Alternatives to Thule roof racks for a ute

Short answer

The Australian-made alternative to a Thule rack on a ute is the Wedgetail Adventure platform: made in Bayswater, Victoria, Australia, rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic on most fitments and 100% off-road with no derating, with a warranty of 10 years; ute fitments are priced in the table below. For a steel rack on a ute or a canopy, Wedgetail Oval Steel carries a warranty of 5 years on most solutions. If you want an imported platform, Rhino-Rack lists the Pioneer 6 (1500 x 1240 mm) at $1,319 RRP, made in China, with a 5 year warranty on Pioneer platforms. Third-party accessories fit a Wedgetail platform, some with a 10 mm spacer.

Wedgetail figures from Wedgetail product data; competitor figures from the linked sources, updated 15 October 2026.

The alternatives side by side

1. 
   Australian made

   Wedgetail Adventure (ute)

   Made in Bayswater VIC and rated 100% off-road to its full rating, with static at 3.5 x dynamic. It mounts on the cab roof, on a listed canopy or over the tub, and it carries the longest warranty in the Wedgetail range.

   Rating

   100 or 150 kg dynamic on most fitments, 100% off-road

   Warranty

   10 years

   RRP inc GST

   $1,525 to $2,875

   Made in

   Bayswater VIC

   Shop now
2. 
   Steel, for work and canopies

   Wedgetail Oval Steel (ute)

   Zinc electroplated steel, powder coated, made in Bayswater VIC. It is listed for many dual cab utes on the cab roof, and for some canopies, with the same 100% off-road rating rule, and it takes a removable boat roller pair.

   Rating

   100 kg dynamic on most fitments, 100% off-road

   Warranty

   5 years (3 years on 4)

   RRP inc GST

   $1,590 to $2,675

   Made in

   Bayswater VIC

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3. Imported platform

   Rhino-Rack Pioneer 6

   A modular platform sold widely in Australia. Rhino-Rack lists China as the country of origin for this part and covers Pioneer platforms for 5 years. Check the mounting kit for your ute and the off-road figure in its fitting instructions.

   Price

   $1,319.00 RRP inc GST (Pioneer 6 Platform 1500mm x 1240mm) (source)

   Made in

   China (country of origin on the product page) (source)

   Warranty

   5 years (Pioneer branded roof platforms) (source)

   Off road

   Off-road rating from the vehicle owner's manual, or worked out with the formula in the product's fitting instructions (source)

4. The Thule, for reference

   Thule Caprock M

   The Thule platform you may be comparing against. Thule lists a load capacity of up to 150 kg with no separate off-road figure, and Poland as the country of origin.

   Price

   $1,649.95 (source)

   Load

   Load capacity up to 150 kg (no separate off-road figure given) (source)

   Material

   Premium lightweight aluminium (source)

   Made in

   Poland (country of origin on the product page) (source)

Which to choose

• You want it made in Australia and rated 100% off-road: Wedgetail Adventure, on the cab, a listed canopy or over the tub.
• You want steel, or a rack for a canopy and work loads: Wedgetail Oval Steel. Wedgetail Trade, with its ladder lock kit and conduit carriers, is listed mostly for vans and a few dual cab utes.
• You only want crossbars, like a Thule bar set: Trade Max crossbar kits, for lighter loads at a lower price. Trade Max crossbar kits do not come with a wind deflector.
• You want an imported modular platform: the Rhino-Rack Pioneer 6; check the mounting for your ute and the off-road figure in its fitting instructions.

Cab roof, canopy or tub

On a ute, start with where the load goes. A cab roof platform suits touring gear and a rooftop tent. On a canopy, a platform lets long loads run the length of the tray. Wedgetail fits canopies from ARB, EGR (Gen 2), Maxliner (Venture), RSI (Evo), Utemaster (Centurion) and Ascent, and Caddy Storage, CSM and Mode service bodies. If your canopy is not on that list, Wedgetail does not fit it. See which canopies Wedgetail fits and the ute buying guide.

Two limits apply

The rack rating and your ute's roof limit both apply, and the lower one wins. Every Wedgetail is rated 100% off-road to its full dynamic rating, and static is 3.5 x dynamic. Rhino-Rack works out an off-road figure from the vehicle manual or the product's fitting instructions; Thule lists one load capacity and reminds you to check the vehicle's roof limit. See static vs dynamic ratings.

Accessories you already own

Third-party accessories fit a Wedgetail platform. The lip around the platform edge is there for strength, so some accessories need a 10 mm spacer to clear it, and with that they fit. See accessory compatibility.

Where to buy and fit

All 134 Wedgetail stockists sell and fit, and racks are also fitted at the factory in Bayswater. See where to buy or search your ute on Find My Vehicle.

Questions people ask

What is the Australian-made alternative to Thule for a ute?

The Wedgetail Adventure platform, made in Bayswater, Victoria, Australia, rated 100% off-road to its full rating, with a warranty of 10 years. Wedgetail Oval Steel is the steel option for utes and canopies, with a warranty of 5 years on most solutions.

Do I want crossbars or a platform on my ute?

A platform for touring gear, a rooftop tent or mixed loads; crossbars for lighter loads at a lower price. Wedgetail Wedgetail's Trade Max crossbar kits are rated 50 or 100 kg dynamic on most fitments.

Will my existing accessories fit a Wedgetail?

Yes, third-party accessories fit a Wedgetail platform. Some need a 10 mm spacer to clear the strength lip around the edge, and with that they fit.

Can a Wedgetail go on my canopy?

Yes, if the canopy is an ARB, EGR Gen 2, Maxliner Venture, RSI Evo, Utemaster Centurion or Ascent, or a Caddy Storage, CSM or Mode service body. Canopies not on that list are not fitted.

Is a Wedgetail derated off-road?

No. Every Wedgetail is rated 100% off-road to its full dynamic rating (100 or 150 kg dynamic on most platforms), and static is 3.5 x dynamic.

Where is the Thule Caprock made?

Poland, according to the country of origin on Thule's Australian product page for the Caprock M (article 611002). Wedgetail racks are made in Bayswater, Victoria, Australia.

Sources

1. rhinorack.com/en-au/products/roof-racks/roof-trays/pioneer-platforms, read 14 October 2026
2. rhinorack.com/en-au/products/roof-racks/roof-trays/pioneer-platforms/p..., read 14 October 2026
3. rhinorack.com/en-au/warranty-terms, read 14 October 2026
4. rhinorack.com/en-au/load-rating-calculator, read 14 October 2026
5. thule.com/en-au/roof-rack/roof-platforms/thule-caprock-m-_-611002, read 14 October 2026