Load ratings
Off-road roof rack load ratings: why many racks are derated and Wedgetail is not
Short answer
Many brands publish a lower off-road rating than on-road; every Wedgetail solution with a published rating carries one rating that applies 100% off-road with no derating. Most Wedgetail platforms are rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic, and that is also their off-road figure. Parked, the static rating is 3.5 x dynamic: 350 or 525 kg static.
Facts from Wedgetail product data, updated .
- Wedgetail off-road
- 100% of the rating, no derating
- Wedgetail platforms
- 100 or 150 kg dynamic
- Static
- 3.5 x dynamic
- Other brands
- Reductions of up to 50% published
What an off-road rating is
An off-road rating is the most a rack can carry while the vehicle is driven on unsealed roads. Corrugations, potholes and washouts load the rack harder than bitumen, so some brands publish a lower figure for those roads, either as a separate rating, a percentage reduction or a factor you divide by. Rhino-Rack's load rating page defines off-road as an unsealed road without a surface protection layer and points to the formula in each product's fitting instruction.
How other brands handle off-road
| Product | On-road figure | Off-road rule | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rola Titan Tray + Ridge Mount | 100 kg dynamic max | 0% reduction on track mount, anchor point and raised rail; 25% on gutter mount | Rola |
| Rola Titan Tray + Low Mount | 35 kg per leg pair | 33% reduction on most mounts; 50% on clamp mount | Rola |
| Rola Sports Extended and Sports Concealed bars | 35 kg per cross bar | 33% reduction on most mounts; 50% on clamp mount | Rola |
| Rhino-Rack RLTFMS crossbar system (Sprinter, Crafter) | 100 kg with two crossbars, including the rack | Safety factor of 1.5: rating divided by 1.5, 66 kg off road | Rhino-Rack fitting instruction |
| Front Runner Slimline II factory rail kit (1165 x 1358 mm) | Must not exceed 50 kg | Not suited for extreme off-road conditions | Dometic Front Runner |
| Wedgetail (every solution with a published rating) | One dynamic rating per solution | Full rating off-road, no reduction | Find My Vehicle |
These are the rules for the exact products named, not for every product each brand sells. Rola also limits where its off-road figure applies: it defines off-road as non-sealed gazetted public roads only, and says private roads, non-gazetted roads and tracks and 4WD parks are excluded for all Rola products warranty.
How Wedgetail rates off-road
Each rated Wedgetail solution carries one dynamic rating, and it applies 100% off-road with no derating. There is no separate off-road figure to look up and no factor to divide by: the rating on the product page is the rating on corrugations. Most Wedgetail platforms are rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic; the rating for your exact fitment is in its model guide.
| Dynamic rating | Static rating (3.5 x) | Off-road | Solutions | Ranges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 kg | 105 kg | Yes, full rating | 1 | Trade Max |
| 35 kg | 123 kg | Yes, full rating | 5 | Trade Max and Wedgetail Adventure |
| 40 kg | 140 kg | Yes, full rating | 1 | Oval Steel |
| 50 kg | 175 kg | Yes, full rating | 11 | Trade Max |
| 60 kg | 210 kg | Yes, full rating | 2 | Oval Steel and Wedgetail Adventure |
| 70 kg | 245 kg | Yes, full rating | 5 | Commercial Max and Trade Max |
| 80 kg | 280 kg | Yes, full rating | 4 | Oval Steel, Trade Max and Wedgetail Adventure |
| 100 kg | 350 kg | Yes, full rating | 398 | Commercial Max, Oval Steel, Trade Max, Wedgetail Adventure, Wedgetail Core and Wedgetail Trade |
| 120 kg | 420 kg | Yes, full rating | 1 | Wedgetail Adventure |
| 150 kg | 525 kg | Yes, full rating | 205 | Commercial Max, Oval Steel, Trade Max, Wedgetail Adventure, Wedgetail Core and Wedgetail Trade |
| No published rating | 3 | Oval Steel and Wedgetail Adventure |
Static is 3.5 x dynamic on every rated Wedgetail, so the parked figure follows from the same number. Where a solution has no figure in the product data it shows as "No published rating". More on the two figures in static vs dynamic roof load rating.
What derating does to a rooftop tent setup
Illustration only: a rack rated 100 kg on-road with a 33% off-road reduction carries about 67 kg on unsealed roads, before you count the rack's own weight. On a Wedgetail platform the off-road figure is the full rating, 100 or 150 kg dynamic on most platforms, so the tent you check on the highway is the tent you can take down the track. See the best off-road rated roof rack for a rooftop tent and how to mount a rooftop tent on a Wedgetail platform.
The vehicle's limit still applies
A rack rating, on or off-road, never lifts the vehicle maker's roof limit. Your load must be within both, so the lower figure applies, less the rack's own weight. Makers' figures by model are in roof load limits for Australian vehicles.
Compare by brand
Video
Questions people ask
Are Wedgetail roof racks rated for off-road use?
Yes. Every Wedgetail rating applies 100% off-road with no derating, so the dynamic rating for your fitment is also its off-road rating.
Do I need to reduce my roof rack load off-road?
Not on a Wedgetail. On other brands, check the fitting instruction: Rola publishes reductions of 0 to 50% depending on the product and mount, and Rhino-Rack's RLTFMS crossbar instruction divides the rating by 1.5.
What is an off-road load rating?
It is the most a rack can carry while driving on unsealed roads. Brands that derate publish it as a lower figure, a percentage reduction or a factor.
Can I carry a rooftop tent off-road on a Wedgetail platform?
Yes, if the tent is within the platform's dynamic rating and the vehicle's roof limit. Most Wedgetail platforms are rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic, and that figure is not reduced off-road.
What is the static rating of a Wedgetail platform?
3.5 x the dynamic rating: 350 or 525 kg static on most platforms. Static applies only while the vehicle is parked.
Does an off-road rating override the vehicle's roof limit?
No. The lower of the rack rating and the vehicle maker's roof limit applies, on or off-road.