One vehicle accessory that has stood the test of time is the roof rack. Most passenger vehicles for decades have come from the factory with a roof rack of some kind. While not necessarily the most stylish appliance on some vehicles, the fact remains that a roof rack does have a purpose for those who need it.
In the off road world, roof racks have always been popular, particularly with trail and adventure enthusiasts. Of course most new SUVs don't come with a roof rack and certainly they were never a popular dealer item for trucks either. But with the growing popularity of crew cab trucks, the demand for a rugged off road roof rack has returned. In some cases, truck owners have equipped their beds with other equipment, ushering in the need for additional cargo hauling space.
The Defender Series roof racks are the choice of many die hard off road and adventure enthusiasts as well as those who simply want the rugged looks of a roof top rack. The Defender rack is made from 16-gauge, fully welded 1-inch round steel tubing and features a tough black powercoated finish. The styling compliments the aerodynamic design of most late model vehicles while keeping in theme with other tubular accessories commonly found on off road vehicles. The Defender rack has also been designed to accept a variety of popular accessories such as driving lights. Tabs are provided on the front face of the rack to mount up to four lights. Other accessories include the Defender Light Cage, axe and shovel mounts, hi-lift jack mount and even a spare tire mount.
The Defender rack is available in sizes ranging from 3.5' to 5.5' feet wide and from 4 to 7 feet in length and comes in either a bolt-together design or completely welded. Adjustable hinge mounts allow for precise centering of the rack on the roof. Some models of trucks can use a mount system that attaches to the drip rail while non-drip rail trucks such as late model vehicles require the use of well nuts that are inserted into holes drilled into the roof to secure the rack. Installation is easy and doesn't require any special tools. Check out the following steps to see just what is involved in the process. The Defender could be just what you have been looking for.
DEFENDER
2102 W. Kenmore Ave. Dept TEN
Burbank, CA 91504
818-563-1208
 The Defender rack can be purchased either welded or as a bolt-together kit as shown. The rack comes with three sections which ultimately determine the chosen length. |  To begin assembly position the three sections and locate the provided hardware which will be two 7/16 bolts, washers and nuts per connecting section. |  Insert the bolts through the mount uprights. |
 Secure the sections by permanently tightening the hardware. You can use a dab of thread locker if you choose to. |  The adjustability of the rack is the responsibility of the adjustable hinge mounts. Assemble the hinge mounts and L brackets, but leave the connecting bolts somewhat loose so the height of the rack can be adjusted later. |  For this particular vehicle the hinge mounts will be inboard of the roof molding. The distance is measured from one inch inboard of the molding from side to side. Two measurements are required; one for the front hinge locations and one for the rear hinge locations. |
 Don't fret about messing up the measurements because the hinge mounts on the rack features a series of mounting locations that allow for side-to-side position adjustment. |  To correctly position the hinges on the rack, the rack is turned over with the bottom side facing up and then the roof measurements applied to the positioning of the hinges. |  Install the hinge to rack hardware, check the roof measurement by centering the distance in the middle of the roof mount flange as shown. Snug the hardware but not permanent tight to allow for positioning adjustments once the rack is placed on the truck roof. |
 Place a section of tape over the bottom of the roof mount flange of the mount to minimize scratching the paint on the roof while positioning the rack. |  With help and a few ladders, carry the rack to the truck and carefully place it on the roof close to the position you will want it mounted. |  On this vehicle we positioned the mounting bases so the outer edge will fit right up against the roof molding. Check both sides to insure the hinge mounts have been positioned on the rack correctly. If there is any discrepancy, loosen the bolts that secure the hinge to the rack enough to allow you to adjust the fit. Then secure the hardware. |
 Next you will want to check the front-to-back positioning of the rack. Measure from the windshield edge to the rack on both sides to make sure the rack is centered. Do the same on the back side. |  Once it has been determined that the rack is in the location you want, and is centered on the roof, a punch is used to mark where the mounting holes will be drilled into the roof skin. |  After marking the holes, carefully remove the rack. |
 With this four mount system, eight ½-inch holes will have to be drilled into the roof. Always check for clearances and obstructions BEFORE you start to drill. A sheet metal ½-inch bit is required but you will want to start with a smaller bit. |  Then step up to the ½-inch bit. Do not drill the holes any larger than ½-inch. |  Insert the provided well nuts into the drilled holes. These well nuts expand when the ¼-inch bolt is threaded into the body and consequently hold the roof rack on tight. |
 The well should sit flush with the roof as shown. |  The rack assembly is then returned to the roof and positioned over the mounting fixtures. |  Install the provided hardware through the hinge mount base flange and into the well nuts. Don't tighten until all of the nuts have been installed. |
 Tighten the hardware down to a solid snug feel. Don't lay into the tightening as you can risk blowing apart the well nuts if you over tighten and bottom out the bolt. |  If the position of the rack is good, the last step is to permanently secure the remaining hardware. |  And here is the final result, a great looking and equally great functioning roof rack that lends itself to off road styling. |
 Optional equipment such as off road driving lights and light protection cage are just some of the accessories that can be installed onto the Defender rack. | | |
