What are roof rails for? Systems for storing kitchen equipment: how to position the roof rails in the kitchen How to fix the roof rails.

Not everyone can answer the question of what roof rails are, although many are familiar with them. A kitchen appliance is a piece of metal or plastic pipe of a small diameter, along which small shelves, brackets, nets and hooks move or are fixed in a certain position, allowing you to hang towels, cooking accessories, cutting boards and other utensils necessary in the kitchen on the wall.

The rails are fixed in a place convenient for the hostess so that she can always have a slotted spoon or spatula, spices or cling film on hand. Traditionally, they are screwed to the kitchen backsplash at the optimal height from the countertop, but there are structures that are suspended from the ceiling or other horizontal surface using additional holders.

What are the roof rails

The hostess, who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, tries to create maximum comfort in it, allowing her to get rid of unnecessary running around. Only with the successful placement of the cooking utensils necessary for cooking can she save time, effort and good mood, conjuring over her culinary masterpieces.

Roof rails in the kitchen:

unload desktop space;
arrange the placement of small accessories;
provide a chance to have everything at hand;
do not require careful maintenance;
will make it possible to swap shelves and hooks depending on which item or device is more in demand at the moment.

Horizontal railing systems are multi-tiered and lengthy. Which option is most suitable depends on the placement of wall cabinets in the kitchen, its layout and overall design. The long rail fits well into a large room and into the space under the hinged shelves, and multi-tiered structures look better in a small kitchen on a separate wall or between cupboards.

Vertical roof rails are installed between the ceiling and the floor, or table top. Small shelves-holders for dishes and vases with fruit are placed on them.

Ceiling systems are usually suspended. They should be fastened as securely as possible in order to avoid the structure falling under the weight of the hung kitchen utensils.

How to attach the rail to the wall

Installing a rail in the kitchen for a home craftsman will not be difficult and will not take much time. For successful work and high-quality results, you must have:

electric drill;
screwdriver (can be replaced with a drill);
hammer;
hex wrench;
laser level (you can use a regular building one);
railing system kit;
self-tapping screws with plastic dowels.

The first step is to decide on which wall the structure should be attached. As a rule, for this, they choose a place above the countertop, not far from the sink or stove.

To install the railing, many use the side walls or bottom shelves of the wall cabinets. It also saves space in the kitchen.

Usually the tubes are placed at chest or eye level, as well as at a distance of 5-8 centimeters from the bottom of the cabinets. But the convenience of the location can only be determined by the hostess, based on her needs. Therefore, it makes no sense to discuss what the height of the structure should be above the countertop or floor.

The roof rails should be fastened in several stages, no matter how much you want to do it faster and easier. The structure must be strong and reliable so that it was impossible to pull it out with little effort.

Holes are marked at the selected place, and then they are drilled.
Install the bushings.
Fix the supports.
Rails are mounted.

Layout and preparation

The railing on the wall must be positioned strictly horizontally, otherwise the necessary accessories will not be held on it. Hooks and shelves will simply slide down an inclined plane. Do not measure the distance from the floor or ceiling to openings. To determine the required "horizon" there is a conventional building or laser level.

Short rails up to one meter in size should be fastened at two points, and long ones in three or even four places. In accordance with these requirements, holes are outlined.

Using an electric drill, holes are drilled with a diameter corresponding to the fasteners. The drill must be selected depending on the material of the walls and cladding. For example, for concrete and ceramic tiles, diamond-coated drills or a victorious tip are intended.

Installing bushings

The dust formed during operation is blown out of the drilled holes and plastic dowels are driven into them by lightly tapping a hammer. They must go inside with little effort, otherwise the rail during operation can be accidentally pulled out.

A self-tapping screw is inserted into the sleeve, after which it is screwed into the dowel already in the wall with a screwdriver. Thus, the sleeve will be firmly and securely fixed.

Fastening the supports

The railing is supported by rectangular or cylindrical parts with two holes. One of them is for the sleeve, and the other, larger in size, is for the tube.

The support is put on a bushing installed in the wall and securely fixed to it with small screws using a hex key.

The final stage

The railing is inserted into the prepared supports and fixed with screws in the desired position. In this case, the tube is placed in such a way that its ends on both sides evenly protrude beyond the support elements.

If it is necessary to increase the length of the structure, two adjacent elements are connected using an internal plastic sleeve. For the reliability of the joint, an additional support is mounted in its place.

At the end of the work, plugs are carefully hammered into the ends of the railing with a rubber or wooden hammer to avoid damage to the nickel-plated or chrome-plated surface.

Traditionally, roof rails are made of chrome or nickel-plated steel. But manufacturers are trying to take into account the wishes of consumers, so they make roof rails in several colors and modifications.

In modern kitchens, it is appropriate to install shiny silver rails, and for a classic interior with a wooden kitchen set, pipes in gold, copper or bronze shades are more suitable.

Above the island part, the roof rails are attached to the ceiling directly above the work table. All the necessary kitchen utensils are hung on them, including kettles and pots, as well as bunches of onions or garlic. The hostess will need to walk to the nearest wall, so the suspended structure will come in handy here.

Experts recommend when choosing kitchen accessories not to pursue fashionable novelties and not to listen to the advice of neighbors. In this matter, you should rely solely on your preferences and tastes. Only then will the kitchen become cozy and comfortable.

Kitchen rails are used for convenient placement of household items and tools used most often (dishes, cleaning products, containers with spices, towels and napkins, etc.). Their use greatly facilitates the performance of everyday tasks. Traditionally, roof rails are mounted in the cooking area - on top of the kitchen apron.

Sketching and purchasing roof rails

After measuring the length of the installation area, draw a sketch, mark the locations of the support brackets, suspended functional modules (shelves, holders, etc.), plugs and corner adapters (if applicable). The brackets are usually placed at intervals of 50-70 cm, the outermost support elements are installed at a distance of 2 to 5 cm from the ends of the tube (Fig. 1).

Determine which suspension modules you will use and where it is best to place them, consider the location of the crane, household appliances and other elements that may interfere with fastening. The height of the railing should be, first of all, convenient for you, while not causing complications at the stage of installing the hinged elements and not obstructing the illumination of the working area (when using it). The rails can be installed almost anywhere in the cooking zone: on walls, on the edge of countertops and even on the surfaces of furniture and household appliances, however, the most popular is the traditional method of fixing the railing - to the kitchen apron, at a distance of about 5-10 cm from the edge upper modules. Rails should be purchased with a small margin and, if possible, one, or, in the case of corner mounting, two whole segments. Docking tubing in brackets is possible, but should only be used if necessary.

IMPORTANT: It is better to purchase brackets, plugs, corner transitions, hooks, as well as hinged elements together with a railing - in order to avoid color mismatch of elements.

Preparation for work

Unpack the material, check the delivery for completeness.

Clean the work area from unnecessary items, the table top should be covered to avoid dust.

Installation of roof rails

In our example, the corner installation of the railing is used: first, the corner adapter is fixed, and then the side tubes.

Attaching the elbow adapter

Since, in our example, the side sections of the railing are joined with the corner adapter - insert plastic inserts of the plugs (purchased separately) on both sides of the corner. The earbuds fit approximately halfway into the tube. To ensure a tighter fixation of the liners in the tube, you can use an adhesive sealant.

Attach the brackets to the corner so that the edges of the corner fit halfway into the bracket. Use a washable marker or pencil to mark the corner.

Place the brackets on the edges of the corner, and then fix them with the screws using the Allen key (included in the delivery).

Attach the angle adapter to the surface of the apron at the desired level.

Mark the boundaries for installing the brackets on each side.

Remove the corner. Using a vernier caliper, measure the width of the bracket, then, by halving it, set aside the obtained value from the previously marked boundaries, determining the location of the centers of future holes.

Drill holes for plastic dowels using a drill or drill of the appropriate diameter. (cm.).

IMPORTANT: Never drill (especially a mosaic) into the joint location - this can result in significant chipping of two adjacent tiles.

Drive in the dowels with a plastic hammer.

IMPORTANT: At the final stage of the installation of the dowels, it is recommended to use a dowel plug to avoid accidental damage to the surface of the kitchen backsplash.

Using or, fix the support rings of the brackets with the supplied screws.

Install the angle brackets, fix them on the support rings with screws.

Trimming and securing side rails

Using a tape measure, measure the lengths of the rails of the required length, mark the marks with a marker or pencil at the cut points. You can mark the edges of the mounting area directly on the original tubing by fitting one of the edges into the angle adapter bracket.

IMPORTANT: It is better to place the smoothest edge of the tube in plain sight (under the plug), the low-quality edge - in the bracket.

IMPORTANT: When making a cut, keep in mind that it is better to cut the tubes of a slightly shorter length than to allow them to go beyond the edge of the kitchen modules. The protruding edge of the rail does not look very aesthetically pleasing.

Cutting metal pipes is performed using a metal cutting disc. Outline the cutting path, secure the tube securely using clamps or vise. Do not forget to wrap the railing with cardboard or thick cloth in the place of fixation - in order to avoid damage to the surface layer of the product. Make a cut along the outlined contour, after which - process the edges with a file, removing burrs and small irregularities.

Install the required number of brackets on the tube without fixing them, insert the edge of the railing into the angle bracket and align it horizontally. Distribute the brackets at equal intervals, mark the places of their installation, and, after that, determine the centers of the mounting holes in the manner described above. Install and mark the second side rail in the same way. This work is best done together. One installs and aligns the railing, the second makes markings.

Few modern kitchens today do without a rail system. An ordinary hollow tube with hooks located on it has turned out to be an indispensable assistant for housewives, and is often a decoration and attracts the attention of guests.

Roof rails as a system for organizing the storage of kitchen utensils have entered our homes from cafes and canteens. There they carried a functional load: the cooks had no time to look for and select the necessary pots, saucepans or knives on numerous shelves and in cabinets. Therefore, placing kitchen tools in plain sight made their task much easier. Now all the lovers can use magic in the kitchen to appreciate all the advantages of roof rails.

Installation of roof rails has long been not a sign of luxury. The base of the railing is a hollow tube or rod with a diameter of several centimeters, most often made of stainless steel. It attaches to the wall using the most commonly sold set of holders. After attaching the tube, hooks, shelves and other elements are hung on it, which are now presented in a wide variety. Depending on the size and type of construction, almost everything can be located on the railing - from a pepper shaker to a lid or even a frying pan.

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The material of the railing system is overwhelmingly stainless steel. It is able to withstand heat, steam, water and detergents without deteriorating its properties and appearance. Roof rails can be painted, matt, imitate bronze or brass and support any style of kitchen.

Rails made of aluminum, bronze and brass are somewhat less common. Aluminum systems deform over time, and non-ferrous metal roof rails are expensive compared to steel ones, and besides, they will not fit into any interior. They are mainly found in luxury kitchens, made in a classic style.

If you decide to install roof rails in the kitchen, this will allow you to solve several problems at once:

save free space in kitchen furniture. Even in a large kitchen with an abundance of cabinets, it is sometimes difficult to allocate space for numerous spatulas, ladles, knives and cutting boards. Placing these items on the rail will free up more than one kitchen shelf;
place the necessary items in plain sight, thereby reducing the cooking time. In order for the railing system to be truly ergonomic, you should think in advance about where and what is best to hang. For example, next to the stove, it would be logical to place lids from saucepans and objects for stirring food during cooking. And above the working surface of the table, install a shelf for cookbooks or for spices;
give the kitchen an aesthetic look. Whatever style reigns in your kitchen - classic or high-tech - the various shapes and colors of roof railing systems on the market are ready to organically fit into the existing interior.

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Types of structures

Horizontal

The horizontal rail is most often seen in the kitchens of apartments and houses. The crossbar is mounted on wall mounts along the backsplash or kitchen work area. After installing the crossbar, its ends are decorated with plugs. The length of the crossbar depends on the length of the headset or the length of the wall along which the rail is installed. If the length is not enough, you can design a multi-tiered system of horizontal rails, which will exactly accommodate everything that you plan.

After installing the main bar, you can start hanging the hooks. In addition to single, double and s-shaped hooks, there are many solutions for rails on the market: stands, shelves and various containers increase the usable area of the railing system. However, do not hang absolutely everything on the rail. You should have the most essential items or things that are often used during cooking or eating.

One of the types of horizontal roof railing is the corner version. The installation of the corner railing takes more time, however, it is also quite useful. For example, installing a hanging system in the corner where the sink is located will allow you to place all the detergents and sponges on the shelf, saving space near the sink.

Vertical

On vertical rails, as a rule, heavier kitchen items are stored: mugs, fruit bowls, vases, jars of cereals. Therefore, their design is more solid than horizontal ones. The vertical railing can occupy the entire height of the room, however, most often, with its upper end, it rests against the ceiling of the room, and with its lower end, against a bar table or countertop. For the stability of the structure, additional fastening to the wall is sometimes performed. Such roof rails create a special atmosphere of a home cafe and look very stylish in the interior.

Suspended

Suspended roof rails work well for large kitchens or with a lot of cooking utensils. In this case, the roof rail is attached to the ceiling, most often above the kitchen island. All the necessary kitchen utensils are hung on it - pots, ladles, saucepans. This results in significant savings in space in kitchen cabinets. But in order to maintain aesthetics, the cleanliness of the dishes will have to be well monitored.

At what height to hang

When planning the installation of a roof railing, you should consider the following recommendations:

placing a horizontal rail is advisable in the cooking area. The rule may seem obvious, but it is common to find horizontal bars installed in the area where the outlets are located. In this case, the rail is not just not used for its intended purpose, but can even become an obstacle for small household appliances (kettle, microwave oven, etc.);
it is recommended to install a horizontal rail at a distance of 40-50 cm from the working surface, but not less than 5-7 cm from the hinged shelf. In general, the most functional is the installation of the roof railing at the eye level of an adult. If the surface of the wall is tiled, then the height of the roof railing can be selected taking into account the entry of the fasteners into the seam between the tiles;
the best place to install a vertical railing is in the corner of the kitchen unit. Thus, the kitchen space will be used more efficiently. If the kitchen has a bar table, it is better to install a rail on it;
the height of the hanging rail must be comfortable to use. That is, such that it is easy to remove heavy dishes from it and hang it back, but at the same time not to hurt the head of the pots and pans. A kitchen island in rooms with high ceilings is considered the best for placing a hanging rail.

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How to fix correctly

Installing a horizontal rail with your own hands takes less than an hour. In addition to the purchased railing, you will need a small set of tools to install it, which is available in almost every home - a pencil, a hammer, a screwdriver, a hammer drill, screws, self-tapping screws and concrete anchors. Often consumables (screws, screws) are already included in the railing system kit.

Installing a horizontal rail

On the wall into which the railing will be mounted, marks are made with a pencil for further drilling. The wall mounts will be installed using these holes. The optimum distance between the holes is 50 cm. If the distance between the fasteners is more than 60 cm, the crossbar may deform under the weight of the hanging utensils. For roof rails less than 1 m long, two holes are sufficient.

After marking the holes, they must be drilled, plastic dowels must be inserted into them and carefully hammered in with a hammer. Further, using a self-tapping screw, bushings from the railing system kit are installed into the holes. These bushings will hold the entire railing structure, so it is important to pay special attention to this stage of work, securely fixing the bushings.

Wall holders are put on the bushings, and a crossbar tube is threaded through them. For aesthetics, it is important to observe that at both ends the bar protrudes at the same distance from the holders. At the final stage, the position of the crossbar is fixed in the wall holders using the screws included in the kit and a hex wrench.

Finishing work remained: wipe the railing, put the plugs on both sides and hang the hooks. It should be borne in mind that some designs of hooks and shelves are installed on the railing before the plugs. Thus, they can move along the rail between the two holders, but not be removed from it.

If you follow these simple rules, you can avoid installation errors.

it is important to place the bar strictly horizontally. To do this, you can use the usual building level and check the horizontality at the stage of marking the holes;
When drilling holes, a diamond drill will prevent cracks and chips from forming on the backsplash or tiles. If it is possible to drill not the tile, but the inter-tile space, it is better to use it. In the absence of the required tool, it is better to invite a master - his work will cost less than replacing a kitchen apron.

The installation diagram of the corner railing is a little more complicated and is shown in the figure below. However, the complications can be avoided by purchasing a corner connector. It is a segment of the bar bent at an angle of 90º. Thus, the installation of the corner railing will not differ from the installation of a straight structure.

How to hang devices on a horizontal rail is a matter of taste for every housewife. However, there are general guidelines for the arrangement of items on the railing:

it is rational to fill the shelves above the sink with dishwashing detergents, sponges, and also provide hooks for towels or a holder for paper towels. You can also use the shelf as a dish drainer;
the space above the stove is ideal for the spice rack, pot holders and kitchen lighter. And chrome ladles, spoons and skimmers should not be placed in such a place, because they will get stained with grease when cooking.

Installation of vertical railing

The structure of the vertical rail can be equipped with special spacers. In this case, additional tools and consumables are not required. You just need to follow the installation instructions, and then place the hinged shelves on the railing. In the absence of such spacers, the technology of installing a vertical railing practically does not differ from a horizontal one: mark holes on the upper and lower mounting surfaces, drill them, insert dowels and use screws and self-tapping screws to fix the railing system.

Installation of a hinged rail

First of all, when installing a hinged system, you should take care of its safety. As a consequence, a reliable fixation is required with anchor bolts made in the form of a hook. The system is suspended using chains and is dimensioned in such a way as to withstand the weight of the structure itself and the weight of the kitchen utensils attached to it. It is better to entrust the installation and installation of the hinged railing to professionals.

Some ignorant car enthusiasts do not know about the merits and advantages of roof rails. Such a simple device is a special rail that must be installed. Needless to say, the convenience of such a device, if thanks to it, the car owner can easily refuse to install an additional trunk. If you install roof rails on the car, you can easily transport almost any bulky cargo. In this case, things will stand on a level platform, have reliable support and be held with the help of small rails. Such a simple device allows you to transport over long distances not only bicycles and skis, but also other bulky goods that cannot fit in a regular car trunk.

Autorailing device

The roof rails received such an intricate name thanks to their ancestor from England. The appearance of the roof rails is quite simple - a small structure with an oblong shape and an oval profile. Most often, the device is made of metal / metal-plastic. The edges are always equipped with plastic tips, and the fixation points are equipped with additional specialized fasteners. It is worth noting that correctly selected roof rails installed on the roof of the car with your own hands can even serve.

On the Russian market, there are many brands of cars from foreign manufacturers, which are equipped with such "pipes" even in the basic configuration. However, on most cars only fastening is provided, the choice of roof rails "falls on the shoulders" of the future owner. For example, a car such as Toyota, which is so widespread among Russians, in its basic configuration is equipped only with a specialized place for the possible installation of rails, and in the “luxury” set, they are mounted immediately at the manufacturing plant.

Recently, such models have begun to appear, on the fasteners of which lights are installed, as additional lighting. This non-standard "slats" feature will be especially useful during fishing or hunting trips. Naturally, such lighting is not installed on all cars, most often it is found on the roofs of SUVs, which have good cross-country ability even on complete off-road.

The purpose of the "planks"

As practice shows, the installation of roof rails on a car does not require a lot of labor and time. After some simple manipulations, the car owner gets several very useful features. So:

the slats will help to securely fix the additional one, which has regular and streamlined transverse fasteners. The standard “bar” has an aerodynamic profile, and the transverse one is rectangular;
with the help of rails, it will be possible to transport various household goods even over long distances, which will be securely attached to the platform roof;
Racks are the most convenient mount for transporting bicycles, skis or snowboards. There is no need to disassemble such vehicles for parts and completely empty the luggage compartment. In addition, the "slats" provide a stable fixation, the car owner and passengers may no longer think about the reliability of their attachment;
any sports equipment can be transported by means of roof rails, since it is possible to install fasteners that will be fixed magnetically or mechanically;
the car, on the roof of which it was possible to install the roof rails with our own hands, has a greater visual appeal. The additionally installed box allows you to create an interesting exterior, give the car solidity.

Rack classification

It is worth noting that it is quite simple to install roof rails on a car, especially since the main advantage of such rails is their versatility. Installation of "strips" can be done on almost any body, they guarantee reliable fastening and ease of installation. However, before purchasing roof rails, you should study their types, learn about the features of some models.

The rails on the car may differ in the material of manufacture (the body can be metal - steel or aluminum - or metal-plastic) and the fastening features (longitudinal and transverse models). With experience, car owners have assigned their names to these types of rails, in their "own" environment the planks are called "rails" and "sleepers". On the Russian market, you can buy rails that will combine both options at the same time. In addition, slats differ in design characteristics, the most common are model and universal types. Naturally, the first type is produced for one specific model range of cars, while the other has universal fasteners, which allows it to be installed on any car, regardless of its make or model.

When purchasing roof rails, you need to pay attention to their diameter, length, appearance, color and shape. Among Russians, black steel slats are especially popular, in the second and third most famous places are shiny steel "slats" and products made of black / gray plastic.

How to choose the right slats

Longitudinal roof rails

Choosing roof rails for a car is not easy, especially when you consider the wide range of various models on the market. It is difficult to get lost among the variety of shapes, types, colors and cost even for a car owner with experience, not to mention beginners who want to install such an element on their car for the first time. It will be easier to decide and make the right choice if you are guided by several important tips when buying:

Initially, you need to find out about the existence of a product that is made for a specific model. If you can find rails that have a mount specially selected for the car of the car owner, this will greatly simplify the task. Installing the slats will not be difficult, as their fasteners will ideally fit into the existing holes. Each individual car has its own characteristics (size and position), characteristic of fixing the "planks". You should not mindlessly buy any product you like, as it can be a waste of money. Before buying, you should look at the instructions, which contain information about the model range of machines, to which the rails can be approached with a 100% guarantee.
It will not be superfluous to check the strength of the "planks". You should not stop your choice on inexpensive models made of low quality "soft" material. Such a fastener, most likely, will not be able to withstand heavy loads for a long time and will quickly break. In addition to damaging the transported cargo, there may be unpleasant dents or deep scratches on the roof of the car. There will be no benefit from such roof rails, the car owner will "pay" with additional waste on expensive repairs.
To choose high-quality roof rails for a car, you need to ask the seller about the maximum load that can be permissible for a certain type, manufacturer and material before buying. Naturally, there is no apparent need to bend and break the "bar"; it is enough to check its compliance. The metal-plastic "playing" in the hands suggests that it is better not to make such a purchase at all.
If the car owner wants to purchase not simple ordinary roof rails, but a more trendy design, it is necessary to give preference to rods, which are made of chrome and equipped with plastic clips.
If during the purchase there are questions that you cannot solve on your own, you can contact the dealer who sold the car and ask him about the “trim” models that fit a particular car better than anyone else.

After the choice is finally made and the product is purchased, you should think about the cost of its installation.

We install the rails ourselves

To install roof rails on the car roof, you can use the help of professionals, take the car to a service center, where qualified specialists will quickly set the "rails", while observing all the necessary rules. However, those car owners who are confident in their abilities can try to install roof rails with their own hands. In this case, proceed as carefully as possible so as not to damage or scratch the roof of the machine.

Before installing, inspect the roof of the vehicle and find places specifically provided for fixing the rails. In most vehicles, roof rails are hard to find, and the holes can be underneath unsightly rubber caps. However, if you cannot find any, you need to check from the inside of the car. Perhaps, it is on the side of the passenger compartment that the compartments for fasteners are provided.

In order to install the roof railing mount on the car roof correctly, you must first read the instructions that come with the product.

Before starting the adjustment, it is necessary to loosen the rack fasteners in order to greatly simplify the whole process of further adjustment. It is better to install "planks" in tandem with a friend, self-assembly can be fraught with damage to the roof surface.

Initially, it is necessary to correctly position all the available latches, then adjust the tilt of the fastener. The next step is to install the rails and check the rigidity of the installation. If everything was done carefully, there should be no backlash.

Design advantages and disadvantages

Car owners who know what roof rails are in a car are probably aware of the advantages and advantages of reliable assistants for the transportation of oversized cargo. The advantages of the rails:

the ability to install additional equipment (fog lights, TV antennas);
the ability to move over long distances agricultural tools (shovels, for example);
installation of branch protectors that protect the body during a trip through the forest (branches can scratch and spoil the paintwork).

Disadvantages of the design:

deterioration of aerodynamic characteristics;
the appearance of noise due to the resistance of baggage or cargo with air currents;
a heavily overloaded car becomes difficult to control.

Conclusion

The benefits of roof rails cannot be overemphasized. The main rule is to observe precautions, transport only the maximum permissible loads and not be zealous, overloading your car. It is equally important to choose a product wisely without saving on quality.

Modern cars have a fairly roomy trunk in which you can carry a large amount of oversized cargo. However, there are situations when it is rather difficult to place a load in the luggage compartment of a car, for example, it is almost impossible to do this when transporting building materials. Installing roof rails on the car roof solves this problem.

Roof rails are installed for the subsequent installation of an additional rack. It can be a special frame structure, an autobox for transporting personal belongings or tools, as well as a trunk in the form of a loading platform or basket.

To the crossbars on the roof of the car, attach the load without using the trunk. For example, bicycles, scooters and bulky items are transported in this way.

Advantages and disadvantages

Trunk rails have a number of advantages and disadvantages. The pluses of parts include:

Possibility of installing additional equipment. Additional fog lights, or an antenna for a radio or TV, are mounted on the trunk, which is mounted on the rails.
Transportation of large instruments. When traveling on rough terrain, or on a hike, drivers attach a hijack and a large shovel to the rails.

Additional car body. The rails of the car are equipped with branch protectors, which protect the surface of the car from contact with branches of bushes and trees, when driving over rough terrain or country roads.
The disadvantages include:

A decrease in the aerodynamic properties of a car, and an increase in fuel consumption.
High noise level due to additional air currents around the trunk.
Low stability of the car, with a heavy load of the roof rack. An unevenly distributed load can cause an accident: at high speed the car loses control and stability, and may roll over.

The roof rack is not used on a daily basis. Therefore, in order to avoid inconvenience, when an additional rack is installed, it is recommended to install removable models.

Varieties

There are a few . The choice of suitable cross members depends on their appearance, vehicle model, types of fastening, dimensions and materials of which the cross members are made.

By material

Roof rails are divided into metal and metal-plastic. As materials of manufacture of the first type, such as steel or aluminum are used. The second type is made of hard plastic, the carrying capacity of such rails is an order of magnitude lower than metal ones.

By installation method

Car rails are longitudinal and transverse. The first type crosses the roof, and the other is placed in the direction of travel of the car. In rare cases, you can find a model of combined roof rails that combine these two types.

By design

Universal roof rails can be installed on the roof of any car, while model crossbars can be installed on the roof of a particular car brand.

You can also find support and integrated roof rails on sale. Parts belonging to the first type are attached to the supports, and a gap remains between them and the roof. Integrated fit snugly to the roof of the car.

By the length and diameter of the arc

The choice of parts according to the diameter of the arc, and the length, depends on the type of rack used on the car. Depending on the dimensions of the roof of the car, and the size of the trunk used, two and three support rails are used, or integrated cross members with a large arc diameter. The larger the dimensions and carrying capacity of the trunk, the more supports are used to securely fasten the roof rails to the roof of the car.

By color and shape

The shape of almost all models of roof rails is the same - the parts are made in the form of rods slightly bent into an elongated arc. There are significant differences in color design: the market sells parts made of black steel, which matches almost any car in color, silver and black matt roof rails are also in demand among drivers.

How to choose

In order for the roof rails to look spectacular on the roof and serve for a long time, it is necessary to take into account the nuances of choosing these parts:

The elements are selected in accordance with the model of the car on which the installation of an additional trunk is planned. When choosing, pay attention to the railing mount, it must match the standard installation holes. You can find out the compatibility of the arc on the roof of the car using the instructions attached to the part.
Before purchasing, you need to check the strength of the rails. Low-quality products, or parts that are made of insufficiently solid material, do not withstand loads, and quickly become unusable. Due to the breakage of the rails, there is a risk of damage to the transported cargo, the appearance of dents and scratches on the car. A broken part while driving creates a threat to other road users. When choosing products, it is necessary to clarify the maximum permissible load level, the manufacturer and the material from which the part is made. Apply light pressure to the slats. If they give in, then it is better to refuse the purchase.
When choosing roof rails, take into account both external factors: color and shape, and dimensions of parts.

How to make do-it-yourself roof rails

Making roof rails with your own hands allows you to save money on purchasing this car accessory. When creating crossbars, the driver takes into account the characteristics of his car, and personal needs. You can construct a part that has an original design.

When designing crossbars for roof rails, it should be borne in mind that when transporting goods in an additional luggage compartment, a strong fixation of the transported items is important. In order for the load to be securely fastened, you should use high-quality materials when designing the crossbars yourself. The finished product must withstand loads weighing in the range from 60 to 110 kg.

To design roof rails for a car, use the following tools and materials:

Metal profile. Used to create guides and arcs.
Welding machine, drill, grinder.
Fasteners (bolts, nuts and washers of various diameters and sizes play their role).
Polyurethane foam.
Heat-shrink tubing.
Building hair dryer.
Paint and brush.

Homemade crossbars look like two parallel straight lines that are installed on the roof of a car. When creating them, the shape and width of the roof are taken into account. The thickness of the profile from which the roof rails will be created should not exceed 3 millimeters.

To fix the load or trunk on homemade crossbars, use:

Belts.
Mesh (when using a basket).
Support or pressure clamps (designed for transporting snowboards, skis or bicycles).

Before installing homemade roof rails on the roof of a new car, it is necessary to protect the paint and varnish layer of the car from direct contact with the metal structure. For this, rubberized gaskets are used.

How to install

The rails are installed by professionals, but if it is not possible to entrust the installation of the crossbars to the masters, then this operation can be performed independently. Before fixing the crossbars, you will need to perform a number of preparatory operations:

Carefully examine the roof of the car for the presence of fasteners for the crossbars.
Dismantle the protective plugs that are installed in the mounts. The parts are pulled to the side (the direction is indicated on the plugs themselves), then pulled up.
The freed holes are cleaned of dust and dirt, the walls are degreased, and a silicone-based sealant is applied to the entire surface area. Otherwise, moisture will enter through the remaining slots, directly into the car interior.

After completing the preparation, you can install the roof rails on the car:

The attachment points of the crossbars, as well as the roof surface, are cleaned of dirt and degreased.
The trim is removed from the ceiling inside the passenger compartment.
Holes are drilled in the body. Before performing this operation, you will need to decide whether the longitudinal or transverse rails will be installed on the vehicle. The location of the mounting hole must be indicated in advance.
To damage the paint on the ceiling with hot shavings, cover the unprotected areas with masking tape.
After preparing the holes, the cross members are installed, which are attached to the standard bolts.

In order to install the crossbars, you will need to make additional mounting holes. However, after dismantling the cross members, holes will remain in the roof of the car.