Road trips with friends or family provide an opportunity to bond with each other. Good music, snacks, and tons of pictures come to mind when thinking of a road trip. However, none of that is possible if the luggage and travel gear takes up most of the interior space. What started as a fun trip may turn into an irritable ride in no time. That’s where roof racks come into the picture. Having a roof rack for your traveling needs is not only a matter of comfort but also safety.
Tips for Choosing the Right Roof Rack
It’s better to know how to pick the best roof rack for your car before you walk into a roof rack store. Always ensure the roof rack is strong enough to hold adequate cargo. That said, a lighter roof rack is beneficial in contrast to a heavier one. Go for an aluminum roof rack instead of a steel one. Aluminum roof racks are thirty percent lighter than the steel ones and are strong enough to hold the same weight. Also, make sure that the roof rack can have the required mounts to accommodate various accessories such as bicycle, kayak, surfboard, rooftop tents, etc.
Let’s now look at five reasons why roof racks are essential for your traveling needs.
Ensures safety
The first and foremost advantage of having a roof rack is that it ensures the safety of your travel gear, people inside the car, and the vehicle as well. For instance, if the car’s interior is full of heavy luggage, climbing on an uphill road becomes challenging. Navigating is difficult for the driver as the luggage may block the rearview mirror. Moreover, doing so might damage any fragile items present in the luggage. However, when you store the luggage on the roof rack, its weight gets evenly distributed across the car’s roof and ensures a smoother and safer ride.
Offers Maximum Comfort
Safety and comfort are the two vital aspects of road trips. Traveling and hefty storage and bags in the car’s interior is uncomfortable for everyone, including the driver. You need to adjust the seats in a way that there is more storage space for the gear. In return, that reduces the legroom for all the passengers, forcing them to sit in an uncomfortable position for long hours.
When there is designated space for luggage on the car’s roof, you will have more legroom, making the journey comfortable for everyone in the vehicle.
Carry the Sports Gear Safely
If you are an adventure enthusiast and love to carry sports equipment such as skis, bike, kayaks, etc., roof racks are ideal. The biggest fear of traveling with expensive sports gear is either losing or damaging it. With the help of a roof rack, you can securely position it on the car’s roof and lock it in place to protect against theft. That means you do not have to think about your sports gear’s safety even when the vehicle is parked, and you need to carry on with other activities. So make sure that the rack comes with the required mounts to accommodate heavy sports equipment.
Accommodates a Rooftop Tent
You should install a roof rack while traveling, especially if you are a camping enthusiast because it easily accommodates a rooftop tent. Most of the universal roof racks can easily accommodate a rooftop tent that is easy and hassle-free to set up. That way, you do not need a lot of space to set up a tent for camping. Therefore, you can camp for the night in practically any spot that is safe for parking. You can choose from a wide range of rooftop tents as long as your roof rack is sturdy and hefty enough to support it.
Creates Room for Additional Lights
The need for adequate lights to navigate swiftly through the rough terrains in the dark is essential while camping. The standard headlights installed in the car may do the job for everyday commute and highways, but you will need an additional light source for offroading.
A significant setback while installing an additional light source such as a light bar requires sturdy support for installation. With the help of the crossbars, you can easily accommodate an extra light bar on the roof. Doing so will not only serve the purpose of having an additional light source but also complements the overall look of your vehicle, making it look versatile.
Final Thoughts
The benefits mentioned above explain why you need to have a roof rack installed while traveling. Roof racks offer a significant comfort and safety level by creating additional storage space, ample legroom, and safety of the travel and sports gear. However, make sure to thoroughly research and pick the right roof rack that meets all your needs in carrying cargo and gear for road trips. It’s essential to choose the correct dimensions to fit perfectly on the car’s roof.
