Member Since: 18 Jan 2023
Location: Thurrock
Posts: 80
Extended roof rails
Evening all, I don't have roof rails at all at the moment and would quite like to add the full length/extended set.
I can't justify the cost of the OEM ones but don't want to waste money on something that isn't up to the task.
15th Mar 2023 11:09 pm
Motolab
Member Since: 18 Oct 2019
Location: Sleen
Posts: 1815
Hi,
Tbh, i only read facts.. but i don’t read a question?
As i am rather “anti chinese crap without liability” parts.
I advice you to buy from a well known british (or EU / other western) supplier if you want brand new.
I bough my own extended set, on here.. used and OEM LR…( and even cheap)
An add in the wanted section might “bring” you what you want/need..Best regards
Harold
Always looking for Pre '55's & Pre war British Motorcycles! knowing or having one for sale? PM please. I visit the UK 6 times a year
Ps. I edit my texts quite often, english is not my native language, so I will edit My “typo’s” etc.
15th Mar 2023 11:48 pm
Lightwater
Member Since: 22 Oct 2018
Location: Sydney NB
Posts: 96
My Freelander roof rails are completely different to a Disco.
I bought 4 original cross bars & they have been brilliant. But I made the mistake of buying copies of the roof rails. There has been no end of issues. Lost 1 cover so had to buy a new set of 4 covers, never fitted properly.
Cast brackets at the 4 corners just don't line up 100%. Had to build a structural connection for the 2 centre cast brackets. Paint has peeled from the castings, probably never primed.
I have spent far more time fixing the roof rails than the dollars saved. Probably 50 hours actual work & hundreds of hours thinking how to fix the various problems. Also 2 failures while in the remote outback, that was not fun.
Some of the torture photos fixing problems including new bolts into roof, 1mm high density teflon to stop squeaking:
External bracket holding extrusion & cast bracket together with tapped M4 Allen bolts 316 stainless, with Nyloc nuts inside lower part of cast bracket.
Custom aluminium 5083 bar hand made to shape to fit in the extrusion to tap & bolt into to hold roof rail extrusion & casting together.
The rolling mill grain of the 5083 alloy running lengthwise for absolutely maximum strength.
Cracked extrusion & new tapped holes M4, as many as possible to spread load. The 5083 alloy bar is tapped as well & main bolt going through bottom of extrusion is also tapped into 5083 alloy bar.
New bolts & 316 stainless steel plates/washers.
Teflon to stop squeaking.
(My own bracket design for awning which is the only part that has survived thousands of km of corrugated road)
Roof rail casting was actually rubbing on roof because it is not made to the correct alignment. So added a spacer to lift the cast bracket.
Remote fix process, that was "fun", a thousand km from anywhere.
When it's all working.
Custom fuel holder, 4 x 10L.
Since I fixed everything I haven't had a failure.
Don't buy the copies!Visitor - Freelander owner
16th Mar 2023 4:46 pm
loanrangie
Member Since: 18 Jun 2017
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 600
Should be able to pickup 2nd hand rails easily.
17th Mar 2023 12:22 am
AdamB
Member Since: 18 Jan 2023
Location: Thurrock
Posts: 80
That answers the cheap eBay options then thanks. I'll keep a look out for one being broken with them on.
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