Comparison
Offroad Animal vs Rhino-Rack Pioneer on a Ford Ranger
Short answer
On a Next Gen Ford Ranger dual cab, the Offroad Animal Scout is a $1,520 complete rack that publishes its ratings (95 kg driving, 63 kg off-road including the rack, 190 kg static) with a 24 month warranty, while the Rhino-Rack Pioneer 6 with Backbone (JC-01605) is $1,319 plus $679 RRP with a 5 year warranty and no load figure on its kit page. Both fit without drilling: the Scout needs the head liner dropped and Offroad Animal quotes 4 hours, and the Rhino-Rack Backbone uses the factory roof mounting points with a 150 minute fitting time. The Scout is 1210 x 1230 mm and 16 kg; the Pioneer 6 platform is 1500 x 1240 mm and 16.2 kg plus a 6.5 kg Backbone. The Australian-made option is Wedgetail Adventure: made in Bayswater VIC, 100% off-road rated with no derating, with the Ford Ranger fitments, ratings and prices shown in the table.
Wedgetail figures from Wedgetail product data; competitor figures from the linked sources, updated .
Side by side on a Next Gen Ford Ranger dual cab
| Feature | Offroad Animal Scout | Rhino-Rack Pioneer 6 + Backbone | Wedgetail Adventure for Ford Ranger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,520.00 (all prices in AUD)Source: offroadanimal.com.au | $1,319.00 platform (62100) plus $679.00 Backbone (RFRB3), RRP inc GST eachSource: rhinorack.com | $1,525 to $1,915 RRP inc GST (9 fitments) |
| Size | 1210 mm wide x 1230 mm long, about 90 mm above the roof at its highest pointSource: offroadanimal.com.au | Platform 1500 mm long x 1240 mm wide, 45 mm highSource: rhinorack.com | Made to suit each vehicle; size listed on each fitment's product page |
| Vehicle mounting | Vehicle-specific kit with front and rear mounts; no drilling, head liner needs to be droppedSource: offroadanimal.com.au | Backbone uses the existing factory roof mounting points; no drillingSource: rhinorack.com | Complete solution with a mounting kit made to suit each vehicle |
| Fitting | No drilling; head liner needs to be dropped; install time 4 hours; fitting difficulty 5/10Source: offroadanimal.com.au | No drilling; fitting time 150 mins; DIY skill; tools includedSource: rhinorack.com | Mounting kit made for the vehicle; fitted by any Wedgetail stockist or at the Bayswater factory |
| Load rating | 95 kg driving ("Rated to 95kg driving")Source: offroadanimal.com.au | 80 or 100 kg dynamic, 100% off-road, no derating | |
| Off-road rating | Off-road rating 63 kg ("Offroad Rating is 63kg"), less the rack's own weightSource: offroadanimal.com.au | Separate off-road rating, calculated with the formula in each product's fitting instructionsSource: rhinorack.com | 100% of the dynamic rating, no derating |
| Static rating | 190 kg sitting stillSource: offroadanimal.com.au | 3.5 x the dynamic rating | |
| Weight | 16 kg (weight field; the description also says 15 kg)Source: offroadanimal.com.au | 16.2 kg (platform only, 62100)Source: rhinorack.com | Listed on each fitment's product page |
| Accessory system | T-slot slats that take standard M8 nuts and boltsSource: offroadanimal.com.au | East/West mounting channels, no channel apertures, integrated wiring within all extrusionsSource: rhinorack.com | Wedgetail Adventure accessories; third-party accessories fit, some with a 10 mm spacer to clear the strength lip |
| Construction | Supplied as 5 T slot aluminium rails, side rails, front and rear mounts and a bag of nuts and boltsSource: offroadanimal.com.au | Platform with 4 planks on a separate Backbone mounting systemSource: rhinorack.com | Main frame welded; other parts bolt or click together; ships flat pack |
| Material | Lightweight aluminium, powder coated matte blackSource: offroadanimal.com.au | Platform: alloy components with a scuff-resistant coatingSource: rhinorack.com | Powder coated aluminium, glass reinforced nylon |
| Wind deflector | Box contents list 1 x wind deflectorSource: offroadanimal.com.au | Detachable wind fairing inserts in the leading edgeSource: rhinorack.com | Included |
| Warranty | 24 monthsSource: offroadanimal.com.au | 5 yearsSource: rhinorack.com | 10 years |
| Made in | Not stated; the site says "Designed and Tested in Australia"Source: offroadanimal.com.au | China (country of origin listed for the platform, 62100)Source: rhinorack.com | Bayswater, Victoria, Australia |
Load ratings: one publishes all three
Offroad Animal lists the Scout for the Next Gen Ranger as rated to 95 kg driving and 190 kg sitting still, and gives an off-road rating of 63 kg; it says to subtract the 16 kg rack from that, leaving 48 kg of gear off-road. Rhino-Rack's JC-01605 kit page shows no load value. Rhino-Rack's load rating page defines separate on-road, off-road and static ratings; the off-road rating comes from the vehicle owner's manual or, if it is not listed there, the formula in the product's fitting instructions.
Every Wedgetail is rated 100% off-road to its full dynamic rating, and static is 3.5 x dynamic. The Ford Ranger fitments and their ratings are in the table; the Ford Ranger Dual Cab (2022 - Current) Wedgetail Adventure Platform page shows the rating, size and price for that fitment. Off-road load ratings explained.
Price
Offroad Animal lists the Scout for the Next Gen Ranger at $1,520 as a complete rack. Rhino-Rack prices the kit as two parts: $1,319 for the Pioneer 6 platform and $679 for the Backbone, RRP inc GST each. A Wedgetail price is for a complete solution made to suit the vehicle.
Fitting
- Offroad Animal Scout: no drilling, but the head liner needs to be dropped. Offroad Animal quotes a 4 hour install and rates the fitting difficulty 5/10.
- Rhino-Rack Pioneer 6 + Backbone: the Backbone uses the existing factory roof mounting points with no drilling. Rhino-Rack lists 150 minutes, DIY skill, tools included.
- Wedgetail Adventure: a mounting kit made for the vehicle; every one of the 134 Wedgetail stockists sells and fits it, and the factory fits racks on site at 7-9 Newcastle Road, Bayswater VIC 3153.
Size, weight and accessories
The Scout measures 1210 mm wide and 1230 mm long and sits about 90 mm above the roof at its highest point. Offroad Animal's spec table lists 16 kg, and the description says 15 kg. Its T-slot slats take standard M8 nuts and bolts. The Pioneer 6 platform is 1500 x 1240 mm, 45 mm high and 16.2 kg, on a 6.5 kg Backbone, with East/West mounting channels and wiring that can run inside the extrusions.
- Wedgetail Adventure: the lip around the platform is there for strength. Some third-party accessories need a 10 mm spacer to clear it, and with that they fit. There is no Wedgetail spacer kit; see do third-party accessories fit a Wedgetail.
Warranty and origin
Offroad Animal gives 24 months on the Scout; its site says its racks are designed and tested in Australia but does not say where they are made. Rhino-Rack gives 5 years on the kit and lists China as the country of origin for the platform and Backbone. Wedgetail Adventure carries 10 years and is made in Bayswater, Victoria, Australia.
Who each one suits
- Offroad Animal Scout: Ranger owners who want a compact, vehicle-specific rack with all three ratings published and do not mind dropping the head liner to fit it.
- Rhino-Rack Pioneer 6 + Backbone: Ranger owners who want a larger platform on a Backbone that uses the factory roof mounting points with no drilling, and the Pioneer accessory range.
- Wedgetail Adventure: Ranger owners who want a rack made in Australia, sold as a complete solution, with one rating that holds on and off road.
More comparisons
For each brand head to head see Wedgetail vs Offroad Animal and Wedgetail vs Rhino-Rack; for brands that make racks here see Australian-made roof racks.
Questions people ask
Is Offroad Animal or Rhino-Rack better for a Next Gen Ranger?
Neither is better on every count. The Scout is $1,520 complete and publishes 95 kg driving, 63 kg off-road and 190 kg static; the Pioneer 6 with Backbone is $1,319 plus $679, larger, and carries 5 years against 24 months. Choose on size, fitting and the rating you need off-road.
What is the off-road rating of the Offroad Animal Scout?
63 kg on the Next Gen Ranger, including the rack: Offroad Animal says to subtract the 16 kg rack, leaving 48 kg of gear. A Wedgetail keeps its full dynamic rating off-road.
Do I need to drill the roof?
No, for either one. The Scout needs the head liner dropped; the Rhino-Rack Backbone uses the factory roof mounting points.
How long does each take to fit?
Offroad Animal quotes 4 hours for the Scout and Rhino-Rack lists 150 minutes for the Pioneer 6 with Backbone. Any Wedgetail stockist fits a Wedgetail, or the factory fits it on site.
Which has the longer warranty?
Rhino-Rack, with 5 years on the JC-01605 kit against Offroad Animal's 24 months on the Scout. Wedgetail Adventure carries 10 years.
Are Offroad Animal racks made in Australia?
Offroad Animal's site says its racks are designed and tested in Australia but does not say where they are made. Rhino-Rack lists China for the Pioneer 6 and Backbone. Wedgetail racks are made in Bayswater, Victoria, Australia.
Will my Offroad Animal or Rhino-Rack accessories fit a Wedgetail?
Yes. Third-party accessories fit a Wedgetail platform; some need a 10 mm spacer to clear the strength lip, and with that they fit. There is no Wedgetail spacer kit.
Sources
- offroadanimal.com.au/scout-roof-rack-to-suit-next-gen-ranger-super-duty-and-r..., read 14 October 2026
- offroadanimal.com.au, read 14 October 2026
- rhinorack.com/en-au/product/JC-01605, read 14 October 2026
- rhinorack.com/en-au/load-rating-calculator, read 14 October 2026
- rhinorack.com/en-au/products/roof-racks/roof-trays/pioneer-platforms/p..., read 14 October 2026
- rhinorack.com/en-au/product/RFRB3, read 14 October 2026