The Ideal Size of Car Roof Rack & How to Install It

A roof rack functions as a provider of space when you want to store cargo on the roof of the car. Its installation should not be done carelessly, as it can cause the car's roof to become dented. In addition, you should also pay attention to the size of the car's roof rack before installation.

So, what is the right size, and how do you install it correctly? For more details, you need to pay attention to the following review.

What is the Ideal Size of a Car Roof Rack?

You must be wondering what the ideal size of a car roof rack is so that it does not damage the car's roof? The ideal size of a roof rack should not be too large. A roof rack is considered ideal if it has a height ranging from 35 cm to 45 cm, with a width of 90 cm to 95 cm.

A roof rack should also not be used for city cars as it can cause the car's roof to become dented. Additionally, the car's performance will also be less than optimal, as the weight of the car increases. Roof racks are recommended for SUV and MPV type cars.

The use of a roof rack is not recommended for carrying excessively heavy loads. It is best to use a roof rack only for storing luggage. This is to prevent the roof rack from damaging the car's roof and causing the car to be overloaded. You need to know how to calculate the weight of the roof rack load. For more details, consider the following example.

Example: The New Daihatsu Luxio has a curb weight of 1,290 kg and a gross weight of 1,810 kg. Therefore, the load capacity that can be carried by the New Daihatsu Luxio is only 520 kg.

This result is based on the total weight calculation minus the empty weight. For example, if there are six passengers in your New Daihatsu Luxio. If it is estimated that the weight for one adult person is around 65 kg, then the total weight of the passengers is 390 kg. This means the remaining load that can be carried is 130 kg.

This result is based on the total weight of the car minus the empty weight and minus the number of passengers. If the weight of your roof rack along with the crossbar is around 20 kg, then your car can only carry items weighing 110 kg. The amount of cargo can increase if the number of passengers in the car decreases.

A roof rack can be considered safe if it has a maximum load capacity of 75 kg or approximately below 500 liters.

How to Properly Install a Car Roof Rack

There are several ways to properly install a car roof rack that you can follow. Here are the complete steps.

1. Understand the load capacity that can be carried

The most important thing before you do the installation of a car roof rack is to know how much load capacity the car can carry. This is necessary to ensure your driving safety. For accurate load calculations, you can refer to the example above.

2. Choose a roof rack made of good material

Next, you need to pay attention to the quality of the material of the roof rack. Choose a roof rack made of ABS plastic weighing between 10 to 15 kg.

3. Pay attention to its shape

Next, you need to pay attention to the shape of the roof rack. Choose a roof rack that fits the size of the car, so it does not hinder the car's aerodynamics when the car is at high speed.

4. Install the roof rack carefully and meticulously

The next step is to install the roof rack carefully and meticulously. Make sure that the roof rail is already installed on your car's roof. Ensure that the components are installed properly so that there are no water leaks in the cabin.

These are some ways you can practice when installing a roof rack to avoid damaging the car's roof. Hopefully, these methods are helpful.