Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

Hi its me again,
I am still confused about the whole roof rack issue (2003 3.2 DID)..... I understand the load capacity is rated at 100kg, its not much as 4 Jerry cans and a extra spare will exceed that or a rooftop tent with me and wife inside will definatly exceed that. Now the question remains... will an load exceeding the 100kg, only cause "top heaviness" or will the roof collapse or some simular vehicle damage occur?
Please help as i wish to purchase a frontrunner roofrack but am hessitant to pay R7000 to load very little.
Thanks

Any weight will move the COG higher. The more the weight the higher the COG.

Im confident the pajero can take loads more weight but the danger is in the top heavyness and the dynamic weight of the items combined when the car moves up and down causing excessive stress on the pillars.

Sent via iPad & Forum Runner

Hi Vickaa,

I know the factory max load rating for a roof is 100kg, but dont sweat it - its often pushed a bit. If you do load a bit heavier, just take it easy on braking and cornering - reduce speed a bit.

I just did a trip through CKGR and Moremi with a spare wheel, and 4 steel jerrycans of diesel on the roof (plus a few bundles of wood at times). did a few sections of deep and uneven two spoor sand and hardly noticed the heavy roof.

Just a note, have you considered a big country roofrack? yes - more expensive, but they dont drill extra holes in the roof - just use the current ones. And the roofrack is very strong + does not rattle.

Vickaa,

It is not the static load that is the problem! You can turn your Pajero upside down and put it on the roof and the roof will not collapse! It is the dynamic loads that will cause the problems.

The dynamic loads are not only the up- and down-loads but also the sideways as well as the forward and rearward loads that will cause the damage. Whats more, if the roofrack is not strong enough, it uprights will bent and give way, The constant flexing of the uprights caused by the inertia of the load may/will in the end break the uprights with the resultant damage to the car. The highter C of G will cause some uncomfortable moments, but if you are brave, it will not damage anything - unless you overdo things.

Cloyd

Hi Vickaa,

My 2c worth.

I have a Frontrunner rack properly installed by Frontrunner with the extra (holes and) strengthening rail that they install.

I had installed in 2008 and have done several trips like Moremi, Lesotho, Zim, etc where roads have left much to be desired.

The maximum load I have carried on it was 1 * spare, 4 * jerry cans, a heavy canvas ground tent, 2 * Cadac gas bottles, 1 * spade, 1 * FrontRunner folding table and some firewood. That is too much weight IMHO and well exceeds the manufacturers spec. I would not willingly load as much as that again, but there are no signs of any damage from that.

I have to admit to nearly rolling the LWB driving with that max load to Nxai Pans - by stupidly trying to drive on the middelmannetjies at probably no more than 20 - 25 km/h.

I now try to limit my roofrack load to the least possible for a trip and would not do more than 1 * spare, 4 * jerry cans and one gas bottle, 1 * FrontRunner folding table, plus maybe some firewood - less if I can avoid it.

And I will never try to drive on middelmannetjies!

I also have the frontrunner with drilled holes. BEST Investment ever made. We loaded 2x spares wheels, 2 jerry cans, Heavy! rooftop tent - definitely exceed the 100kg. Drove for 7500km in Namibia. Not any noticeable differens in handling, not damage to roof at all. I was told I could go safely to 200kg.

Just do it! It's a Pajero not a Toyota (I just had to that!)