Comparison
Rhino-Rack vs Thule: Pioneer 6 or Caprock?
Short answer
Neither wins on every count: for platforms of a similar size, the Rhino-Rack Pioneer 6 (1500 x 1240 mm) is $1,319 RRP and 16.2 kg with a 5 year warranty but no load figure on its page, while the Thule Caprock S (133 x 150 cm) is $1,499.95 and 22.2 kg with a published 150 kg load capacity. Rhino-Rack lists China as the country of origin and defines a separate off-road rating, from the owner's manual or each product's fitting instructions; Thule lists Poland and gives one 150 kg figure with no separate off-road or static rating. Both are platform only: the Pioneer needs a Backbone or legs for the vehicle, and the Caprock mounts on Thule Evo feet or, on other racks, a $399.95 crossbar kit. The Australian-made option is Wedgetail Adventure: made in Bayswater VIC, rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic on most fitments and 100% off-road with no derating, with a warranty of 10 years.
Wedgetail figures from Wedgetail product data; competitor figures from the linked sources, updated .
Side by side, platform only
| Feature | Rhino-Rack Pioneer 6 | Thule Caprock S | Wedgetail Adventure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,319.00 RRP inc GST (Pioneer 6 Platform 1500mm x 1240mm)Source: rhinorack.com | $1,499.95 (platform; Caprock Crossbar Kit extra where needed)Source: thule.com | $1,310 to $5,905 RRP inc GST (139 fitments) |
| Size | 1500 mm long x 1240 mm wide, 45 mm highSource: rhinorack.com | 133 x 150 cmSource: thule.com | Made to suit each vehicle; size listed on each fitment's product page |
| Vehicle mounting | Platform only; vehicle mounting sold separately (for example the Backbone for a double cab Ford Ranger P703, RFRB3, $679.00 RRP inc GST, in kit JC-01605)Source: rhinorack.com | Mounts directly to Thule Evo foot packs; third-party and factory racks need the Thule Caprock Crossbar Kit, sold separately ($399.95)Source: thule.com | Complete solution with a mounting kit made to suit each vehicle |
| Load rating | Load capacity up to 150 kg; check the maximum roof load capacity of your vehicleSource: thule.com | 100 or 150 kg dynamic on most fitments, 100% off-road, no derating | |
| Off-road rating | Separate off-road rating, calculated with the formula in each product's fitting instructionsSource: rhinorack.com | No separate off-road figure; the FAQ says it is built to withstand rough offroad terrainSource: thule.com | 100% of the dynamic rating, no derating |
| Static rating | No separate static figure; the single 150 kg maximum is the only rating givenSource: thule.com | 3.5 x dynamic (100 or 150 kg dynamic becomes 350 or 525 kg static on most platforms) | |
| Weight | 16.2 kg (platform only)Source: rhinorack.com | 22.2 kgSource: thule.com | Listed on each fitment's product page |
| Platform height | 45 mm platform height (legs or Backbone extra)Source: rhinorack.com | Installed height not published yet; measure the fitted rack | |
| Accessory system | East/West mounting channels, up to 25% more usable channels than before, no channel aperturesSource: rhinorack.com | Integrated T-slots on the upper, front and rear sections of the crossbars; integrated T-tracksSource: thule.com | Wedgetail Adventure accessories; third-party accessories fit, some with a 10 mm spacer to clear the strength lip |
| Construction | 4 planks; no channel apertures; integrated wiring within all extrusionsSource: rhinorack.com | Adjustable base crossbars; mounted using the included instructions and standard tools (stated on the Caprock M page)Source: thule.com | Main frame welded; other parts bolt or click together; ships flat pack |
| Material | Alloy components with a scuff-resistant coatingSource: rhinorack.com | Premium lightweight aluminium (stated in the FAQ on the Caprock M page; the S page names no material)Source: thule.com | Powder coated aluminium, glass reinforced nylon |
| Wind deflector | Detachable wind fairing inserts in the leading edgeSource: rhinorack.com | No wind deflector listed; low profile design redirects airflow to reduce dragSource: thule.com | Included |
| Warranty | 5 years on Pioneer platformsSource: rhinorack.com | 2 year Thule Guarantee on all products, plus a 3 year extended warranty listed for roof racks (roof platforms are not named separately)Source: thule.com | 10 years (5 years on 1) |
| Made in | China (country of origin on the product page)Source: rhinorack.com | Poland (country of origin on the product page)Source: thule.com | Bayswater, Victoria, Australia |
Price and what comes in the box
Rhino-Rack lists the 1500 x 1240 mm Pioneer 6 platform at $1,319 RRP inc GST. The platform sits on a Backbone or legs made for the vehicle, sold separately: on a double cab Ford Ranger P703 the Backbone is another $679. Thule lists the Caprock S at $1,499.95. It mounts directly to Thule Evo foot packs; on third-party and factory racks it needs the Thule Caprock Crossbar Kit at $399.95.
A Wedgetail price is for a complete solution made to suit the vehicle: Wedgetail Adventure is $1,525 to $5,905 RRP inc GST across the range.
Load and off-road ratings
Thule gives the Caprock S a load capacity of up to 150 kg and tells buyers to check the vehicle's maximum roof load; it lists no separate off-road or static figure. Rhino-Rack's Pioneer 6 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. Wedgetail Adventure platforms are rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic on most fitments; the exact figure is listed for each vehicle. Off-road load ratings explained.
| Tent on the move (dynamic) | Tent plus people parked (static) | Platforms | Ranges |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 kg | 123 kg | 1 | Wedgetail Adventure |
| 40 kg | 140 kg | 1 | Oval Steel |
| 60 kg | 210 kg | 2 | Oval Steel and Wedgetail Adventure |
| 70 kg | 245 kg | 1 | Commercial Max |
| 80 kg | 280 kg | 2 | Oval Steel and Wedgetail Adventure |
| 100 kg | 350 kg | 353 | Commercial Max, Oval Steel, Wedgetail Adventure, Wedgetail Core and Wedgetail Trade |
| 120 kg | 420 kg | 1 | Wedgetail Adventure |
| 150 kg | 525 kg | 200 | Commercial Max, Oval Steel, Wedgetail Adventure, Wedgetail Core and Wedgetail Trade |
Accessories
- Rhino-Rack Pioneer 6: East/West mounting channels, no channel apertures, and wiring can run inside the extrusions. Detachable wind fairing inserts sit in the leading edge.
- Thule Caprock S: integrated T-slots on the upper, front and rear sections of the crossbars, for Thule accessories. Thule lists no wind deflector.
- 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.
Weight, height and origin
Rhino-Rack lists the Pioneer 6 at 16.2 kg and 45 mm high, before the Backbone or legs, and gives China as the country of origin. Thule lists the Caprock S at 22.2 kg with no height figure and gives Poland as the country of origin. Rack weight counts against the vehicle's roof limit.
Warranty
Rhino-Rack gives 5 years on Pioneer platforms. Thule gives a 2 year guarantee on all products and lists roof racks for a further 3 year extended warranty; its warranty page does not name roof platforms separately. Wedgetail Adventure carries 10 years.
Who each one suits
- Rhino-Rack Pioneer 6: buyers who want a lighter channel platform on a Backbone or legs made for their vehicle, with East/West accessory channels.
- Thule Caprock S: buyers already on Thule Evo feet or bars who want a platform with one published 150 kg load capacity.
- Wedgetail Adventure: buyers who want a rack made in Australia, sold as a complete solution for the vehicle, with one rating that holds on and off road.
Where the Australian-made option fits
Wedgetail Adventure is made in Bayswater, Victoria, Australia. The main frame is welded and the other parts bolt or click together, so it ships flat pack, and every one of the 134 Wedgetail stockists sells and fits it. For each brand head to head see Wedgetail vs Rhino-Rack and alternatives to Thule roof racks for a ute; for brands that make racks here see Australian-made roof racks.
Questions people ask
Is Rhino-Rack or Thule better for a ute or 4WD?
Neither is better on every count. The Pioneer 6 is lighter and cheaper for a similar size and carries 5 years, while the Caprock S publishes a 150 kg load capacity. Choose on the mount for your make, model and year and the gear you will carry.
What is the load rating of the Thule Caprock?
Thule lists a load capacity of up to 150 kg for the Caprock S (611001), with no separate off-road or static figure, and says to check your vehicle's maximum roof load.
Do I need bars or feet under either platform?
Yes. The Pioneer 6 sits on a Rhino-Rack Backbone or legs for your vehicle, and the Caprock mounts on Thule Evo foot packs or, on other racks, the $399.95 Caprock Crossbar Kit. A Wedgetail is sold as a complete solution with the mounting kit for the vehicle.
Where are Rhino-Rack and Thule platforms made?
Rhino-Rack lists China as the country of origin for the Pioneer 6, and Thule lists Poland for the Caprock. Wedgetail racks are made in Bayswater, Victoria, Australia.
Which has the longer warranty?
Rhino-Rack gives 5 years on Pioneer platforms. Thule gives a 2 year guarantee plus a 3 year extended warranty listed for roof racks, and does not name roof platforms separately. Wedgetail Adventure carries 10 years.
Can I run a rooftop tent on either one?
Check the static rating for your exact setup first: Thule gives one 150 kg figure, and Rhino-Rack defines a separate static rating but gives no figure on the platform page. On a Wedgetail platform static is 3.5 x dynamic (350 or 525 kg static on most platforms).
Will my Rhino-Rack or Thule 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
- rhinorack.com/en-au/products/roof-racks/roof-trays/pioneer-platforms, 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/JC-01605, read 14 October 2026
- rhinorack.com/en-au/load-rating-calculator, read 14 October 2026
- rhinorack.com/en-au/warranty-terms, read 14 October 2026
- thule.com/en-au/roof-rack/roof-platforms/thule-caprock-s-_-611001, read 14 October 2026
- thule.com/en-au/about-thule/warranty, read 14 October 2026
- thule.com/en-au/roof-rack/roof-platforms/thule-caprock-m-_-611002, read 14 October 2026