Technical answer
What can you carry on a roof rack (and what you should not)?
Short answer
A roof rack can carry a rooftop tent, an awning, solar panels, jerry cans, a spare wheel, recovery tracks, ladders, conduit, timber and surfboards, and a tinnie on a Commercial Max or Oval Steel rack with the removable boat roller pair, as long as the load stays within the rack's dynamic rating and the vehicle's roof limit. Do not carry more than the dynamic rating (most Wedgetail platforms are 100 or 150 kg dynamic, held 100% off-road with no derating), or a load that overhangs further than your state or territory rules allow. There is no Wedgetail kayak carrier.
Facts from Wedgetail product data, updated .
- Can carry
- Tent, awning, solar, fuel, tools, trade loads, boards
- Boat
- Tinnie on Commercial Max or Oval Steel with boat rollers
- Limit
- Lower of the rack rating and the vehicle roof limit
- Not made
- No Wedgetail kayak carrier
What goes on a roof rack, and what holds it
| Load | Wedgetail option | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rooftop tent | A Wedgetail platform with the roof top tent mounting hardware | The tent counts against the dynamic rating driving; tent plus people against the static rating parked |
| Awning | Fixed, adjustable, 270 or Fiamma brackets; Wedgetail Trade bracket set; flatdeck bracket for Commercial Max and Oval Steel | Each bracket's rating is on its product page |
| Solar panel | Solar panel bracket pair or recessed mount kit | Keep the panel clear of the awning's shade |
| Jerry cans | Jerry can holder; Commercial Max and Oval Steel jerry can holder | Full cans are heavy: count them |
| Spare wheel | Spare wheel carrier; Commercial Max and Oval Steel spare wheel carrier | Weigh the wheel and tyre |
| Recovery tracks | Recovery wing tracks bracket, top or side | Suits Maxtrax and new Treds only |
| Shovel | Shovel holder; Commercial Max and Oval Steel shovel holder | |
| Ladders | Wedgetail Trade ladder lock kit, Trade Max ladder slide, Safeclamp ladder clamp pair, or the Technician ladder rack | Bars or a trade rack suit long items |
| Conduit and pipe | Wedgetail Trade conduit carrier, Commercial Max and Oval Steel conduit carrier, Wedgetail Adventure conduit carrier | Lockable tube with end caps |
| Timber and long materials | Single roller or Trade Max single roller kit, with ratchet straps | Check overhang rules |
| Surfboards | Carried on the racks, with tie-down straps | See the surfboard guide |
| Tinnie | Commercial Max or Oval Steel rack with the removable boat roller pair | Boat, rollers and rack all count |
| Kayak | No Wedgetail kayak carrier | See the tinnie and kayak guide |
More detail by load: jerry cans, spare wheel and recovery gear, surfboards, a tinnie or kayak and timber and long materials.
What you should not carry
- More than the rating: the load must be within the rack's dynamic rating and the vehicle maker's roof limit, whichever is lower. The vehicle limit includes the rack itself; see static vs dynamic ratings and how much a roof rack weighs.
- A load that overhangs too far: limits on how far a load may stick out at the front, rear and sides are set by state and territory road rules. Check your state's rules before you carry long ladders, pipe or timber.
- Anything loose: every item needs a holder or rated straps. Re-check straps after the first stretch of driving, and again off-road.
- Heavy gear that could ride lower: keep the heaviest items low and centred, and carry what you can inside the vehicle or the tub.
- A kayak on a carrier Wedgetail does not make: there is no Wedgetail kayak carrier, so check the tinnie and kayak guide before you load one.
Work out how much you can load
- Find the rack's dynamic rating for your fitment in Find My Vehicle. It holds 100% off-road on every Wedgetail.
- Find the vehicle maker's roof limit in the owner's manual, then take off the weight of the rack and anything fixed to it.
- Load to the lower of the two, and add up everything: gear, holders, brackets and straps.
Parked, the static rating applies (3.5 x dynamic), which is what lets a rooftop tent hold its occupants. How to load a roof rack safely covers balance and tie-down step by step.
Video
Questions people ask
What can you put on a roof rack?
A rooftop tent, awning, solar panels, jerry cans, a spare wheel, recovery tracks, a shovel, ladders, conduit, timber, surfboards, and a tinnie on a Commercial Max or Oval Steel rack with boat rollers, all within the rating and roof limit.
Can you carry a kayak on a Wedgetail roof rack?
There is no Wedgetail kayak carrier. See carrying a tinnie or kayak for what the racks do take.
Can I carry a tinnie on the roof?
Yes, on a Commercial Max or Oval Steel rack with the removable boat roller pair. The boat, rollers and rack all count against the rack's rating and the roof or canopy limit.
How much weight can I put on my roof rack?
The lower of the rack's dynamic rating and the vehicle maker's roof limit, less the rack's own weight. Most Wedgetail platforms are rated 100 or 150 kg dynamic, held 100% off-road.
Can a roof rack carry ladders and conduit?
Yes. Wedgetail Trade, Trade Max, Commercial Max and Oval Steel take ladder kits, rollers and lockable conduit carriers, and the Technician is a dedicated ladder rack.
How far can a load overhang the roof rack?
It depends on your state or territory. Overhang limits are set in road rules, so check your state's rules before you carry long items.
Is the load limit lower off-road?
Not on a Wedgetail. Every Wedgetail rating holds 100% off-road with no derating; the vehicle maker's limit still applies.