Hi, I'm looking to put a roof rack on my defender. Can anyone offer their experience with any? Not looking for something cheap, quite prepared to pay for a decent one. Have considered Patriot, Front Runner and Hannibal although the latter doesn't seem to do a 90 size one.

Appreciate any helpful advice, GM

Gedgemeister said:

Hi, I'm looking to put a roof rack on my defender. Can anyone offer their experience with any? Not looking for something cheap, quite prepared to pay for a decent one. Have considered Patriot, Front Runner and Hannibal although the latter doesn't seem to do a 90 size one.

Appreciate any helpful advice, GM

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What are you planning on putting on it?

Al2O3 said:

What are you planning on putting on it?

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I tow a caravan. So likely contenders at the moment are; two single kayaks on one side with wolf boxes on the other

Gedgemeister said:

I tow a caravan. So likely contenders at the moment are; two single kayaks on one side with wolf boxes on the other

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Then it would be useful to have a low profile one as it would be easier to get the Kayaks on. If you're happy to spend then here's a link to a Hannibal one LINKY

Have a good look at the Nakatanenga Cargobear system. Low profile and modular so you can add/takeaway/alter to your own requirements. Full 90 flat rack, 1m rack at back with bar at front, flat rack down 1/3 or 2/3 sideways with open bars on other side just some possibilities. https://www.4x4overlander.com/product/cargobear-roof-rack-system-for-lr-defender/

As much as the previous people have recommended the flat ones I am going to disagree and recommend the old fashioned galvanised cage ones like brownchurch offer. I know you said you are not Looking for a cheap one but these regually come up second hand for a lot less than a new one and as long as they are straight will be no different. Although slightly heavier these are incredibly strong and reliable.
The reason I am suggesting this is because they are more useful and more secure for most loads that you would need to carry. I have one on my 110 and happily carry kayaks on it, but I have also used it for planks and sheet wood, furniture etc. And for everything other than the kayaks having the outside cage makes the load more secure. Although as stated above a low profile one might be slightly easier to load a kayak, in reality the differance is only about 4inchs of height so you don’t have to lift it that much further with a cage style rack. I can load a kayak onto mine on my own while I am standing on the floor.

The OP wants a rack for a 90 so unless going for a rack extended over the bonnet the rack will be about 2 metres long or 2.8 metres on a 110. Unless the 2 kayaks are shorter then 2 metres they will be resting on just the luggage rails/end rails of a caged rack unless some support is provided in the middle for the kayaks. A fully caged rack is not good for roof tents without modifications. A fully caged rack is good for sheet material if sheet material will fit inside cage.

Brendan

leeds said:

The OP wants a rack for a 90 so unless going for a rack extended over the bonnet the rack will be about 2 metres long or 2.8 metres on a 110. Unless the 2 kayaks are shorter then 2 metres they will be resting on just the luggage rails/end rails of a caged rack unless some support is provided in the middle for the kayaks. A fully caged rack is not good for roof tents without modifications. A fully caged rack is good for sheet material if sheet material will fit inside cage.

Brendan

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As you say, the cage may be inhibitive at first, cutting the rear off the cage will make it much more versatile, I’ll be doing this to my 110 Brownchurch soon to make getting my ladders on and off a lot easier. I’d prefer an extended Brownchurch, but these are like rocking-horse shit second-hand.

dag019 said:

As much as the previous people have recommended the flat ones

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Only because he's happy to spend plenty of money and I know how tricky it is to lift awkward objects on to the top of the big galv cage ones. I know, because that's what I've got. I used to do a bit of canoeing anorl, so had to lift my 16' canoe on to the top.