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Travel hacks: Using your roof rack for camping adventure
Make the most of a roof rack on the top of your car for camping and travelling
A roof rack is one of the first things that come to mind when prepping a touring vehicle for a road trip. These platforms are primarily designed to optimise a car’s storage space, allowing travellers to bring more items on their adventures.
However, roof racks have additional utility besides stretching a vehicle’s storage limits. In this article, we look at the various ways you can use a roof rack to optimise your camping adventure.
1. Start with the right roof rack
One exciting thing about roof racks is that they come in different shapes and designs. The best Tacoma roof rack depends on your vehicle’s model and your individual travel needs.
The following roof rack styles may be suitable for different camping scenarios;
Side rails
Side rail roof racks are available in two designs: raised rails and flush rails.
Raised side rails feature two bars that run parallel to each other and have considerable space between the rails and your car’s roof.
Meanwhile, the flush side rails are racks custom-made for each vehicle model. These racks fit directly onto your car’s roof without creating space in between.
Crossbars
Crossbars are standalone bars that can be added to side rails to create compartments for carrying different travel items.
Some touring vehicles come pre-installed with crossbars, while others let you mount the rack after purchasing the car.
Tracks
Tracks are long metal channels or slots that run parallel to a car’s doors.
Like crossbars, some automobiles have their roofs pre-mounted with tracks right from the showrooms.
If your car is missing this critical accessory, adding it before embarking on a camping trip would be best.
Gutters
Gutters are metal ridges that run parallel to the doors on your car’s roof. They protrude slightly outwards, allowing you to fasten your luggage on the roof.
Flush points
Flush point roof racks are remarkably discrete, making them ideal for transporting exceptionally valuable items.
Their low profile also reduces your vehicle’s centre of gravity (CoG) while enhancing access through low-hanging tree branches.
2. Bring numerous items
Now that you’ve picked a suitable roof rack for your next camping adventure, it’s time to bring essential gear on the trip.
Start with bulky items, such as a camping tent and sleeping bags.
Spread the tent evenly on the rack’s surface. This improves the vehicle’s stability while providing a solid platform for carrying other smaller camping gear.
You could also carry bulky clothing on the roof rack to clear more legroom in the cabin.
However, ensure the weather is favourable before tossing your clothing suitcase on the roof rack. Otherwise, you may have to deal with drenched outfits.
3. Distribute the load evenly
We’ve already alluded to the significance of spreading a bulky camping tent across your car roof rack rather than piling it in one corner. The same applies to other gear.
While roof racks can maximise your vehicle’s storage capacity, these accessories could also raise the car’s centre of gravity. A higher CoG can adversely impact manoeuverability and cause roll-overs.
Distributing camping load evenly on your vehicle’s roof rack increases the car’s stability, especially during bumpy rides.
Experts also recommend securing items on a roof rack using a rope or chain to prevent them from getting tossed to and fro.
4. Use your roof rack as an observatory point
Does your trip involve excursions through wildlife ecosystems?
If yes, then your roof rack might provide an excellent vantage point from which to survey the ground below.
A roof rack can come in handy if your automobile has no sunroof. Simply hop out of the car and climb onto the roof to get a photo-worthy glimpse of wildlife.
A roof rack’s higher elevation also allows you to steer clear of potentially dangerous wildlife. Whether you’re tracking a pack of lions on the prowl or a float of crocodiles on a feeding frenzy, you can safely follow the action atop your roof rack.
5. Retreat to a roof rack for a siesta
Taking a nap during a road trip can provide numerous benefits. It allows everyone to rest and charge up for the next stretch of the journey.
If you’re the driver, grabbing a siesta can reduce sleep debt and improve your cognitive performance, a necessary combination for safe driving.
Many roadtrippers prefer to doze off in the cabin. However, you could also give the roof rack a try.
Just ensure the rack is comfortable by spreading soft materials over it. It’s also best to nap under a shaded spot.
6. Attach awnings
You’ve now arrived at a camping site and probably erected a tent. But for some reason, the tent is smaller than the number of people it should accommodate.
Well, do not fret. Simply attach awnings to your car roof rack for extra shelter.
Adding awnings to your roof rack is particularly important when looking for additional shade during hot summer weather. It’s even more useful when traversing barren landscapes with little tree cover.
Besides, you could convert the extra shelter into a kitchen or dining area. The limit is only your imagination.
It’s difficult to plan a successful camping trip without a roof rack. That’s especially true if you’re going on a long road expedition, where each evening presents a unique experience to camp in a new location, leveraging your roof rack for a thrilling camping adventure.
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