Is the Low Profile Roof Rack from Prius Overlanding worth it?

You don't really want more than 150lbs up there unless the car is stationary, and keep in mind the car still has a ~900lb total payload.

Doesn't matter whether that's meat in a seat, something strapped to the roof or boxes in the back, that's the limit that the brakes are built to keep safe.

When I need that much gear on location I usually rent a van or even a boxtruck. Sometimes that's the right choice for insurance anyway.

Good luck!

 

I'll start by saying that I don't like roof racks in general. They do provide utility, but the feature that always meant the most to me was how quickly they can be removed from the car when not actually hauling anything.

Why?

Because anything you put on that roof (including the empty rack) is a gasoline-to-noise converter. It costs you MPG and it makes a lot of wind noise near your ears at highway speeds.

...and when you have one that is super easy to remove, you might have to worry about somebody else doing the removing right when you were hoping for security instead.

 

When you compare the price of this roof rack to similar style roof racks for other vehicles, you'll see that it's actually quite reasonable. Roof racks like this can easily start at $1,000 or $1,200, and that's on the low end. Regarding your concerns about weight—crates weighing 200 to 300 pounds would be no issue at all. I've personally had slightly over 500 pounds on the roof and another 500 pounds on the rear with no problems.

This roof rack is designed per generation, with options for Gen 2, Gen 3, Gen 4, and soon Gen 5 Priuses. Prius Overlanding was the first to release this kind of roof rack specifically for the Prius. Hey, Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, have you even tried putting more than 150 pounds up there? Or do you just wallow in the world of timidness, not daring to see what the vehicle can actually handle?



You searched for drilled - black_jmyntrn


Because I’ve upgraded my brakes and suspension, and my Prius can handle an additional 1,000 pounds off-road, up mountains where 4x4 vehicles go, without any issues whatsoever.

I’ve used a Thule in the past, and the problem with the dual bar setup is that, even when you add a basket, and I had the basket with the extender to make it longer, you just can’t throw things up there like you can with the low profile rack. What are those four boxes going to be supported by other than the two bars from Thule? It just doesn’t work. With the low profile roof rack from Prius Overlanding, you have multiple crossbars that can hold the weight, and there are even panels available to fill the gaps between the crossbars. This way, you can easily strap down or use hooks and anchors for all your different accessories.

Some folks prefer the MPG benefits of a Prius hybrid over renting a van or a box truck, especially when they can maximize their cargo area on a compact vehicle like the Prius. Andre, you might want to wait for someone who has firsthand experience with this setup to answer your question instead of relying on opinions from those who haven’t tried it themselves."


Did you know, this roof rack was released in 2021?


Low Profile Roof Rack for the Toyota Prius is here - black_jmyntrn

 

Ah, Leadfoot, I see you’ve got a love-hate relationship with roof racks! I get it—every bit of weight up top can make your MPG drop and your drive sound like a wind tunnel concert. But here’s the thing: some of us are willing to trade a little bit of gas mileage for the sheer utility and convenience that a solid, well-designed rack provides.

As for the wind noise? It’s like having a conversation with your car—sometimes you’ve just got to listen to what it has to say! But I’ve found that with the right setup, like the low-profile rack I use, the noise isn’t nearly as bad as you’d think.

And about the security issue—well, let’s just say that anything easy to remove can also be easy to take... by someone else. That’s why I prefer a setup that’s built like a fortress. Sure, it’s not as quick to take off, but it’s not going anywhere unless I say so. Plus, I’ll take the peace of mind over a couple of extra MPGs any day.

 

The holes are actually located under the rubber/plastic rain channel strip. Once you remove the rack, all you need to do is reinstall the OEM strip after thoroughly cleaning the area where the rivnut holes are. Then, apply a healthy amount of water-sealing silicone. I’ll need to confirm the exact brand I was recommended, but it’s designed to be watertight, and should you want to reinstall the rack later, it’s easy enough to remove the silicone.

And in my experience, something like aftermarket wheels or customizations—like a custom roof rack—can actually increase the value of a Prius. It adds a unique touch that makes a Prius stand out from the crowd, and people really love it when a Prius is a bit less 'Prius.'

Me personally, I think every household should always have a Prius... well, at least each person who drives really. I’ve met many who drive their paid-off Prius for the MPG during the week, and then switch to their ZR1, Stingray Vette, or other much nicer vehicle on the weekends. You can put the wear and tear on the Prius, then have your funner/better car last longer.

 

Don’t send your money.

 

no problem good sir!

Fun Fact: Yes, the roof lines are completely different across Prius generations. And if you take a look at a replica of the PriusOverlanding.com roof rack, it appears as if they attempted to use one rack design on multiple generations of the Prius... ::giggling:: Have a look at this video!

You know... I also pulled every page from my mega thread on this forum and its funny AI can clearly see what's going on around here and comments like this just says I make an impact and you need a hug! Any who... this is for you sweet cheeks!


https://black.jmyntrn.com/2024/08/18/i-used-ai-to-analyze-reddit-threads-heres-what-it-found/?utm_source=PriusChat&utm_medium=weblinkt&utm_campaign=commentlinkAugust

 

you know RJ.. here you go.. have a gander at this!


https://black.jmyntrn.com/2024/08/20/unpacking-the-priuschat-thread-separating-fact-from-fiction-about-priusoverlanding/?utm_source=PriusChat&utm_medium=weblinkt&utm_campaign=commentlinkAugust

 

I had a Gen3 Prius which I used roof bars/rack on. I have an Gen4 Prius Prime and a Toyota Alphard Hybrid van now and I use roof bars/rack on both of them.

I have the Prorack Aero Thro bars. These are really great as they are aerodynamic, so they don't make wind noise and they have fitment kits for different models of cars. So easy to unlock the bars and remove them or fit them to another vehicle. I was fortunate that the Prius Gen3 fitment kit also works on the Alphard and I just had to get the Prius Gen4 kit to use on the Prime. I have had the bars/rack for many years and they have stood me in good stead. Just take in mind that even tho you think now you'll keep the vehicle for ever, there do come the day when you will want to change. The beauty of the Prorack system is that you just take it off and use it on another vehicle.

Through | Prorack NZ