NewHilux.net

I have had a look through the forum however can not find any relevant info regarding this one.

My rhino tradie rack has popped a couple of rivets on the front. A mate has suggested replacing the rivets and bolting it through.

I was looking for people's experiences doing this and thoughts if this is the right way to go. I did a good few kms along the PDR last year that must have loosened them up. The initial install was done at ARB. Its a 2018 Hilux.


https://imghostr.net/images/2022/09/26/ ... 99155d.jpg

No experience with this particular issue, however if the original pop rivets were alloy, maybe you could try replacing them with staino'?

If they provide the same rivets (and instructions) as with their other roof racks, it’s poor engineering practice.

The rivets provided are way too long for the depth available before hitting the underlying airbag casing. So the rivet must be drawn with the head sitting proud of the rail - and eventually, if you’re lucky, as the tail is ballooned it will seat the head on the rail.

I’d imagine many people don’t quite get the river fully seated - or, the rivet is seated to the rail, but the rail isn't fully seated to the roof trench - and vibration worries away at the rivet.

Rivets will never hold all that weight OFF-ROAD
Dynamic weight / vertical forces exerted on the very small diameter of rivets in the roof as you go over corrugations will easily pull through the roof steel.
Max offroad capacity of a riveted roof rack is around 23Kg - some might say less, most will overload
Cant blame people for overloading with all the BS modeled on offroad tv shows and YT

Lucky you caught it before it fell off-> viewtopic.php?t=31999

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r32xd9z ... =RonnyDahl

Yep bolts with plate washers are the way to go but only chuck 50kg up there if doing any decent tracks

My N70 had stainless rivets and never had a problem.

I bolted and plated the backbone on my Ranger though. Its not that much harder to bolt and plate, just need to be mindful of the airbags under the roof liner.

Cheers for the replies.

hiluxxury wrote:My N70 had stainless rivets and never had a problem.

How many kg did you load on the rack?

It wouldnt be the ss rivets that gives. The thin mild steel holes in the roof that gradually expand with any significant weight + track vibration

Agreed. That's why I bolted with plates on the current car.

G'Day mickgibbo

This is 'sub-optimal' anything that goes on to a roof of a car should be over engineered by a min. of 300%

mickgibbo wrote:has popped a couple of rivets on the front

Do you have an pics of the failures ?

Were they sheared off ?

Did you ever walk around on the rack ?

The Rhino rack has a on road load rating and an off road rating. basically can't put anything on it for off road if installing with the rivets. many people have had them fall off the car due to not knowing this off road and on road rating. front runner has one load rating which is for any conditions and I think it's actually bolted through.

if you search youtube rhinorack failure you will find video's of this problem