or longitudinal) must be placed on the metal bodywork, and not on the glass parts, to avoid damaging the roof.

 

Can my bars and roof support the tent and its occupants?

Yes, even on a small vehicle. Your roof bars simply have to be able to support the weight of the folded, empty tent.

It is essential to differentiate between the load capacities of the vehicle roof, the roof bars and the tent itself:

• The roof: although the bars are not attached directly to the roof, they are attached to the roll bars, which can support the weight of the vehicle in the event of a rollover.
• Roof bars: in motion, they support the weight of the closed tent.
• The roof tent: once stationary, the tent supports the weight of the occupants, according to the capacity indicated for each model.

Where can I buy roof racks?

You can find suitable roof racks by entering your vehicle reference number on websites such as Oscaro, Avatacar, Mister-auto, AccessAuto 4×4, France Attelage, or in stores such as Norauto, Feu Vert, and at your car dealer.