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These heavy-duty, aluminum crossbars work with Rhino-Rack legs to create a sturdy roof rack. The square bars include built-in C-channels for mounting Rhino-Rack heavy-duty, contractor-grade accessories.
Features:
Rhino-Rack HD Crossbars - Silver - Qty 2:Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
How's it going everybody, it's Ethan here at etrailer. Today we're gonna be taking a look at and showing you how to install the Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Roof Rack System on our 2021 Ford F-150. So with the F-150, obviously we have a good amount of bed space, but if you wanna get something longer or larger up there and maybe couple this with like a ladder rack to give some longer loads like a ladder or a lumber or on the sports and rec side, maybe you have a larger kayak you wanna get where you need it to go, a roof rack system like this one is gonna be a great solution for you. So let's take a closer look. The roof rack is going to have a weight capacity of 165 pounds. It's going to fit on our roof with the fit kit that we'll show you in the installed portion.
But 165 is gonna be a pretty solid or pretty common number that you see with roof racks like this, which is gonna be fine for most of the things you wanna get up there. You just wanna double check and make sure that your roof weight rating is in that same ballpark. Make sure you know what each of those are and go by the lowest ready component just to be safe. The crossbars we have on our system right now are gonna be 59", which is a solid length. We stay pretty much well within the width of our vehicle overall.
They're going to be elliptical so they taper on both ends to cut down on some of that wind noise and drag. But anytime you put something up on the roof, you're gonna deal with that. Luckily, we also do have a vortex strip on the top which is how the bars get their name. So that's going to help again cut down on some of that wind noise, otherwise we just have that open channel up here. Speaking of that channel though, that's gonna be great for your T-track accessories.
If you have those, you can slide those in. But with the strip you are going to have to trim it up if you wanna leave this strip in with those accessories on. So it's not a horrible idea to just grab another strip if you want to, in the event that you do end up doing some trimming. On our end cap here, we do have a plastic lock which we can use to unlock or lock our end cap but you can upgrade those to metal if you'd like. On the underside, you do have the option to use a measurement strip that you are gonna trim up and put wherever your towers are not.
In our case, this is just for demonstration and we'll talk a little bit more about that in the install portion as well, but that'll cut down on that whistling noise underneath as well. And using the provided key, we can take our end cap off and just show you how that works. So it's just a metal lock core there that will expose our fit kit hardware. So as long as our end cap is on and it's also locked up, no one is going to be able to access your fit kit hardware and remove the rack from your roof. From here I'm just gonna get a quick measurement to give you an idea of how much height you're going to be adding to your roof with the system. So from here in the middle, you're going to be looking at adding about 4-1/4" from the highest point. So if you're thinking about storing this in your garage, especially if you have something on there, add about 4-1/4" to whatever that's gonna be to find out whether or not it will fit in your garage or if you'll go anywhere where there might be some clearance issues. The roof rack system is gonna be made out of an anodized aluminum so it's gonna be really lightweight, easy to work with, but also very durable and rustproof at that point. It's got a nice matte black finish so it looks good. I think it fits the aesthetic of our F-150 really well. Overall, the install portion isn't too terribly difficult. It can be a little bit tricky, but you just need to be patient. Use the measurements that the instructions give you and make sure that you know where everything is gonna go. But if you need a little bit of help with that process, we'll walk you through it right now. To get started, the first thing we'd like to do is to slay everything out so that we know where and what it is. So we have our crossbars, we have towers, our fit kit, the clamps, and the hardware. We've got the pads and the bases for our towers. We have the tools and I would recommend picking up some kind of fabric tape measure as well as a regular tape measure. And then we have this measurement strip that comes included that we'll have to trim up according to our needs and definitely keep the instructions close by 'cause we will have to reference those often. But we'll begin by removing the end caps on our crossbars. We are going to use this plastic key to fit into the end cap. Just turn it and pull it out as long as we have it rotated fully, and we need to remove that in order to get our towers on. So we're going to line up this metal plate here with the underside, with the channel underneath our crossbars and just slide those on. And now is when you're gonna use that measurement strip. So for our case, ours has already been trimmed up so we can't use it effectively but you're gonna basically line it up with your tower, find the measurement on your instructions. In our case, we're looking for 169, so I'll get that roughly to where it needs to be. In your case, you could actually use the full measurement strip and trim it up if you need to. We repeated that process on the other side. We just slid our tower under this channel here and line it up according to the measurement, removed our end caps and now we just need to replace those real quick. Again, just put 'em on and tighten 'em down with the key. From here, since we're doing our front crossbar, just be sure to reference the instructions but we're going to attach one of our base pads to the rest of the base, and we wanna make sure you can see this arrow on here. We wanna make sure that ends up facing forward, so in our case, we're going to get these on and then we'll line it up with the tower. With the pad connected to the base, you can see where these openings are, and where they'll fit on our towers. So from here, again, we just wanna make sure that that arrow is facing forward, and we can snap this on into place. And then we're gonna repeat this process again on the other side. Once our towers are roughly in place, we're going to get a measurement. In your case, you could use the measurement strip. In our case, we would've to trim that up, and this is just for demonstration, so I'm gonna use our fabric tape measure to find that 169 millimeter mark in our case. And now I'm going to use the Allen key provided to tighten this down. As we tighten down, something important to note is that this tool does have a built-in torque spec, so just the way it's designed. Once we start turning, as soon as we see that line straightened out, that's about as tight as we want to go. Once we have our towers all set up, our measurements where we need 'em to be and both bases in place, now we can place our crossbars roughly on our roof, whereabout we think they're going to go. Just a matter of getting them roughly in place for now. And then we're gonna come back and get the measurement to make sure that they're in the right place. From here, again, since this is the front crossbar, I'm going to be using the measurement A in our case, which is 280 millimeters or 28 centimeters from the center of our door jam to the center of the tower. So in our case, I need to slide forward quite a bit. It's gonna be kind of hard to tell for now until I move the other one forward as well. So I'm gonna go to the other side and get that measurement now. Once we have everything in place and all our measurements are good, if your end caps are on, make sure we get those out of the way. If they're locked, go ahead and just use the provided key to unlock it. But now we're going to fit the bolt through this hole here on our clamp and make sure that it threads into that opening there inside our tower. Once you get the bolt here to start threading, it's probably gonna be easier just to use the tool to get it most of the way in. In our case, I'm gonna go to about 70, 75% here. I'm not gonna tighten it down all the way 'cause it might start pulling the whole system towards me, rather I'm gonna tighten this one down, and then I'm gonna go back to the other side, tighten that one down, come back and finish this one up, and then finish the other side up as well just to make sure everything's even as possible. Now that we've gone back to the other side and tighten that one down, I'm gonna finish tightening this bolt here. Again, just using this tool. Once it gets to the point where it straightens out, that's how you know we're at the desired torque. So I'm right about there now. All that's left to do is to replace our end caps and lock those up. So overall, if you're looking for a really effective way to extend your load space, whether that's getting some larger or longer items up on your roof, the Rhino-Rack Vortex Aero Roof Rack System is gonna be a great option for you. We just took a look at how to install it and how it fits on our 2021 Ford F-150.
Average Customer Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (176 Customer Reviews)
These heavy-duty, aluminum crossbars work with Rhino-Rack legs to create a sturdy roof rack. The square bars include built-in C-channels for mounting Rhino-Rack heavy-duty, contractor-grade accessories.The order was delivered yesterday, and I got it installed today. The product quality is very good and I am pleased with the fit and sturdiness. Installation went fine. I am slow and methodical with these types of installations. It took me a little less than 2 hours. Many people could do this in around an hour or so with no problems.
The rack fit well and was easy to install. Seems to be made well. The problem is the amount of road noise. I never even put the basket on. It was so loud, it roared. I repositioned it several times but the noise was way too much and I finally just removed it. I spent a lot of money for the rack and the basket and now they are in storage. I wish it would have worked out better because I thought it looked really good.
Fits the truck perfectly and holds canoe tight. Feels very solid and trustworthy.
We originally got this rack system (Custom DK Fit Kit for 4 Rhino-Rack 2500 Series Roof Rack Legs - Naked Roof Item #DK427) mostly for our Kayak racks on our 2015 Ford F-150, which worked great. Then we totaled our F-150 and the racks actually fit on our new 2022 GMC Sierra 2500 HD P/U. We took it on a 16,000 mile trip from the East Coast to Alaska with both 12 ft. kayaks on the top. Through the various speeds (sometimes up to 80 mph), weather conditions, and the high crosswinds of the mid-West, the racks help up perfectly. No issues or problems. I would recommend these to anyone.
The roof rack continued to get loose and I lost 2 kayaks going down the highway. I was able to recover them after significant damage. The whole rear rack fell off. Once reinstalled I added numerous straps and continued to stop every 50-75 miles to retighten and adjust so it didn’t happen again. I will not be using these roof racks again.
Easy install… heavy duty, look goid
Awesome company to do business with! 2nd set of Rhino racks I have purchased from them and it was a smooth transaction both times.
Fast shipping and correct products described on the website, I love ordering from etrailer.
Thick rack came on time as promised. I was notified when my rack was shipped and a link to to the carrier was attached Rack was easy to install and fit my truck perfectly. etrailer was a pleasure to do business with.
Ordered a Rhino Rack for my 2014 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali. Rack arrived in very good shape and all items were there. Installing at this time and see no problems ahead.
Got it on sale, matches the color of my truck. Same as my roof rack for my former vehicle which is now on my wife's car, however this one actually fits my truck.
I've had Thule & Yakima products over the years, with no issues. But I'm really glad I ordered this set-up for my 2021 F-150. I think you get just as good of a product from Rhino, maybe even better, for a slightly lower price. Everything feels sturdy and well made (with the possible exception of the locking covers, which feel a bit flimsy). I really like this set-up, and the precise measurements and guides made for a perfect snug fit. The rubber strip running on the upper long edge of the bars feels like it will definately help keep accessories from sliding out of place.
I needed roof racks on my 2023 Silverado to accommodate the shape of my canoe. I had Yakima racks on the camper shell but the canoe was hitting the top of my truck. My Rhino racks showed up yesterday evening and I’m ready to go this morning!
Ez to follow instructions and quick ins tallation.
Good quality and locks are included. The plastic lock covers are flimsy but they will keep an honest person honest.
Great product, very well built, heavy duty. the assembly and settings instructions are easy to follow and when I placed it on the roof of my 2015 f150 super cab, it fit perfectly with no further adjustments necessary. I am very impressed with this Rhino Rack and feel it will probably outlast me and be handed down through many generations. Also purchasing from etrailer was an awesome experience, fast free shipping. easy website to navigate.
I’m very happy with the quality of the rack and the fit is perfect. Assembly instructions could be better.
I have a 2020 Chevy HD crew cab. Fit perfect. Installation was easy.
The rhino rack assembled easily, fit the channels in my roof perfectly and looks great! 5 stars for on time delivery, good packaging, super easy ordering also. Very happy customer!
I got the roof rack mounted anyways. Better pics to come when it's all finished!
I have to admit that I was a bit hesitant to go with a rack brand I never heard of as opposed to the “Y” or “T” brand. Those concerns soon disappeared as I assembled and mounted the Rhino Roof Rack onto my 2020 GMC 1500 Denali.
As an engineer, I appreciate engineering attention to details:
- the fit to my vehicle was accurate to +/- 1mm
- the hold done bolts are theft deterrent
- the mounting towers include locks
- placement of the mounting towers is mistake proof with integrated measuring system
- all of the surfaces that may whistle in the wind are closed
- the end caps are held in place with a unique latching mechanism
- even stickers are provided to allow you to remove and replace the racks without error
Rhino Rack ... your engineers and product execution team are #1 in the business!!!
Great packaging, timely delivery and good quality Rhino products! I watched a utube video on installing the rack system which made the install much easier.
The Rhino racks are excellent. They are easy to put on and take off. They are quite without the need for a fairing. My kayak racks clamp down tight. Much better than the round racks.
Recently bought a Rhino rack for my 2018 Ford F-150. Took my time, followed instructions exactly, and it fit perfectly. Plan on using the rack to carry my kayaks, especially when pulling my travel trailer. Haven’t put it to use yet but am very pleased with how it fit my truck and appears to make very little noise on the road.
This kit is easy to slap on and sturdy enough to balance my skis and snowboards. I recently used the Rhino Rack on a three hour drive to a ski resort and had no issues.
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