| Author | Message | ||
     Christian Cartner (Cartner) New Member Username: Cartner Post Number: 35 Registered: 10-2002 |
So I'm hearing about this new, stronger, yet cheaper adventure rack from Northwesparts.com....whats the story? is it heavier or just better built? Yet cheaper...could it be that there is simply a fantastic markup from safety devices over manufacturing costs? Anyone know whether this new rack is all that awesome or what the WHOLE story is? I'm interested and curious to know more about it... | ||
| Blue (Bluegill) Senior Member Username: Bluegill Post Number: 1941 Registered: 02-2002 |
The coveted LR Adventure rack is just bent tubing welded together. Anyone with the proper resources (materials, jig, welder) can bend tubing and weld it together. If you make a rack that is best adapted to the roof of a Disco, it'll come out looking like a LR Ad rack. | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 292 Registered: 07-2002 |
Safety Devices does mark up, the price difference does not seem to be that big to really question the quality of the Northwestparts.com rack. The welding on the S.D. rack is pretty good, each "pipe" is formed at the end so that the welds are all straight lines, not curved with the round tube. I would suspect that someone with the know how and the right tools could make a pretty good rack that looks exactly the same and might even be slightly tougher - after all the S.D. rack only weighs about 45 lbs anyway. If I were making a "new" adventure rack, the one thing I would do is to make a floor of some sort - Andy, if you are listening, the tubes that cris-cross the so called floor of the S.D. racks are just too far apart to be useful on their own, make your racks with a better set of cross bars and you will have racks flying off the shelf - internet - whatever. http://landrover.mrbaileyshistory.net | ||
| Keith Kreutzer (Revor) Member Username: Revor Post Number: 143 Registered: 11-2002 |
I have one on order... I'm confident about the quality...And i have access to several SD racks. When it shows up I'll make the comparison and report back... With positive comments I'm sure.... | ||
| Blue (Bluegill) Senior Member Username: Bluegill Post Number: 1945 Registered: 02-2002 |
cool please take some detailed close-up pics where did you order from? (link?) thanks Keith | ||
| John Lombos (Rover4us) New Member Username: Rover4us Post Number: 11 Registered: 02-2003 |
...got my interest. I've been looking for an adventure rack for a while (used of course) but if there is a new one for cheaper built with the same quality or better. Sign me up. | ||
| Christian Cartner (Cartner) New Member Username: Cartner Post Number: 36 Registered: 10-2002 |
yeah I was just wondering why its so much less, unless the idea is volume vs. high mark up..I'm sure its good quality, but this sounds better if its at least equal in quality to the Rover/SD one.. | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 300 Registered: 07-2002 |
www.northwestparts.com Right here in Portland, OR. | ||
| Eric Thatcher (Desertdork) New Member Username: Desertdork Post Number: 3 Registered: 02-2003 |
What about the Saftey Devices Expedition Rack? | ||
| Prescottj (Prescottj) Senior Member Username: Prescottj Post Number: 327 Registered: 12-2002 |
I'm scheduled to pick one up and a snorkel from those guys next month. | ||
| Neal Glessner (Nealg) Senior Member Username: Nealg Post Number: 576 Registered: 02-2002 |
I'd like to see a better picture than the one on their website. | ||
| Christian Cartner (Cartner) New Member Username: Cartner Post Number: 40 Registered: 10-2002 |
theres a picture on their website of the rack? I couldn't find one...hmmm | ||
| Rans (Rans) Senior Member Username: Rans Post Number: 365 Registered: 08-2002 |
I'm sure part of the issue with the Safety Device roofrack cost has to do with the cost of shipping it overseas and any import duties as well as the conversion rate from Britain. Thats why all of the LR stuff is too damn expensive. | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Member Username: Bri Post Number: 213 Registered: 08-2002 |
Looks very cool, but why get a rack that has two levels vs one with one continuous bed/floor. Still like the Hannibal rack the best. But at 1/2 the price this one is attractive. | ||
| Jorge D. Hinojos (Tenoch) New Member Username: Tenoch Post Number: 8 Registered: 02-2003 |
christian, go to the "rover parts" section and click on the "new parts" icon and scroll down...but the guys are right....we need more detail than this picture!! can't wait for the reports!! | ||
| Blue (Bluegill) Senior Member Username: Bluegill Post Number: 1955 Registered: 02-2002 |
yeah, where's the pic on www.northwestparts.com ? Brian, my question is why get a roof rack with only one level when your roof has two levels? | ||
| Blue (Bluegill) Senior Member Username: Bluegill Post Number: 1956 Registered: 02-2002 |
oh, your post snuck in there before mine Jorge. Thanks. | ||
| Blue (Bluegill) Senior Member Username: Bluegill Post Number: 1957 Registered: 02-2002 |
P.S. that pic on northwestparts is from the Land Rover brochure. and is it $450 or $500? | ||
| Lawrence Tilly (L_tilly) Member Username: L_tilly Post Number: 73 Registered: 02-2002 |
I'm really excited about how this rack rates out when it comes in. Now that the baby has arrived we are in serious need of some extra hauling space (especially if we are going to take the pooch along too). We were probably going to order a rack in the next month or two. I know a couple people who have the Wilderness rack and it has served them great for several years. For the money I don't think it can be matched (not trying to start a flame war). This new rack comes in at about the same price, and my wife really likes the contours of the SD rack vs. Wilderness. As long as the NWP rack is of at least as good quality and load bearing capacity as the Wilderness, it may be our choice. Keep us posted, with some good pics if possible!! -Lawrence | ||
| Neil Flanagan (Electriceel) Member Username: Electriceel Post Number: 43 Registered: 02-2002 |
I second that on the Wilderness rack. It's been great. The only advantage I see of one level over two is when mounting my snowboard and ski racks directly to the rack floor. I'm not sure you can do that with the advenure rack but I'm sure others have overcome that. The disadvantage of the Wilderness rack is its weight. | ||
| gp (Garrett) Senior Member Username: Garrett Post Number: 1856 Registered: 10-2001 |
blue. i don't like the two stage floors. one continuous floor i find is more useful and easier to load. can't open that rear sunroof though. oh damn. haha. | ||
| Prescottj (Prescottj) Senior Member Username: Prescottj Post Number: 343 Registered: 12-2002 |
has anyone got the those damn sunroofs ever to open, out of 3 land Rovers I have 3 sunroofs and not a single one works right. I'm picking my rack up on 15 march I'll post with some feedback | ||
| Blue (Bluegill) Senior Member Username: Bluegill Post Number: 1960 Registered: 02-2002 |
Garrett, you're a bona-fide freak, so that settles the 1 vs. 2 level rack debate. Prescottj, are you picking up the northwest knockoff rack? If so, I'm looking forward to seeing it. | ||
| Prescottj (Prescottj) Senior Member Username: Prescottj Post Number: 344 Registered: 12-2002 |
Yeah can't wait till i get back to AZ as I got extended to stay up here for a little while longer. The RR and the Guiness on Draft are begging for attention. How was the Crown King trip? Did you guys go all the way in to Prescott? | ||
| Blue (Bluegill) Senior Member Username: Bluegill Post Number: 1963 Registered: 02-2002 |
I didn't make the Crown King trip with Jess & his group. But I have done the Prescott - CK - Lake Pleasant trip many times in each direction, and it's a blast. Lookin forward to meeting up with you here in AZ. | ||
| Ned Connolly (Roverned) Member Username: Roverned Post Number: 54 Registered: 10-2002 |
Just got off the phone with NWP. (Nice guy by the way...) He said the rack is going to be apples-to-apples with the Safety Devices rack. As far as weld quality compared to Safety Devices and all that, I guess that's up to everyone to decide on their own. But it sounds like they have copied the SD specs exactly, right down to the four light tabs upfront and one in back. A few exceptions: 1. The racks will be painted rather than powdercoated. (Fine with me, I'll have mine Line-Xed anyway.) 2. The mounting brackets will more of a "quick release" for quicker on and off the truck. 3. For an additional fee, NWP will add other options to it, additional light tabs for instance. He hopes to have pics by this weekend/early next week when the first batch arrives that will be posted on the website. Shipping is a flat rate of $100 nationwide. One thing that he added though that sparked my interest was that he planned on doing a second version within the next few weeks that broke the rack down into four or five sections held together by boltable (not a word) tabs. Shipping would be more like $50 since the rack could be compacted on itself for packing. But what intrigued me most about this version was that if I mangled a section of it on the trail, I could order a replacement piece... rather than buy a whole new rack. $450 for the single rack as an introductory price through March. In April the rack goes to its "regular" price of $500. | ||
| Brian Dickens (Bri) Member Username: Bri Post Number: 215 Registered: 08-2002 |
Blue, I would really like to be able to place large things on the floor of the roof, with 2 levels you do not have as much continuous floor space. However the two levels look cool. I guess it is merely a matter of personal preference and again since this rack is $500, it sure has an advantage of price. Cheers, Brian | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 315 Registered: 07-2002 |
All I know is I don't use a ladder to get on top of the house anymore, just pull the Disco up and...  And yes, we will need it this summer with the kid and all his stuff now. It has already been very good for just throwing the bikes up on. | ||
| Roger Fastring (Fastring) New Member Username: Fastring Post Number: 2 Registered: 02-2003 |
I just ordered one online. Will let you all know what the racks like when I get it. | ||
| John Lombos (Rover4us) New Member Username: Rover4us Post Number: 19 Registered: 02-2003 |
I talked to Northwestparts this afternoon. The racks available now are for the DI. The DII racks will be selling for 600 + shipping and should be ready in a couple of weeks. | ||
| Discovery 1 Owner (D1_owner) New Member Username: D1_owner Post Number: 17 Registered: 02-2003 |
Is the weight limit still 110 lbs? Anyone know why the weight limit is so small. A Range Rover can handle over 170 lbs. I think. If you carry some liquids and/or a spare tire/wheel, you pretty much cannot carry much more. | ||
| John Moore (Jmoore) Senior Member Username: Jmoore Post Number: 427 Registered: 10-2002 |
Do you imagine, they limit the weight to make the car not so top heavy? Discoverys are much taller than Range Rovers. | ||
| joshua Frances (Joshua) Member Username: Joshua Post Number: 111 Registered: 10-2002 |
110 pounds is, like said, probably a combo of LRNA not wanting the liability of you putting 20 full jerry cans up there and tipping over, and not wanting you to bend the gutters Im sure everyone will attest, they have all had over 110 pounds up there. I have slept up there with my wife ( me 260lbs and she 125lbs) granted we were not moving, but everythings fine. remember there is a difference between recomended weigh limit and actual weight limit | ||
| gp (Garrett) Senior Member Username: Garrett Post Number: 1877 Registered: 10-2001 |
i have had around 600 lbs. + on my wilderness rack, so i am sure these 'other' racks can take it. this was a static load for the most part. 4 of us were sitting up there during a tailgate. but then again i have had about 300-400 lbs. up there easy taveling 7 hours each way. just have to watch your speed and anticipate your movements a little more. aka common sense. | ||
| Rob Davison (Nosivad_bor) Senior Member Username: Nosivad_bor Post Number: 105 Registered: 02-2003 |
several folks here have gone offroading with 300+pounds you just have to drive smart. | ||
| John Moore (Jmoore) Senior Member Username: Jmoore Post Number: 428 Registered: 10-2002 |
Josh, You're a big boy... LOL |
