Technical answer
Roof rails vs roof racks: what is the difference?
Short answer
Roof rails run front to back along the roof and are a mounting base, while a roof rack (crossbars or a platform) sits across the roof, carries the load and has its own load rating; you do not need factory rails to fit a Wedgetail rack. Where a Wedgetail fitment uses rails, they are usually Wedgetail rails fixed to the roof through the vehicle's own fixtures, tracks, rivets or drilled holes, and the platform mounts to them. Each solution carries one dynamic rating (most platforms are 100 or 150 kg dynamic), held 100% off-road, and the vehicle maker's roof limit still applies.
Facts from Wedgetail product data, updated .
- Roof rails
- Run front to back, a mounting base
- Roof rack
- Sits across the roof and carries the load
- Need both?
- No, each Wedgetail lists its own fit method
- Rating
- Per solution, 100% off-road
Roof rails and roof racks side by side
| Factory roof rails | Crossbars | Platform | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Rails fitted by the vehicle maker along each side of the roof | Bars across the roof, for example Trade Max crossbar kits | A flat deck across the roof, for example Wedgetail Adventure, Core and Trade |
| Direction | Front to back | Side to side | Covers the roof |
| Carries a load on its own? | No: something has to span the roof first | Yes, mainly long items such as ladders, conduit and timber | Yes, bulky gear, a rooftop tent and accessories |
| Load rating | Set by the vehicle maker, often only for its genuine bars | Per solution: Trade Max is 50 or 100 kg dynamic | Per solution: most platforms are 100 or 150 kg dynamic |
| Accessories | Clamp-on items made for rails | Ladder slides, rollers and clamps | Awning brackets, tent mounting hardware, jerry can holders and more in the accessory channel |
Every Wedgetail rating holds 100% off-road with no derating, and static is 3.5 x dynamic. The vehicle maker's roof limit applies on top, so the lower figure is the one you load to.
What roof rails are
Roof rails are the bars a vehicle maker fits along the edges of the roof on some models. Raised rails stand off the roof with a gap underneath; flush rails sit against it. On their own they carry nothing across the roof: they are a place to attach bars or a rack.
Most makers do not print a rating for the rails themselves. They publish a figure for their genuine bars or tray on those rails, and that figure is often low. Can you put a rooftop tent on factory roof rails? lists examples read from the makers' own sites.
What a roof rack adds
- Something to load onto: bars or a deck across the roof, so gear has a surface to sit on and points to tie to.
- Its own rating: each Wedgetail solution carries one dynamic rating, with static at 3.5 x dynamic. See static vs dynamic ratings.
- A mounting system: a platform takes accessories anywhere in the channel; bars suit long items. Platform rack vs roof bars compares the two.
- A wind deflector: included on every Wedgetail rack except Trade Max crossbar kits and the Technician ladder rack.
Do you need both?
No. A Wedgetail rack mounts by the method listed for each vehicle: gutter mount, fixed points, OE holes, tracks, or Wedgetail rails fixed to the roof. A vehicle without factory rails is not a problem, and a vehicle with them does not have to load the rack onto them.
Where a vehicle has factory rails, Wedgetail recommends a mount that takes the load into the vehicle's own structural mounting points rather than relying on the rail. Fitting Wedgetail racks to factory rails covers what to check, and roof rack mounting types explains each fit method.
LandCruiser 100, Kia Tasman and Musso: how a Wedgetail mounts
These are the rail searches people make most often. The fit method for each Wedgetail solution, from the product data:
| Vehicle | Solution | Fit method |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota LandCruiser 100 Series | Wedgetail Adventure platform | Fixed point rail mount |
| Toyota LandCruiser 100 Series | Oval Steel platform | Fixed point rail mount |
| Kia Tasman | Wedgetail Adventure platform | Bolted to OE holes |
| Kia Tasman | Trade Max crossbar | Rivets |
| KGM SsangYong Musso | Wedgetail Adventure platform | Drilled rail mount |
For any other vehicle, Find My Vehicle shows the fit method, rating and size per fitment. All 134 Wedgetail stockists sell and fit, and the factory fits on site in Bayswater VIC.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between roof rails and a roof rack?
Roof rails run front to back and are a mounting base; a roof rack is the crossbars or platform across the roof that carries the load and has its own rating.
Do I need roof rails to fit a roof rack?
No. A Wedgetail mounts by the fit method listed for your vehicle, such as gutter mount, fixed points, OE holes, tracks or Wedgetail rails fixed to the roof.
Can I carry a load directly on factory roof rails?
Not on their own. Rails run front to back, so you need bars or a platform across them, and the vehicle maker's rating for that setup applies.
Can I fit a Wedgetail rack to my factory roof rails?
Check the fit method for your vehicle. Where a vehicle has factory rails, Wedgetail recommends a mount that takes the load into the vehicle's own mounting points rather than the rail; fitting to factory rails covers what to check.
Why does it matter whether my vehicle has factory roof rails?
Because it can change how the rack mounts. Give your stockist the make, model, year, cab and whether it has rails, or search Find My Vehicle.
Can I put a rooftop tent on factory roof rails?
Only within the vehicle maker's figure, which is often low. A rated platform on the vehicle's own mounting points is the safer route; see rooftop tents on factory rails.