Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform and Batwing Awning

Just wanted to post some notes about my recent upgrade for my LR4. I decided to go with the Rhino Rack because I wanted to add the Batwing awning to my rig so that we'd have some relief from the Texas sun when we're out in the field doing hunt test training with our Chocolate Lab. And since the racks had good reviews and looked nice, I decided to purchase everything from them.

I initially purchased the backbone from them and the 56" wide Pioneer rack. I found that it was really too big for my rig so we ended up with the 49" model. I did however find that the backbone was too short to mount the platform directly to the backbone and still be able to clear the rear antenna. I worked extensively with their tech support to resolve and they were very helpful. They had said that the 56" model was the wrong one for the truck and that the 49" was the right one. So they sent it off at no cost to me for shipping since their website shouldn't have shown it to be correct. They initially thought it was the slat configuration and that if I used the 49" model, it would have an opening for the antenna to fit in.

I got the 49" model in but it didn't work either because it was the rear crossbar of the frame that was actually hitting the antenna as well. So they went back to their engineers and found that for LR4's in the US, you have to use some spacers to raise it up from the backbone to clear the antenna. They said that not everyone in the world uses those antennas on the roof so they didn't need to raise the height of the backbone. So they made it short to keep a low profile.

After several weeks of going back and forth and finally getting all the right parts and building the platform twice and dismantling the original 56" platform I finally have an installed platform and awning.

The other issue I had was that when you add the spacers they come with larger bolts that don't fit through the holes in the backbone and they didn't have anyway of securing the bolts either. They didn't have any nuts. So I had to use some longer stainless bolts that allowed me to use the original mounting nuts that fit in the channel of the crossbars and lock in place to allow you to tighten down.

Overall, this was the most painful and frustrating upgrade I've ever done in my life. Rhino support was flawless and very helpful and responsive. They wanted to ensure that I was taken care of and that I had what I needed to get the rack complete and installed properly.

Would I do this again, maybe. Now that I know what I know about what's needed and the proper items needed to complete my install, I would say yes I would. The rack after all is said and done is sturdy, looks good with the optional side rails and awning. It's very secure and locked down. With the wind deflector installed, it's fairly quiet going down the highway at 70-80mph.

Recommendations:

• For LR3 LR4 get the 49" wide x 86" long if you want the full roof covered
• Backbone for LR3 / LR4 is optional, I chose it because I thought it would keep the platform lower and after talking with the Rhino folks, the cost of the backbone was about the same as purchasing 6 of their mounting brackets to clamp into my existing LR Long tracks so I went with the backbone. May have been easier to just go with their brackets instead in the long run since I already had the tracks installed in my LR4.
• Make sure to get the spacers if you have the antenna on the roof - Model # LHS2PAIR x Qty 3 You need 3 pairs since there are 3 mounting points using their backbone for a 86" long full roof model.
• Get 1.5 - 2" M8 long Stainless Steel bolts to replace their M8 x 20mm Hex Bolts
• Pack your patience. You have to build the rack since it comes in a long skinny box and completely broken down. Doesn't take too long to build. Just follow directions and make sure to put the crossbars in the right spot and note the orientation of Front vs Rear so that you put the mounting crossbars in the right spots so they line up with the Backbone. If you use their brackets with the LR long tracks, then not as critical since you can move around the track. I think that using the LR tracks also would allow moving it forward a little to clear the antenna as well.
• Side rails are optional but I like the fact that they are there and would help hold things in place.
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What an excellent post. Thanks so much for taking the time to put all of this information down. I'm confident that it will help others on their journey.

When I was reviewing roof racks, I could find nothing on this particular set up and it happen to be the exact one that I was leaning towards. Incidentally, I thought in your post that you suggested you had the wind fairing. I did not see it in the photographs. Did that come later?

Ultimately, because I could find very little user information, I ended up going with the voyager low profile. I'm putting it on this week and will report back my findings.

Yes I was waiting on it to arrive. It was on backorder. Here's some pics after installing it. The only challenge I had with this configuration was the fact that it comes in contact with the sunroof instead of just forward of it. I didn't see any adjustments with the installation since they are on rigid fixed plastic arms that mount to the platform. It's very rigid and well made. Just wish I could have extended it forward just a little. Or if they had longer arms to extend past the sunroof. It doesn't appear that it will cause any issues or rubbing problems. They do also include in the kit some tabs that adhere to the roof where the deflector touches the paint so it protects it from rubbing. This is another reason that if I had chosen to go with brackets that mount to the LR factory long rail tracks, then I could have slid it forward just a little to clear this. The backbone is nice and looks good, but limits you on where you can install things without drilling custom holes into the outside rails of the platform so that you can mount the crossbars in a different spot. They don't have many choices for predrilled holes. In-fact, the front hole only had one location for the most forward crossbar to mount where you attach the platform to the backbone.

And again since I had to add spacers to clear the antenna anyway, I would recommend going with their brackets that allow you to mount into LR factory rails tracks. They looked high enough to clear the antenna and you can slide forward or backward as you see fit, and you can also ensure you clear the sunroof with the deflector

ugh.. sorry for all of the frustrating outcomes.

The wind fairing piece is certainly attractive; however, there has got to be a way that they could extend it forward so that it begins at the leading edge of the rack itself (in lieu of being interior) - like a horizontal thin plate or something? That would not only solve your sunroof issue; but, equally (or more) important, it would then seem to perform more efficient.

To a layman (like me), it doesn't seem to make sense that the spoiler terminates interior to the rack. The wind would want to blow up and over it and then be trapped inside the rack and have to disperse forward again, creating a non-efficient drag pattern? Maybe that is not a big deal, but it would also look cooler too

In any case, I know i am preaching to the choir. Keep us posted and your truck looks great.

Looking forward to your update Doug when the Voyager goes on. I'm looking at that one as well.

Thanks for the post - well done!

Douglas225 said:

ugh.. sorry for all of the frustrating outcomes.

The wind fairing piece is certainly attractive; however, there has got to be a way that they could extend it forward so that it begins at the leading edge of the rack itself (in lieu of being interior) - like a horizontal thin plate or something? That would not only solve your sunroof issue; but, equally (or more) important, it would then seem to perform more efficient.

To a layman (like me), it doesn't seem to make sense that the spoiler terminates interior to the rack. The wind would want to blow up and over it and then be trapped inside the rack and have to disperse forward again, creating a non-efficient drag pattern? Maybe that is not a big deal, but it would also look cooler too

In any case, I know i am preaching to the choir. Keep us posted and your truck looks great.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I agree. It did make a difference to make it quieter. I too wish it was forward of the rack and maybe came up and over to block the wind while pushing it a little more forward.

Vytec,

Thanks for the post. Do they have a shorter option that doesn't cover the sunroof? Can you use that with the backbone? The only thing I've seen is this... but I'd prefer to use the backbone. I would love to get your thoughts since you went through the process and did all the research.

Thanks,

Dave

Dave Norman said:

Vytec,

Thanks for the post. Do they have a shorter option that doesn't cover the sunroof? Can you use that with the backbone? The only thing I've seen is this... but I'd prefer to use the backbone. I would love to get your thoughts since you went through the process and did all the research.

Thanks,

Dave

Click to expand...

I'm not sure that you can. I just looked at mine and the two mounting points are more towards that back and not near the front of the 60" rack that is displayed in your pic from Rack Outfitters. To be safe it's best to call them directly and ask for guidance on exactly what will work. My guess is that you would have to use the LR short or long rails with the platform and their compatible foot brackets that would mount directly to the rack and slide into the rails like they have pictured. That should allow enough room to clear the antenna since they mount higher than the backbone option.

The forward mounting point on the backbone would sit roughly where the forward crossbar is on the pic. Just can't be sure if that will work or not. When I looked at mine it seemed like there would be too much of the platform hanging off the front versus being able to mount the cross support further forward.

Again, call Rhino directly and ask them. They were great and very helpful. They can get you all the right part numbers. Then I would purchase from an authorized reseller like eTrailers.com where you'll save a lot. You should be able to save several hundred $$$ by going through them. They were the cheapest I was able to find.

An update to the sunroof and wind fairing. I tried to open the sunroof whilst driving down the highway at 75 Mph and had no issues with it opening or closing. I did get a lot of wind pushing down into the cabin since the fairing was there pushing it away. So unless I was driving say offroad as slow speeds, I won't be using the sunroof. Which for me, I couldn't tell you the last time I had it open. We don't get many days here in Texas where I can run with all my windows open. I think we had 2 days in the spring and maybe 3 days last fall. The good thing was that I could open and close the sunroof without any issues.