Buying guide
Roof rack buying guide for Australia
Short answer
Start with your vehicle and mount points, then load (dynamic rating, and whether it holds off-road), then use (touring, trade, rooftop tent); Wedgetail platforms are 100% off-road rated with no derating, made in Bayswater VIC. Wedgetail platforms are rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic per fitment, which is 350 or 525 kg static parked, and the vehicle maker's roof limit applies on top. Warranty runs from 1 year (Commercial Max) to 10 years (Wedgetail Adventure), and 134 stockists sell and fit.
Facts from Wedgetail product data, updated .
- Step 1
- Vehicle, cab or roof, mount points
- Step 2
- Dynamic rating, and whether it holds off-road
- Step 3
- Touring, trade or rooftop tent
- Wedgetail platforms
- 100 or 150 kg dynamic, 100% off-road
Step 1: your vehicle and its mount points
A roof rack is matched to the make, model, year and body of the vehicle (cab type on a ute, wheelbase and roof height on a van). The mount point decides how the rack attaches and whether anything is drilled. Wedgetail lists one fit method per solution; these are the ones you will see.
| Fit method | What it means |
|---|---|
| Rail utilising OEM fixtures | Rails attach to the fixing points the vehicle maker built into the roof |
| Bolted to OE holes or OE mount | The rack bolts straight to the factory mounting holes |
| Fixed points | The rack attaches to the vehicle's fixed roof mounting points |
| Rails on OE tracks | Rails sit on the factory roof tracks |
| Gutter mount | Feet clamp to the rain gutters, common on older 4WDs, utes and vans |
| Drilled rail mount or rails bolted to roof | Rails are bolted through the roof where the vehicle has no factory points |
| Rivets | Rails are riveted to the roof, used on some vans |
To find the solution and fit method for your vehicle, use Find My Vehicle or the model guides, such as Toyota HiLux, Ford Ranger, Toyota LandCruiser 300 and Toyota HiAce. The mount types are compared in gutter mount vs track mount vs fixed points vs factory rails.
Step 2: the load rating
- Dynamic rating: what the rack carries while the vehicle moves. This is the figure to check your load against.
- Static rating: what the rack holds while parked, for example a rooftop tent with people in it. On a Wedgetail, static is 3.5 x dynamic.
- Off-road: some brands publish a separate, lower off-road figure. Every Wedgetail is 100% off-road rated to its full rating.
- The vehicle's roof limit: the vehicle maker sets its own figure. Use the lower of the two, and check whether the maker's figure includes the rack's weight.
| 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 |
Ratings are per solution, not one brand figure. A solution with no figure in the product data is shown as "No published rating", never as zero. The full explanation is in static vs dynamic roof load rating.
Step 3: what you carry
| Use | Rack type | Wedgetail range |
|---|---|---|
| Touring, recovery gear, awning, jerry cans | Platform | Wedgetail Adventure, Wedgetail Core |
| Rooftop tent | Platform (the tent base) | Wedgetail Adventure, Wedgetail Core, with roof top tent mounting hardware |
| Ladders, conduit and pipe | Trade platform or crossbars | Wedgetail Trade, Commercial Max, Trade Max |
| Ute canopy or service body | Canopy or service body rack | Wedgetail Adventure, Wedgetail Trade, Oval Steel, Commercial Max |
| Light loads only | Crossbars | Trade Max |
| Surfboards | Platform or bars | Any Wedgetail rack |
| Small boat | Platform with boat rollers | Commercial Max, Oval Steel (removable boat roller pair) |
There is no Wedgetail kayak carrier. For the use cases in detail, see the rooftop tent guide, the ute roof rack buying guide, the van roof rack buying guide and the tradie roof rack buying guide.
Platform or roof bars
A platform gives a flat deck with tie down points and accessory mounts across the roof; bars are lighter and suit loads long enough to span them, such as ladders or a roof box. Wedgetail's platforms are the Adventure, Core, Trade, Commercial Max and Oval Steel ranges; Trade Max is the crossbar range. See platform rack vs roof bars.
Build, materials and warranty
The main frame sections are welded and the other parts bolt or click together, so racks ship flat pack. Wedgetail Adventure, Core and Trade are powder coated aluminium with glass reinforced nylon; Commercial Max is galvanised steel, powder coated; Oval Steel is zinc electroplated steel, powder coated. A wind deflector is included on every rack except Trade Max crossbar kits and the Technician ladder rack. Noise testing is under way and results will be published per product.
| Range | Warranty | Exceptions | Solutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Max | 1 year | 5 years on 1 solution | 211 |
| Oval Steel | 5 years | 3 years on 6 solutions | 143 |
| Trade Max | 5 years | 3 years on 2 solutions | 72 |
| Wedgetail Adventure | 10 years | 5 years on 1 solution | 139 |
| Wedgetail Core | 3 years | Same on every solution | 11 |
| Wedgetail Trade | 5 years | Same on every solution | 60 |
Accessories
Wedgetail lists 152 accessories, from awning brackets to solar panel mounts and conduit carriers. Third-party accessories fit too: the lip around the platform is there for strength, and a 10 mm spacer lets third-party accessories clear it. See do third-party accessories fit a Wedgetail rack.
Fitting
Each solution has fitting instructions and a listed fit method, so many owners fit at home. All 134 Wedgetail stockists sell and fit, and racks are fitted on site at the factory at 7-9 Newcastle Road, Bayswater VIC 3153, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm. See where to buy.
Questions people ask
What should I check first when buying a roof rack?
Your vehicle: make, model, year and body, and its mount points. Those decide which racks fit before load or use come into it.
Platform or roof bars?
A platform for mixed loads, touring gear or a rooftop tent; bars for light loads long enough to span them, such as ladders. See platform rack vs roof bars.
What size platform do I need for a dual cab ute?
The size listed for your exact ute, year and cab type. Wedgetail matches platform length and width per fitment, so Find My Vehicle gives the size. Measuring is covered in what size platform do I need.
Is a roof rack's rating lower off-road?
On some brands, yes. Not on a Wedgetail: every Wedgetail is 100% off-road rated to its full rating.
How much does a roof rack cost in Australia?
Wedgetail Core platforms are $1,400 to $1,695 RRP inc GST, Wedgetail Adventure $1,525 to $5,905 and Trade Max bars $230 to $1,400. See how much a roof rack costs.
Do roof racks use more fuel?
Yes. Any rack adds weight and drag, so fuel use rises, by an amount that depends on the vehicle, speed and load. Wedgetail does not publish fuel figures.
Who makes Wedgetail roof racks?
Tradesman Roof Racks Pty Ltd, which created the Wedgetail brand. Racks are made in Bayswater, Victoria, Australia. See the facts.