Is this the best Aussie made roof rack?
Today we’re diving into the roof rack I’ve just installed on the 76 Series LandCruiser. I’ll walk you through what I’ve chosen, why I picked it, and how I tackled the installation — including the lighting, solar setup, and accessories.
What I Started With
When I first bought the vehicle, I had an OCAM Tradesman-style mesh roof rack. It was fine for the price and got the job done — but there were a few key issues that led me to upgrade:
Damaged on Arrival: The rack arrived damaged due to poor courier handling. OCAM offered to replace it, but living remotely made the return process difficult, so I touched up the paint and took a partial refund.
Hard to Clean the Roof: Being a mesh rack, it made washing the roof of the car nearly impossible.
Chipped Paint: Every time I strapped something down, the paint would chip, which just didn’t look great long-term.
Despite the issues, I sold it on, and the new owner is still using it.
Why I Didn't Go With Rhino Rack
When researching alternatives, Rhino Rack kept popping up. But the more I looked into it, the more concerned I became about their load ratings and the rivet-mounted systems. There are stories of Rhino Racks failing on the road, particularly on vehicles that don’t use a gutter-mounted system.
It might be psychological, but gutter-mounted racks feel sturdier to me, and I wanted the peace of mind that came with that.
Enter: The Wedgetail Roof Rack
I landed on the Wedgetail Roof Rack, made in Australia and rated for 150kg off-road, which matches nicely with the 76’s 100kg roof load rating. What really impressed me was the robust construction and the flexibility for accessories.
The rack came flat-packed, so I laid it out on carpet and started assembling it piece by piece. This modular design actually helped me plan out where everything would go — from solar panels to lighting.
Accessories and Fitment
Here’s what I’ve added to the Wedgetail setup:
270° Awning (heavier than you think — around 25–30kg)
Hand grips and light brackets
Steady 51.5” Slimline light bar up front
Steady spotlights already on the Cruiser (I'll cover them in a future post)
Rock lights (four in total — two on each side)
12” rear LED bar
Solar panel mounted with Wedgetail’s brackets
Maxtrax holders, shovel mounts, and tie-down points
One thing to note: accessories from other manufacturers don’t always fit. For example, the Rhino Rack awning brackets are flat, while the Wedgetail rack has a lip for strength, which prevents some aftermarket parts from mounting flush.
Lighting and Wiring
The lighting system is a mix of rock lights for camp lighting and spot/flood lights for driving. All up:
Camp lighting (rock lights and LED awning strip) is powered from the house battery.
Driving lights (front and rear) are controlled from inside the cab.
Since I'm no auto electrician, I stuck with trailer cable (5-core) for simplicity and used Y-strippers for neat cable joins. One tip: offset your positive and negative joins to prevent accidental shorts.
All the wiring was done before mounting the rack — way easier than trying to do it overhead.
Mounting the Rack (Almost Lost It!)
Fitting the rack was a team job. First, we mounted the side rails to the vehicle, then lifted the rack on top (after removing the solar panel and awning brackets to reduce weight).
Here’s the kicker: I nearly lost the rack! Turns out I didn’t seat the left-side bolts properly. It looked and felt like they were secure, but they weren’t locked in. A short test drive and some knocking sounds later, I rechecked everything — lesson learned. Once I felt each nut moving left to right, I knew it was in place and locked it down properly.
Final Touches and Result
The solar panel wiring drops down the side of the vehicle, neatly secured between the mirror and the door using Stickaflex and zip ties. The trailer cable runs the same way on the opposite side. Everything’s wired up and working beautifully.
Up top, the rack looks clean and functional. Everything is tied down and secured. I gave the roof a clean and a couple of coats of wax before mounting, just for good measure.
I’ll be covering the awning, lighting, and 12V setup in separate posts and videos — so stay tuned for those.
Final Thoughts
The Wedgetail Roof Rack has been a solid upgrade for the 76 Series. It’s sturdy, modular, and fits all the accessories I need for touring, camping, and everyday use. If you’re looking for a premium, Aussie-made rack — this one's worth a look.
As always, do your research, support your local auto sparky, and don't be afraid to have a crack yourself.