Roof Bars for Defender

Hi I am looking for some roof bars for my 110. I have the genuine Land Rover bars which came with the vehicle but they are rusty & shot. I am looking for some better quality, alloy or stainless steel. I found some Van Guard ULTI BAR aluminium bars on ebay for about £50 each but when I enquired about the materials they are manufactured from I discover the bars are aluminium, end brackets plastic OK so far but the fasteners supplied are plated steel. Pity they are not stainless!

Any ideas?

Thanks

Mike

Have seen these ones which look nice, though I am a fan of most flatdog stuff.

Flatdog Rax Roof Bar - Defender £49.99 - FD RAX - Roof Bar Flatdog UK

Doesn't say what the fittings are made out of though.

I found these to be pretty sturdy:

Aiko Roof Racks

Could you not just replace the bolts with stainless ones?

Dan_Trials said:

Could you not just replace the bolts with stainless ones?

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think he's moaning about the actual end plates,

Been pleased with the Rhino Bars on mine

Why not take the bars you have to a blaster, then galvanise them and then give them a coat of paint (or even powder coat, which I personally don't like)?

TheJoker said:

Why not take the bars you have to a blaster, then galvanise them and then give them a coat of paint (or even powder coat, which I personally don't like)?

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I took it to mean the ones he has are beyond that. Just crack the welder out and make summit!

Keep an eye out on fleabay for a set of rhino bars; they are excellent.

bluehaze said:

Keep an eye out on fleabay for a set of rhino bars; they are excellent.

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I have a set of Rhino Bars for sale, if anyone is interested? They will be going on eBay in the next few days if nobody here wants them.

These:

http://www.rhinoroofbars.com/land-rover-defender-90-110-rhino-roof-bars-2-bar-delta-system.html

Thanks for replies,

To reply to points above.....

It is the fastenings I am moaning about on the ULTI BARS I originally posted about not the end plates. I may be able to replace the fastenings with stainless but unable to determine from pictures if any of the fastenings are purpose made.

Ref the galvanising option suggested. The bars are shot. In any event when I have enquired about galvanising for other projects I have found the minimum charge to be prohibitive.

I have no welder and if I did and managed to weld some bars up & would come up against the galvanising issue again.

I note the Rhino bars are steel which is what I am trying to avoid.

The Flat Dog bars look the best. I will enquire about fastenings on them when I get chance.

Thanks

Mike

Hey Mike, how about a bit of an unorthodox suggestion? Use POR15 POR15 Products | Frost Auto Restoration Techniques on the rusty bars. It won't be permanent, but it'll definitely last for many many years, and when the protection is gone, all you have to do is to re-paint it (maybe a bit of sanding beforehand).
I wanted my bash plate on my motorbike black instead of raw aluminium, and powder coating would have been the "natural" option, however, I loathe old powder coat as it flakes and it's a pain to replace (with my tools). So I opted to rattle can it black instead. It was quick, easy and cheap, and this summer when I wanted to freshen it up all I did was to give it another coat of black paint. Easy.

mike56 said:

Thanks for replies,

To reply to points above.....

It is the fastenings I am moaning about on the ULTI BARS I originally posted about not the end plates. I may be able to replace the fastenings with stainless but unable to determine from pictures if any of the fastenings are purpose made.

Ref the galvanising option suggested. The bars are shot. In any event when I have enquired about galvanising for other projects I have found the minimum charge to be prohibitive.

I have no welder and if I did and managed to weld some bars up & would come up against the galvanising issue again.

I note the Rhino bars are steel which is what I am trying to avoid.

The Flat Dog bars look the best. I will enquire about fastenings on them when I get chance.

Thanks

Mike

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A more weather proof material is expensive, a more weather proof finish on steel is expensive. Just got to pay the monies.

Not purchased my new roof bars yet. Flat Dog seem closest to what I am looking for. Just need some nuts/bolts replacing with stainless. No particular rush as my original bars are still just about useable.

Someone suggested I get my welder out and make some bars. I do not have a welder and have done very little welding so would make a right mess. Although I have realised aluminium scaffolding tube would make very good bars and if some 4mm or 6mm aluminium offcuts could be found these could make the ends. Making the ends and sliding them onto the tube is within my capability welding would have to be by a third party.

Lets suppose I have 3 bars welded up at 1650mm (or whatever) sitting in my channel. I now need to provide attachment. Most are fastened with nuts & bolts but what about a more creative solution? I suggest this not because I have designed a winner but to ask if anyone has any ideas?

What about using some sort of eccentric fitting or a highfield lever?

I happened to have 1 length of alloy tube and made a pattern up this morning using some 9mm plastic sheet for end plates and it is easy to imagine properly constructed this would make a fine roof bar.

Additionally I have read in a thread about roof racks for Land Rovers that 75 kg is max roof load. I thought I would check this morning if there was a difference between a 90 and a 110 and discovered the roof load is in fact 150 kg.

Mike