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A roof rack is a set of bars secured to the roof of an automobile.^[1] It is used to carry bulky items such as luggage, bicycles, canoes, kayaks, skis, or various carriers and containers.^[2]

They allow users of an automobile to transport objects on the roof of the vehicle without reducing interior space for occupants or the cargo area volume limits, such as in the typical car's trunk design. These include car top weatherproof containers; some are designed for specific cargo such as skis or luggage.

History

There is a long history of the use of roof racks and their designs.

Until the late 1970s, almost all regular passenger automobiles had rain gutters. These gutters are formed by the welded flange (raised rim or lip) on the left and right sides of the car's metal roof panel.^[3] This made attaching an accessory or aftermarket roof rack a relatively simple process.^[4]

The first mass production cars without any visible rain gutters were the 1975 AMC Pacer and Chevrolet Monza.^[3] Other vehicles were introduced on the market with hidden rain gutters during the 1980s, and by 1990, cars with external rain gutters were becoming rare.

Roof rack suppliers developed new products designed to attach to various types of automobile roofs securely.

Types

The most common components of a roof rack system are towers, fitting pieces (for attaching towers to a specific vehicle), crossbars, and gear mounts.

Automobile roof racks are split into different types, depending on the vehicle roof:

Rain Gutter - older roof racks were usually mounted directly to the gutter surrounding the roof line.
Bare Roof - many modern vehicles that do not have gutters can have a roof rack installed by attaching hooks to the top of the door frames.
Fixed Point - some automobiles have fittings for proprietary racks that mate with reinforced roof lugs or have pre-threaded screwholes.
Side Rails - vehicles with factory-installed rails, which may be flush against the roof or raised off of the top, running front-to-back on the roof
Factory Bars - other vehicles have a factory-installed permanent roof rack.

There are many factors in the selection and use of roof racks. Some of these include their weight and strength, the profile for loading and unloading, and any available accessories.^[5]

Roof racks increase air resistance and in the US, roof racks increased overall fuel consumption by approximately 1%.^[6] Due to greater wind resistance, roof racks may increase wind noise on the highway. Mounting the roof rack backward may reduce air resistance.^[7] Some bars are designed with a lower drag coefficient or have a wind deflector at the front to reduce this problem.

When installing roof racks, it is essential to load the bars properly per the owner's manual. When driving on the road, one needs to load the allowed weight minus the weight of the roof rack kit. If one plans to use the roof racks for off-road driving, the allowed weight should be divided by 2, and this will be the maximum amount to be carried on the roof racks in such driving conditions.

A truck bed rack is a derivation of a roof rack designed to be installed over the bed of a pickup truck. The construction of a bed rack features tall tubes (legs) that allow the rack platform to be higher above the bed surface and leave space for cargo inside the bed. Pickup truck racks form an extended cargo platform that allows transportation of oversized items. They are used in construction and recreation as a base for various work, sports, and recreational gear such as ladders, surfboards, tents, etc.

References

^ "Definition of roof-rack". dictionary.com. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
^ "Definition of roof rack". Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
^ ^a ^b Sturmey, Henry; Walter Staner, H. (1978). "Mitsubishi Mirage". The Autocar. Vol. 178. p. 138. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
^ Sears Catalog. Vol. 2. Sears Roebuck. 1978. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
^ Dahl, Timothy (4 May 2018). "How to Choose the Right Roof Rack to Carry All Your Gear". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
^ Chen, Yuche; Meier, Alan (May 2016). "Fuel consumption impacts of auto roof racks". Energy Policy. 92: 325–333. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2016.02.031.
^ Kvamme, Paal (23 March 2020). "Snudde takboks, økte rekkevidden". Tu.no (in Norwegian). Teknisk Ukeblad.

[1] "Definition of roof-rack". dictionary.com. Retrieved 1 February 2019.

[2] "Definition of roof rack". Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved 1 February 2019.

[Autocar-3] Sturmey, Henry; Walter Staner, H. (1978). "Mitsubishi Mirage". The Autocar. Vol. 178. p. 138. Retrieved 28 September 2016.

[4] Sears Catalog. Vol. 2. Sears Roebuck. 1978. Retrieved 28 September 2016.

[5] Dahl, Timothy (4 May 2018). "How to Choose the Right Roof Rack to Carry All Your Gear". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 1 February 2019.

[6] Chen, Yuche; Meier, Alan (May 2016). "Fuel consumption impacts of auto roof racks". Energy Policy. 92: 325–333. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2016.02.031.

[7] Kvamme, Paal (23 March 2020). "Snudde takboks, økte rekkevidden". Tu.no (in Norwegian). Teknisk Ukeblad.

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@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 [[File:Mercedes-Benz E 500 T with roofbox IAA 2009.JPG|thumb|right|Enclosed car top carrier attached to a factory-installed roof rail]]
 [[File:Surf rack.jpg|alt=Specialized Racks|thumb|Specialized Racks over a pickup bed]]
-A '''roof rack''' is a set of bars secured to the [[Automobile roof|roof]] of a [[automobile]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Definition of roof-rack |url= https://www.dictionary.com/browse/roof-rack?s=ts |website=www.dictionary.com |access-date=1 February 2019}}</ref> It is used to carry bulky items such as [[luggage]], [[bicycle]]s, [[canoe]]s, [[kayak]]s, [[ski]]s, or various carriers and containers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Definition of roof rack |url =https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roof%20rack |website=Merriam-Webster.com |access-date=1 February 2019}}</ref>
+A '''roof rack''' is a set of bars secured to the [[Automobile roof|roof]] of an [[automobile]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Definition of roof-rack |url= https://www.dictionary.com/browse/roof-rack?s=ts |website=dictionary.com |access-date=1 February 2019}}</ref> It is used to carry bulky items such as [[luggage]], [[bicycle]]s, [[canoe]]s, [[kayak]]s, [[ski]]s, or various carriers and containers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Definition of roof rack |url= https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/roof%20rack |website=Merriam-Webster.com |access-date=1 February 2019}}</ref>
-They allow users of an automobile to transport objects on the roof of the vehicle without reducing interior space for occupants, or the cargo area volume limits such as in the typical car's [[Trunk (automobile)|trunk]] design. These include car top weatherproof containers, some designed for specific cargo such as skis or luggage.
+They allow users of an automobile to transport objects on the roof of the vehicle without reducing interior space for occupants or the cargo area volume limits, such as in the typical car's [[Trunk (automobile)|trunk]] design. These include car top weatherproof containers; some are designed for specific cargo such as skis or luggage.
 == History ==
 There is a long history of the use of roof racks and their designs.
-Until the late 1970s, almost all regular passenger automobiles had rain gutters. These gutters are formed by the [[Welding|welded]] flange (raised rim or lip) on the left and right sides of the car's metal roof panel.<ref name="Autocar">{{cite journal |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Vj1WAAAAMAAJ&q=influenced+by+the+Chevrolet+Monza+and+AMC+Pacer,+is+neat+The+gutter+is+formed+by+the+flanges+of+the+roof |page=138 |journal=The Autocar |title=Mitsubishi Mirage |volume=178 |year=1978 |access-date=28 September 2016|last1=Sturmey |first1=Henry |last2=Walter Staner |first2=H. }}</ref> This made attaching an accessory or aftermarket roof rack a relatively simple process.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=zjFIAAAAYAAJ&q=carriers+are+secured+to+vehicle+by+fattening+them+under+either+the+vehicle's+welded+rain+gutter |title=Sears Catalog |volume=2 |publisher=Sears Roebuck |year=1978 |access-date=28 September 2016}}</ref>
+Until the late 1970s, almost all regular passenger automobiles had [[Car rain gutters|rain gutters]]. These gutters are formed by the [[Welding|welded]] flange (raised rim or lip) on the left and right sides of the car's metal roof panel.<ref name="Autocar">{{cite magazine |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Vj1WAAAAMAAJ&q=influenced+by+the+Chevrolet+Monza+and+AMC+Pacer,+is+neat+The+gutter+is+formed+by+the+flanges+of+the+roof |page=138 |magazine=The Autocar |title=Mitsubishi Mirage |volume=178 |year=1978 |access-date=28 September 2016|last1=Sturmey |first1=Henry |last2=Walter Staner |first2=H. }}</ref> This made attaching an accessory or aftermarket roof rack a relatively simple process.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=zjFIAAAAYAAJ&q=carriers+are+secured+to+vehicle+by+fattening+them+under+either+the+vehicle's+welded+rain+gutter |title=Sears Catalog |volume=2 |publisher=Sears Roebuck |year=1978 |access-date=28 September 2016}}</ref>
-The first [[mass production]] cars without any visible rain gutters were the 1975 [[AMC Pacer]] and [[Chevrolet Monza]].<ref name="Autocar"/> Other vehicles were introduced on the market with hidden rain gutters during the 1980s, and by 1990, vehicles with external rain gutters were becoming rare.
+The first [[mass production]] cars without any visible rain gutters were the 1975 [[AMC Pacer]] and [[Chevrolet Monza]].<ref name="Autocar"/> Other vehicles were introduced on the market with hidden rain gutters during the 1980s, and by 1990, cars with external rain gutters were becoming rare.
-Roof rack suppliers developed new products designed to securely attach to various types of automobile roofs.
+Roof rack suppliers developed new products designed to attach to various types of automobile roofs securely.
 == Types ==
-The most common components of a roof rack system are: towers, fitting pieces (for attaching towers to a specific vehicle), crossbars, and gear mounts.
+The most common components of a roof rack system are towers, fitting pieces (for attaching towers to a specific vehicle), crossbars, and gear mounts.
 Automobile roof racks are split into different types, depending on the vehicle roof:
 * Rain Gutter - older roof racks were usually mounted directly to the gutter surrounding the roof line.
-* Bare Roof - many modern vehicles, which do not have gutters, can have a roof rack installed by attaching hooks to the top of the door frames.
+* Bare Roof - many modern vehicles that do not have gutters can have a roof rack installed by attaching hooks to the top of the door frames.
-* Fixed Point - some automobiles have fittings for proprietary racks which mate with reinforced lugs in the roof, or have pre-threaded screwholes.
+* Fixed Point - some automobiles have fittings for proprietary racks that mate with reinforced roof lugs or have pre-threaded screwholes.
-* Side Rails - vehicles with factory-installed rails, which may be flush against the roof or raised off of the roof, running front-to-back on the roof
+* Side Rails - vehicles with factory-installed rails, which may be flush against the roof or raised off of the top, running front-to-back on the roof
 * Factory Bars - other vehicles have a factory-installed permanent roof rack.
-There are many factors in the selection and use of roof racks. Some of these include: their weight and strength, the profile for loading and unloading, as well as any available accessories.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dahl |first=Timothy |title=How to Choose the Right Roof Rack to Carry All Your Gear |url= https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a20163499/how-to-choose-a-vehicle-roof-rack/ |website=Popular Mechanics |access-date=1 February 2019 |date=4 May 2018}}</ref>
+There are many factors in the selection and use of roof racks. Some of these include their weight and strength, the profile for loading and unloading, and any available accessories.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dahl |first=Timothy |title=How to Choose the Right Roof Rack to Carry All Your Gear |url= https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a20163499/how-to-choose-a-vehicle-roof-rack/ |website=Popular Mechanics |access-date=1 February 2019 |date=4 May 2018}}</ref>
+Roof racks increase air resistance and in the US, roof racks increased overall [[fuel consumption]] by approximately 1%.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Chen|first1=Yuche |last2=Meier|first2=Alan |title=Fuel consumption impacts of auto roof racks|journal=Energy Policy|date=May 2016 |volume=92|pages=325–333 |doi=10.1016/j.enpol.2016.02.031 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Due to greater wind resistance, roof racks may increase wind noise on the highway. Mounting the roof rack backward may reduce air resistance.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kvamme |first1=Paal |title=Snudde takboks, økte rekkevidden |url= https://www.tu.no/artikler/snudde-takboks-okte-rekkevidden/488322 |website=Tu.no |publisher=[[Teknisk Ukeblad]] |language=no |date=23 March 2020}}</ref> Some bars are designed with a lower drag coefficient or have a wind deflector at the front to reduce this problem.
+When installing roof racks, it is essential to load the bars properly per the owner's manual. When driving on the road, one needs to load the allowed weight minus the weight of the roof rack kit. If one plans to use the roof racks for off-road driving, the allowed weight should be divided by 2, and this will be the maximum amount to be carried on the roof racks in such driving conditions.
-Roof racks increase air resistance and in the US, roof racks increased overall [[fuel consumption]] by approximately 1%.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Chen|first1=Yuche |last2=Meier|first2=Alan |title=Fuel consumption impacts of auto roof racks|journal=Energy Policy|date=May 2016 |volume=92|pages=325–333 |doi=10.1016/j.enpol.2016.02.031|doi-access=free}}</ref> Due to greater wind resistance, roof racks may increase wind noise on the highway. Mounting the roof rack [[Teardrop hull|backwards]] may reduce air resistance.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kvamme |first1=Paal |title=Snudde takboks, økte rekkevidden |url=https://www.tu.no/artikler/snudde-takboks-okte-rekkevidden/488322 |website=Tu.no |publisher=[[Teknisk Ukeblad]] |language=no |date=23 March 2020}}</ref> Some bars are designed with a lower drag coefficient or have a wind deflector at the front to reduce this problem.
+A [[truck bed rack]] is a derivation of a roof rack designed to be installed over the [[Tonneau|bed]] of a [[pickup truck]]. The construction of a bed rack features tall tubes (legs) that allow the rack platform to be higher above the bed surface and leave space for cargo inside the bed. Pickup truck racks form an extended cargo platform that allows transportation of oversized items. They are used in construction and recreation as a base for various work, sports, and recreational gear such as ladders, surfboards, tents, etc.
-When installing roof racks, it is important to load the bars properly, in accordance with the owner's manual. When driving on road, one needs to load the allowed weight minus the weight of the roof rack kit. If one plans using the roof racks for off-road drive, the allowed weight should be divided by 2, and this will be the amount, allowed to carry on the roof racks in such driving conditions.
+== See also ==
-[[Truck Bed Rack|Truck bed rack]] is a derivation of a roof rack designed to be installed over the [[Tonneau|bed]] of a [[pickup truck]]. The construction of a bed rack features tall tubes (legs) that allow to the rack platform to be higher above the bed surface and also leave space for cargo inside of the bed. Pickup truck racks form a long cargo platform that allows transportation of oversized items. They are used in constructions and recreation as a base for various work, sport, and recreational gear such as ladders, surf boards, tents, etc.
+* [[List of auto parts]]
 == References ==