FAQ

How long is my warranty?

Rhino-Rack goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and for compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.

The benefits given to you by Rhino-Rack under this warranty are in addition to your other rights and remedies under a law in relation to the goods to which the warranty relates.

Subject to the conditions of this warranty, Rhino-Rack warrants the following products manufactured by Rhino-Rack will be free from any manufacturing defect in materials or workmanship for the following periods from the date of purchase (each a "Warranty Period"):

• 1-year for products made from textile and fabric, locks and electrical components;
• 3-year for steel (ferrous) products and components;
• 5-year for all other products.
• Lifetime warranty applies on all Euro, Heavy Duty and Vortex cross bar systems and does not apply to Pioneer and other roof tray products.

Remedies

If a defect appears during the time periods referred to above, Rhino-Rack will, within a reasonable time of being notified of the warranty claim, repair or replace, at Rhino-Rack's option any defective product or defective component without charge for parts or labor.

Conditions and Exclusions

This warranty does not apply to:

1. Any person other than the original retail customer or recipient of the product (in the case of acquisition as a gift or promotion) and it is not transferable.
2. Any defect in materials or workmanship, if: the purchaser examined the product before having agreed to purchase the product and that examination ought reasonably to have revealed the defect; or the defect was specifically drawn to the purchaser's attention before the purchaser agreed to purchase the product;
3. Failures caused by inadequate maintenance or non-compliance to fitting instructions supplied by Rhino-Rack. It is your responsibility to maintain the product adequately. Rhino-Rack recommends that this product be removed from your vehicle for regular cleaning and when not in use for extended periods. Any components subject to normal wear, degradation or consumption through use or exposure to the elements must be inspected periodically and replaced with Rhino-Rack parts as required;
4. Any defects, loss or damage caused by a product being fitted to a non-compatible vehicle, for example, because of the vehicle's shape or build;
5. Any defects, loss or damage caused by conditions beyond Rhino-Rack's control including, but not limited to any cost, loss, misuse, neglect, accidents, attachment of accessories not originating from Rhino-Rack, act of God, overloading beyond recommended capacity or other improper treatment of the product, including incorrect assembly or fitment by the purchaser, retailer or any other third party;
6. Any defects or damage caused by modifications to the vehicle or the product or the user's failure to properly secure cargo as recommended by Rhino-Rack;
7. Any consequential or incidental damage, including but not limited to damage to your vehicle, cargo or to any other person or property.

What type of roof rack do I need to buy to suit my car?

Roof racks are made to work on a majority of the vehicles in the market, however there are specific types of racks for specific models of vehicles. Here is a general guideline to help you determine which roof rack will work best with your vehicle.

Vehicles with rain gutters

Just like the roof of your house some cars have rain gutters. These are the raised sections that run longitudinally along the roof of your car. There are fewer and fewer of these vehicles made these days. A rain gutter mounted roof rack will work on just about all vehicles with rain gutters. You may have to change the length of the cross-bars you are using depending on the width of your vehicle, but more than likely, you can take the rack off one vehicle and put it on another.

Gutter-less vehicles

This type of vehicle has what is called aero doors, that is, the doors curve to meet the roofline with no external protrusions. These vehicles have an "internal" rain gutter where the rain gutter is inside the doorframe instead of on top of the roof. The roof rack for this type of vehicle consists of a couple of parts; the "leg" (sits on a rubber pad that rests on the roof) and the "strap" which attaches to the internal rain gutter and holds the roof rack onto your vehicle. The legs used are usually generic in design and made to work on different types of vehicles, whereas the straps are made to fit on specific vehicles. This special fit is required because of the different roofline and doorframe shapes each vehicle has. For wagons and 4WD's that fall into this category the factory style track mount system has proven to be a popular, reliable choice. The 2/3 door hatch vehicles have few mounting points so the fixed-mount is the chosen option.

Vehicles with factory roof rails

More and more wagons and lately a growing number of 4WD's have rail style roof racks available as an option from the manufacturer. However, the majority of these roof racks are designed strictly for looks and not for function. In order to make the roof rack work, you will need to add a cross-bar kit. Choices are there for economy, aero or commercial designs. If you plan on purchasing a vehicle with a factory.

Vehicles with factory mount points

Some gutter less vehicles have factory provided points within the roof design of the vehicle, which makes for ease of installation in these factory provided points.

What if I don't have rain gutters?

Most modern cars are now made without rain gutters. So, a large proportion of roof rack options are for cars without rain gutters, these incorporate removable and permanent mount designs alike.

Will I get leaks in my vehicle from the roof racks?

When properly installed, roof racks will not cause leaking on the vehicle. All manufacturers go to great lengths to ensure that this won't happen. We carefully choose the products that sell and recommend.

Why is it so expensive, racks used to be cheaper?

Since cars with rain gutters are a dying breed, roof rack manufacturers are no longer able to make one rack that fits all vehicles. Roof Racks must be made to individually fit on vehicles with different shaped rooflines, doorframes and doors. Non-rain gutter roof racks have legs that work on a large number of vehicles, but have vehicle specific "straps" that work on just that one vehicle. With hundreds of different types of vehicles on the market, there are hundreds of different types of "straps". The use by the better manufacturers of long-lasting corrosion resistant materials such as stainless steel and specific plating compounds ensure long use, but at an increased price. Adding to this increasing complexity of roof racks comes the increased price. However, the most expensive part of a roof rack can be its accessories (bike, ski, luggage) therefore, even if you have to buy a completely new roof rack, the accessories will still be usable on your next set of roof racks in most situations with generic brand racks.

Do I need tools to install my rack?

Most roof racks don't require special tools to fit them to your vehicle. If tools are required, they are usually included with the kit, this is usually as simple as an Allen Key. If you don't want to do the fitting yourself why not use Rhino-Rack professional fitting service at your local Rhino-Rack outlet.

Do I need to drill holes to attach my rack?

Unless you are mounting a factory style track system, there is no drilling required. But don't be scared of this process, professional installers have been expertly trained and used the same methods and materials as that which the vehicle manufacturers employ on the production assembly line.

If I drill holes in my roof will it rust and leak?

With more and more vehicles not having traditional rain gutters the track mount and fixed mount systems are the only option. The manufacturers have kept up with technological advances and employ those same methods here at Rhino-Rack. Here are the basics of the installation process employed. By using the roof rack manufacturers recommended mounting positions the racks are carefully aligned on the roof and the location of the mounting holes are marked. These holes are drilled to a safe depth and all waste metal filings are removed from the surrounding areas; (this is highly important). These holes are treated with a specific anti-corrosion paint and a neutral cure silicon compound. The tracks or mounting pads are riveted to the roof surface using a specially formed self-sealing rivet. This is a self-sealing rivet in design, preventing water penetration. So the cleaning process, the anti-corrosion treatment, neutral cure silicon compound application and the design of the self-sealing rivet all ensure NO RUST, NO LEAKS.

Will roof racks scratch my car?

When properly installed to a clean vehicle roof, the roof rack will not scratch or cause any type of damage to your vehicle. It is recommended that you remove the roof racks and periodically clean the area to prevent the possibility of any surface damage from road grime build-ups.

How can I stop my roof racks from being stolen?

Many racks come standard with security locking devices. If not supplied as standard there are many locking options available on the market.

How much weight can I carry on my roof racks?

When calculating just how much you can carry on your vehicle the best way is to consult your vehicle manual for specific carrying capacities. This can also be determined by the style and brand of roof rack.

Are roof racks noisy?

In some instances the fitting of roof racks can alter the aerodynamics of the vehicle, and it would be physically impossible for them to not make some small wind noise. However, in many cars we find the road noise from the tyres are louder than the roof racks themselves. If the noise is bothersome, take the rack off when you're not using it.

How long should my rack last?

When properly taken care of, your roof racks should last for the life of the car. In experience and at the roof rack manufacturer's recommendation, if you use your rack consistently, but remove it a few times a year to clean it, it's just not an issue.