Eezi Awn roof racks.

[Gaston the Grenadier]

I’ve just been sent some pics of APB’s (Kidderminster) recently stocked Eezi Awn full length roof rack for the Grenadier.

Having already had a good look at them whilst having my Big Country drawer system fitted, they really are a cut above the current affordable competition (no offence to Black Sheep, but their kit is priced for a very wealthy clientele).
Fully welded too, so shouldn’t come apart once installed.
Longitudinal rails with cross members for bolting clamps to. This should mean less wind noise too.
All rails and outer rails appear to have T8 rail slots for attaching accessories. Two slots per rail, one per outer rail.

And for those who have Safari windows, but still want a full length rack, one of the pics shows the safari windows open (unlike with the Rhinorack/Ineos option).

There’s six gutter clamps on each side, so plenty of weight distribution, and the clamps don’t appear to obstruct the four auxiliary power socket covers.

Why haven’t I posted the pics?
I’m waiting for APB to give me the all clear to post the pics, as the vehicle is (obviously) a customer’s. However, hopefully the customer will drop a post in the forum, as his rack really looks the bollocks.

My 3/4 length rack is currently being loaded for shipping from South Africa, so hopefully will be here by November.

 

[Logsplitter]

Maybe they are better now but I had an eezi awn roof rack and the bolts ripped out of the slots on various attachments I had on the roof. Eezi awn are very light duty in my view.

 

[Gaston the Grenadier]

Interesting…
Was the aluminium too soft?
Having not tested one, I can’t comment, but the rack I had a good look at seemed pretty robust.
And the fact it was welded as opposed to self assembly caught my attention.

Having checked out a Frontrunner (with crossmember rails as opposed to longitudinal) I thought the Eezi Awn was much more robust.

Waiting for the Rhinorack 3/4 rack is not an option either, as we’re not going to see them until mid 2024, and I need a rack for use at work before then.

Black Sheep’s rack looks fantastic, but it’s looking like there won’t be much change from £3k once import duty, VAT and shipping is added.

 

[Logsplitter]

Interesting…
Was the aluminium too soft?
Having not tested one, I can’t comment, but the rack I had a good look at seemed pretty robust.
And the fact it was welded as opposed to self assembly caught my attention.

Having checked out a Frontrunner (with crossmember rails as opposed to longitudinal) I thought the Eezi Awn was much more robust.

Waiting for the Rhinorack 3/4 rack is not an option either, as we’re not going to see them until mid 2024, and I need a rack for use at work before then.

Black Sheep’s rack looks fantastic, but it’s looking like there won’t be much change from £3k once import duty, VAT and shipping is added.

I think too soft aluminium. I’ve had various kit fitted by APB inc bushtech canopy , auxiliary fuel tank, water tank etc. all good but there is no comparison in my view of the Ineos supplied rhino rack and the eeziawn rack. The Rhinorack is way more robust but also heavier.

 

[Logsplitter]

Interesting…
Was the aluminium too soft?
Having not tested one, I can’t comment, but the rack I had a good look at seemed pretty robust.
And the fact it was welded as opposed to self assembly caught my attention.

Having checked out a Frontrunner (with crossmember rails as opposed to longitudinal) I thought the Eezi Awn was much more robust.

Waiting for the Rhinorack 3/4 rack is not an option either, as we’re not going to see them until mid 2024, and I need a rack for use at work before then.

Black Sheep’s rack looks fantastic, but it’s looking like there won’t be much change from £3k once import duty, VAT and shipping is added.

Adding to that these roof rail brackets failed and cracked under bad off road conditions and corrugated roads. Easily replaceable but a week component

I think it’s different on a Grenadier but the brackets sagged and rubbed on the drivers side door after a while if use.

 

[Gaston the Grenadier]

I think too soft aluminium. I’ve had various kit fitted by APB inc bushtech canopy , auxiliary fuel tank, water tank etc. all good but there is no comparison in my view of the Ineos supplied rhino rack and the eeziawn rack. The Rhinorack is way more robust but also heavier.

Fair comment. I appreciate your views too.

I guess that’s down to the user to decide if he/she wants a heavy rack with reduced dynamic capacity, or a lighter rack, possibly for lighter duty use.

For me, the deal breaker on the Rhinorack is that no one thought about being able to use the Safari windows. Granted, you can’t remove them with any full length rack, but with the Rhinorack, you can’t even have them open.
Eezi Awn have at least addressed this and offer that extra inch or so of clearance that enables the Safari windows to lock open.

My personal use of a rack will be for ladders and ally tower scaff, and occasional lightweight building materials, so I’m confident that the Eezi Awn will cope. If it doesn’t, then I’ll be returning it under warranty and go looking elsewhere; probably for the Rhinorack (3/4) if and when they finally land on UK shores.
Ineos don’t even have a part number for the 3/4 rack, so it’s going to be a long wait.

 

[Tazzieman]

Fair comment. I appreciate your views too.

I guess that’s down to the user to decide if he/she wants a heavy rack with reduced dynamic capacity, or a lighter rack, possibly for lighter duty use.

For me, the deal breaker on the Rhinorack is that no one thought about being able to use the Safari windows. Granted, you can’t remove them with any full length rack, but with the Rhinorack, you can’t even have them open.
Eezi Awn have at least addressed this and offer that extra inch or so of clearance that enables the Safari windows to lock open.

My personal use of a rack will be for ladders and ally tower scaff, and occasional lightweight building materials, so I’m confident that the Eezi Awn will cope. If it doesn’t, then I’ll be returning it under warranty and go looking elsewhere; probably for the Rhinorack (3/4) if and when they finally land on UK shores.
Ineos don’t even have a part number for the 3/4 rack, so it’s going to be a long wait.

As I've mentioned elsewhere , Front Runner make an high quality 3/4 rack for the Grenadier. It has 8 support legs.
We've assembled it (Grenadier delivery is "imminent") and my wife commented that it's good value for money , especially if you expect loadability and durability in rugged encounters.
You get what you pay for.

 

[Gaston the Grenadier]

As I've mentioned elsewhere , Front Runner make an high quality 3/4 rack for the Grenadier. It has 8 support legs.
We've assembled it (Grenadier delivery is "imminent") and my wife commented that it's good value for money , especially if you expect loadability and durability in rugged encounters.
You get what you pay for.

Agreed.

My issue with the Frontrunner rack is that the rails are all crossmember type with only a couple of longitudinal strengthening rails.
When unladen (for me that’ll be the majority of my weekday driving, unless bringing ladders etc) the rack will be much noisier than a longitudinally railed rack.

The Autodeck rack on my van was similar, and I had to move it back 12 inches to try and reduce the wind noise.

 

[Tazzieman]

My issue with the Frontrunner rack is that the rails are all crossmember type with only a couple of longitudinal strengthening rails.
When unladen (for me that’ll be the majority of my weekday driving, unless bringing ladders etc) the rack will be much noisier than a longitudinally railed rack.

FWIW the FR rack has a wind deflector as part of the kit

 

[grenadierboy]

FWIW the FR rack has a wind deflector as part of the kit

You don't know how much I'm rooting for you to get your car!

 

[Tazzieman]

You don't know how much I'm rooting for you to get your car!

Yeah even I'm getting a bit sick of the numerous posts from myself about myself

 

[grenadierboy]

Yeah even I'm getting a bit sick of the numerous posts from myself about myself

My finger has been hovering over the "submit" button to buy a front runner rack.

I have spoken to seemingly sane & independent people of moderate intelligence about the FR racks and have got a variety of views on wind noise; some completely opposite: e.g. "It is so quite I completely forget it's on the car" to "it was like a wind turbine strapped to the roof"

I know the FR has a wind deflector but, the front section of the Grenadier roof tapers down quite a way at the front and I wonder what impact, if any, that may have on wind noise.

You are my test case (assuming you tell us how the FR performs) as I am not aware of any other Grenadier owner that has a FR.

 

[Tazzieman]

You are my test case (assuming you tell us how the FR performs) as I am not aware of any other Grenadier owner that has a FR.

Try messaging Scott

Ineos Grenadier Rack and Storage from Front Runner - Expedition Portal

Front Runner has introduced its Ineos Grenadier rack and storage systems for the hottest new 4x4 on the market.

expeditionportal.com

 

[grenadierboy]

Try messaging Scott

Ineos Grenadier Rack and Storage from Front Runner - Expedition Portal

Front Runner has introduced its Ineos Grenadier rack and storage systems for the hottest new 4x4 on the market.

expeditionportal.com

Interesting article on a nice expedition and no mention of any issues regards the rack but I will still wait for your stamp of approval - when are you getting the bloody thing!!??

 

[Tazzieman]

when are you getting the bloody thing!!??

I am like a man who owns a deer missing the seeing organs

 

[Logsplitter]

Fair comment. I appreciate your views too.

I guess that’s down to the user to decide if he/she wants a heavy rack with reduced dynamic capacity, or a lighter rack, possibly for lighter duty use.

For me, the deal breaker on the Rhinorack is that no one thought about being able to use the Safari windows. Granted, you can’t remove them with any full length rack, but with the Rhinorack, you can’t even have them open.
Eezi Awn have at least addressed this and offer that extra inch or so of clearance that enables the Safari windows to lock open.

My personal use of a rack will be for ladders and ally tower scaff, and occasional lightweight building materials, so I’m confident that the Eezi Awn will cope. If it doesn’t, then I’ll be returning it under warranty and go looking elsewhere; probably for the Rhinorack (3/4) if and when they finally land on UK shores.
Ineos don’t even have a part number for the 3/4 rack, so it’s going to be a long wait.

Fair enough. We all have different use cases and criteria. It’s a compromise in a way whatever you go for.

 

[Gaston the Grenadier]

Here’s the pics I was sent.

APB gave me the go ahead to post them.

Note clearance for Safari Windows. Nice touch. Awaiting my 3/4 length rack. Best of both worlds then; much less noise (due to shorter rack) and ease of Safari window removal.

 

[DaveB]

Here’s the pics I was sent.

APB gave me the go ahead to post them.

Note clearance for Safari Windows. Nice touch. Awaiting my 3/4 length rack. Best of both worlds then; much less noise (due to shorter rack) and ease of Safari window removal.

That looks as ugly as a hat full of ars.....................

 

[Gaston the Grenadier]

FWIW the FR rack has a wind deflector as part of the kit

Unsure whether they make any real difference to be honest.
My van one didn’t.

 

[Gaston the Grenadier]

That looks as ugly as a hat full of ars.....................

Er….. in what sense?
Too long/short/high/low? Wrong colour?