We recently installed a Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform rack on our Jeep Wrangler 392 project and loaded it with cargo boxes, water containers, recovery boards, and an awning. After logging close to 500 off-road miles, we discovered how this modular system can transform your overlanding experience.
We recently installed a Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform rack on our Jeep Wrangler 392 project and we’ve since had a chance to use it and experience first-hand how versatile the design is.
Rhino Rack sent us a collection of rack accessories and we also took advantage of some of our favorite aftermarket accessories to see how having a Pioneer Platform could improve our loadout and overlanding experience.
With the addition of the Pioneer Platform, our goal was to carry some of our bulkier and less-needed items on the roof. We wanted a cargo box, extra water, a place for our recovery boards, and room for other items that we might not want to carry inside or were cumbersome to stow. We also wanted the ability to mount an awning for those trips where we might stay in one spot for a while.
For the box, we went with the Leitner Designs 96-quart GearPOD ROOF box. These boxes are incredibly well designed and are like nothing else on the market. The first difference is that they open from the side, making them easier to access when they are on the roof of a vehicle.
They also come standard with environment-resistant bulb seals (yes, they really work), locking handles, and a nearly flush mounting system. This included universal mounting plate is designed to work with a variety of racks from Leitner’s own system to Prinsu, Front Runner, Sherpa, and other racks that use a T-slot design, making it compatible with the Pioneer Platform.
To expand our water carrying capacity, we wanted to use a RotopaX water container, so we went with the RotopaX pack mount, which we attached to the Pioneer Platform with Rhino Rack’s accessory hardware.
On the opposite side of the rack from the RotopaX and GearPOD ROOF box, we mounted our Maxtrax recovery boards where they would be easy to access. Rhino Rack makes a basic mount, but we discovered a pretty cool mount from an Australian company named KAON.
This mount uses the Maxtrax pins on a folding mount that allows the pins to fold flush with the rack for the ultimate in vertical clearance when the boards aren’t mounted.
And lastly, we added a Rhino Rack Batwing Compact Awning with Rhino Rack’s quick-release STOW iT system. These special brackets allow the awning to be easily removed or installed in less than five minutes.
The Batwing Compact Awning stows in a housing that is less than 80 inches long, yet when deployed, wraps around the Jeep 270 degrees and covers 68.9 sq ft of area. The fabric is UV50+ rated 210D ripstop polycotton canvas that is water and mold resistant.
This design weighs less than 40 pounds, thanks to lightweight poles, and with the included guy lines installed, it is sturdy enough to be deployed in gusty conditions. The poles also allow the awning to be set high enough for the rear window liftgate to be fully open.
Most of our accessories were installed with Rhino Rack’s innovative Zwifloc high-tensile channel nuts. These ingenious channel nuts allow you to add or remove accessories anywhere on the Pioneer Platform, without having to slide the hardware all the way to the open slot at the end of the platform.
These are a boon for people who have some accessories permanently mounted, while needing to install temporary accessories around them.
After laying out and installing our rack accessories, we headed out on several multi-day trips to see how the Pioneer Platform would work in the real world. With close to 500 off-road miles under our belt, we found the Pioneer Rack exceeded our expectations and we are extremely happy with the modularity and versatility of the setup.
We had no issues with accessories becoming loose or sliding around, and other than having to be cognizant of our overall height, there were no major drawbacks to the way the vehicle handled. As a bonus, even with everything mounted on the rack, we only saw a minor decrease in fuel economy and a negligible increase in wind noise.
Additionally, we can’t express enough how much we enjoy interacting with the Leitner GearPOD ROOF box. The side opening door is a game-changer for accessing your gear in the field and with such a good seal, anything stored in there stays dry and dust-free.
The beauty of the Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform is the wide variety of accessories it is compatible with and how the system can easily be personalized for each individual owner’s need. It’s a great product that can enhance anyone’s experience while out adventuring.
Sources
KAON 4x4 Touring Accessories: kaon.com.au
Leitner Designs: leitnerdesigns.com
Maxtrax: maxtraxus.com
Rhino Rack: rhinorack.com
RotopaX: rotopax.com
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This article originally appeared in OVR Issue 10. For more informative articles like this, consider subscribing to OVR Magazine in print or digital versions here. You can also find the print edition of OVR at your local newsstand by using our Magazine Finder.
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