What are the best roof racks for Land Rover Discovery?

Question

I finally picked up a used Discovery 5 and I am honestly stressing out about getting a proper roof rack on it before our big camping trip to the Rockies in mid-July. My budget is around 1k but I dont want something that is going to whistle like crazy on the highway because we have a long drive ahead and I cant stand that noise. I have been doing a ton of reading online and I keep seeing people swear by the Front Runner Slimline II, but then I see other threads where people complain about it being super heavy or having issues with the mounting tracks. Then there is the Rhino-Rack Pioneer stuff which looks solid but I am just so paranoid about messing up the install and causing a leak or something since the mounting points look kinda complicated on the Disco. Does anyone have experience with these or is there another brand that is easier to manage without having to be a pro mechanic? I just want something sturdy enough to haul some gear boxes and maybe a spare tire without breaking the bank or ruining the look of the truck. What are you guys actually using that holds up well over time?

xnjltryuly · Accepted Answer

Congrats on the Disco 5! Honestly, those roof rails can be a total pain to deal with if you aren't careful, but you definitely shouldn't be stressing about leaks if you just take your time. I have been running the Front Runner Slimline II Land Rover Discovery 5 Full Rack for a couple of years now and honestly, it is solid. Yeah, it has some weight to it, but that is basically the price you pay for something that wont rattle apart on bumpy trails in the Rockies. Regarding your noise concern, that is where most people mess up. If you just bolt the rack on and call it a day, it is gonna howl at highway speeds. You need to grab a wind deflector. Here is how I keep my setup quiet:

Spend the extra cash on the Front Runner Wind Deflector for Slimline II Rack because it kills the whistle almost entirely.

Check your bolt tension after the first 500 miles of driving to make sure everything seated properly.

Use some silicone sealant around the mounting points if you are super paranoid about leaks, though the factory mounting points are pretty robust if you follow the torque specs. Honestly, the rack is great for throwing on extra gear boxes or a spare tire. Just dont overthink the install. Its way more straightforward than the forums make it sound.

lkijypvifm · Answer

Been thinking about your question. Honestly, the weight of those modular racks is a nightmare for fuel economy. I had issues with mounting hardware rusting out way too fast. If you want something lighter and cheaper that wont whistle, look into these:

Yakima TimberLine Towers paired with Yakima JetStream Crossbars 60 inch

Thule WingBar Evo 135 Theyre way easier to install and definitely easier on the wallet before your trip.

Pixel Dew · Answer

Like someone mentioned, dealing with these roof systems is such a headache. I honestly regret spending so much time obsessing over the perfect setup because, at the end of the day, everything feels like it creates some kind of annoying wind noise or vibration eventually. I had issues with mounting hardware getting loose on a trip last year and it was just a total nightmare to deal with on the side of the highway.

Did you already decide on a specific weight capacity for your gear boxes?

Are you planning on mounting a roof top tent later on, or is it strictly for storage? Unfortunately, nothing seems as perfect as the marketing photos suggest. It really sucks when you shell out decent cash only to have it rattle around every time you hit 60mph. I'm honestly just burnt out on the whole search process.