What are railings for? Storage systems for kitchen equipment: how to arrange the rails in the kitchen How to fix the roof rails.

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

The roof 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 apron on optimal height from the countertop, but there are designs suspended from the ceiling or other horizontal surface with additional holders.

What are railings

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

Rails in the kitchen:

  • unload the space on the desktop;
  • organize the placement of small accessories;
  • provide a chance to have everything at hand;
  • do not require careful care;
  • will make it possible to interchange shelves and hooks, depending on which this moment the object or device is more in demand.

Horizontal railing systems are multi-tiered and long. Which option will be most suitable depends on the placement of wall cabinets in the kitchen, its layout and overall design. Long railing fits well into the room large area and into the space under the hanging shelves, and multi-tiered structures look better in small kitchen on the separate wall or between cabinets.

Vertical rails are installed between the ceiling and the floor, or countertop. Small shelves-stands for dishes and vases with fruit are planted on them.

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

How to attach the railing to the wall

Install railing in the kitchen home master 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 key;
  • 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 mounted. As a rule, for this, a place is chosen above the countertop, not far from the sink or stove.

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

Typically, the tubes are placed at chest or eye level, as well as at a distance of 5-8 centimeters from the bottom of the lockers. 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 above the countertop or floor should be.

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

  1. Mark holes at the selected location, and then drill them.
  2. Install bushings.
  3. Fix the supports.
  4. Mount the rails.

Markup and preparation

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

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

With help electric drill drill holes 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 drills with a diamond coating or a victorious tip are intended.

Bushing installation

From drilled holes they blow out the dust formed during the work and, with a light tap of a hammer, drive plastic dowels into them. They must go inside with little effort, otherwise the railing during operation can be accidentally pulled out.

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

Mounting supports

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

The support is put on a sleeve installed in the wall and securely fastened 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. At the same time, the tube is placed in such a way that its ends on both sides evenly protrude beyond supporting 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, the plugs are carefully hammered into the ends of the railing with a rubber or wooden hammer to avoid damaging the nickel-plated or chrome-plated surface.

Traditionally, railing systems 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 railings, and for classic interior with a wooden kitchen set, pipes in gold, copper or bronze shades are more suitable.

Above the island part, the railing structures are attached to the ceiling directly above the desktop. They hang all the necessary kitchen utensils, including teapots and pots, as well as bundles of onions or garlic. The hostess will need to walk to the nearest wall, so suspended structure here it will come in handy.

When choosing kitchen accessories, experts recommend not chasing fashion news and do not 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 products that are used most often (dishes, cleaning products, containers with spices, towels and napkins, etc.). Their use greatly facilitates the implementation of everyday tasks. Traditionally, roof rails are mounted in the cooking area - on top of the kitchen apron.

Making a sketch and purchasing roof rails

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

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

IMPORTANT: Brackets, plugs, corner transitions, hooks, as well as hinged elements are best purchased together with the railing - in order to avoid color mismatch of the elements.

Preparation for work

Unpack the material, check the completeness of the delivery.



Clear the work area of ​​unnecessary items, the countertop should be covered to avoid dusting.

Installation of rails

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

Fixing the corner adapter

Since, in our example, the side sections of the railing are joined to the corner adapter, insert plastic plug inserts on both sides of the corner (sold separately). The earbuds are installed approximately halfway into the tube. To ensure a tighter fixation of the liners in the tube, an adhesive sealant can be used.



Attach the brackets to the corner so that the edges of the corner go into the bracket by half its width. Mark the corner with a washable marker or pencil.

Install the brackets on the corner edges, and then fix them with screws using the hex wrench (supplied).



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

Mark the boundaries of the brackets on each side.



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




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




IMPORTANT: Never drill (especially mosaic) at the location of the seam - this can lead to chipping significant fragments of two adjacent tiles.



Drive in the dowels with a plastic hammer.



IMPORTANT: At the final stage of installing the dowels, it is recommended to use a doboy to avoid accidental damage to the surface of the kitchen apron.

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

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




Trimming and fixing side rails

Using a tape measure, measure the sections of the railing of the desired length, put the risks with a marker or pencil at the cut points. It is possible to mark the edges of the mounting area directly on the tubes of the original size by installing them with one of the edges into the bracket of the elbow adapter.

IMPORTANT: It is better to place the most even edge of the tube in plain sight (under the plug), the poor quality one - in the bracket.



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

The cut of metal tubes is carried out with the help of a cutting disc for metal. Outline the cutting path, securely fix the tube using clamps or a vise. Do not forget to wrap the railing with cardboard or thick cloth at the fixation point - 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 needle file, eliminating burrs and small irregularities.

Install on the handset right amount brackets without fixing them, insert the edge of the railing into the angle bracket and align it horizontally. Distribute the brackets with equal interval, mark the places of their installation, and, after that, determine the centers of the mounting holes in the manner described above. Similarly, install and mark out the second side rail. This work better done together. One installs and aligns the railing, the second makes markings.

Few modern kitchen manages in our time without a railing system. An ordinary hollow tube with hooks located on it turned out to be an indispensable assistant for housewives, and often it is an ornament 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, stewpans or knives on numerous shelves and cabinets. Therefore, the location of kitchen tools in plain sight greatly simplified their task. Now all lovers of conjuring in the kitchen can appreciate all the advantages of roof rails.

Installing roof rails has not been a sign of luxury for a long time. The basis of the railing is a hollow tube or rod with a diameter of several centimeters, most often made of stainless steel. It is attached to the wall using holders, most often sold in a kit. 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 exposure to heat, steam, water and detergents without degradation and appearance. Railing elements can be painted, matted, imitate bronze or brass and support any kitchen style.

Railings made of aluminum, bronze and brass are somewhat less common. Aluminum systems over time, they deform, and rails made of non-ferrous metals 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 solve several problems at once:

  • save 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 railing will free more than one kitchen shelf;
  • place necessary items visible, thereby reducing the cooking time. To railing system was really ergonomic, you should think in advance where and what is better to hang. For example, next to the stove it would be logical to place pot lids and objects for stirring food while it is cooking. And above the working surface of the table, install a shelf for cookbooks or for spices;
  • give the kitchen aesthetic appearance. Whatever style reigns in your kitchen - classic or high-tech - the diverse shapes and colors of railing systems on the market are ready to organically fit into the existing interior.

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Types of structures

Horizontal

Horizontal railing is most often seen in the kitchens of apartments and houses. The crossbar tube is mounted on wall mounts along the kitchen apron 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 railing is installed. If the length is not enough, you can design a multi-tiered horizontal railing system, which will exactly accommodate everything that you plan.

After installing the main crossbar, you can begin to hang the hooks. In addition to single, double and s-hooks, there are many railing solutions on the market: stands, shelves and various containers increase the usable area of ​​the railing system. However, you should not hang absolutely everything on the railing. At hand should be the most necessary items or things that are often used during cooking or eating.

One of the varieties of horizontal railing is corner option. Installation of corner railing requires more time, however, there are many benefits from it. For example, installing a hanging system in the corner where the sink is located will allow you to place everything on the shelf. detergents and sponges, saving space near the sink.

vertical

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

Suspended

Suspension systems rails justify themselves when installed on large kitchens or with large quantity utensils for cooking. In this case, the railing is attached to the ceiling, most often above the kitchen island. All the necessary kitchen utensils are hung on it - pots, ladles, stewpans. This results in significant space savings in kitchen cabinets. But to maintain aesthetics, the cleanliness of the dishes will have to be well monitored.

At what height to hang

When planning the installation of railing, the following recommendations should be considered:

  • placement of horizontal railing is advisable in the cooking area. The rule may seem obvious, but you can often find horizontal bars installed in the outlet area. In this case, the railing is not only not used for its intended purpose, but may even become a hindrance to small household appliances (kettle, microwave, etc.);
  • it is recommended to install horizontal railing at a distance of 40-50 cm from working surface, but not less than 5-7 cm from the hinged shelf. In the general case, the most functional is the scheme for installing the railing at the level of the eyes of an adult. If the surface of the wall is tiled, then the installation height of the railing can be selected taking into account the hit of the fasteners in the seam between the tiles;
  • the best place for installation of a vertical railing - angle kitchen set. Thus, the kitchen space will be used more efficiently. If the kitchen has a bar table, it is better to install a railing on it;
  • the height of the hanging railing should be comfortable for use. That is, such that you can easily remove heavy dishes from it and hang it back, but at the same time do not touch the pots and pans with your head. The best place for hanging railing is a kitchen island in rooms with high ceilings.

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How to fasten

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

Installation of horizontal railing

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

After marking the holes, they must be drilled, plastic dowels inserted into them and carefully hammered. Further, using a self-tapping screw, bushings from the railing system kit are installed in the holes. The entire railing structure will be held on these bushings, so it is important to pay Special attention this stage of work, securely fastening 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 crossbar protrudes the same distance from the holders. At the final stage, the position of the crossbar is fixed in wall holders using the screws included in the kit and a hex wrench.

The finishing work remains: wipe the railing, put plugs on both sides and hang the hooks. It is worth considering that some designs of hooks and shelves are installed on the railing up to the plugs. Thus, they can move along the railing between two holders, but not be removed from it.

If you follow the following simple rules, you can avoid installation errors.

  • it is important to position the bar strictly horizontally. To do this, you can use the usual building level and check the horizontal position at the stage of marking the holes;
  • when drilling holes, a diamond-coated drill will prevent cracks and chips from appearing on kitchen apron or tiles. If it is possible to drill not a tile, but an 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 corner rail installation scheme is a little more complicated and is shown in the figure below. However, you can avoid difficulties by purchasing a corner connector. It is a piece of crossbar 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 fixtures on a horizontal railing is a matter of taste exclusively for every housewife. However, there general recommendations according to the arrangement of objects 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 dryer;
  • the space above the stove is ideal for a spice rack, oven hooks, and a kitchen lighter. And chrome-plated ladles, spoons and skimmers should not be placed in such a place, because. they will get dirty with grease when cooking dishes.

Installation of vertical railing

The design of the vertical railing can be equipped with special spacers. In this case additional tools and Supplies not required. It is only necessary to follow the installation instructions, and then place the hanging shelves on the railing. In the absence of such spacers, the technology for installing a vertical railing is practically the same as a horizontal one: mark holes on the upper and lower mounting surfaces, drill them, insert dowels and fix the railing system with screws and self-tapping screws.

Mounted railing installation

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

Some ignorant motorists do not know about the advantages and disadvantages of roof rails. Such a simple device is a special rail that needs to 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 roof of the car, you can easily transport almost any bulky cargo. In this case, things will stand on a flat platform, have reliable support and held with small slats. Such a simple device allows you to transport for long distances not only bicycles and skis, but also other bulky goods that cannot fit in a conventional car trunk.

Auto railing device

The roof rails received such an intricate name thanks to their ancestor from England. The appearance of the rails is quite simple - a small structure that has 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 properly selected roof rails installed on the roof of the car with your own hands can even serve.

There are many brands of cars on the Russian market foreign manufacturers, which even in the basic configuration are equipped with such "tubes". However, on most machines, only fastening is provided, the choice of rails "falls on the shoulders" of the future owner. For example, such a common car among Russians as Toyota, in the basic configuration, is equipped only with a specialized place for possible installation rails, and in the “lux” kit they are mounted immediately at the manufacturing plant.

V Lately such models began to appear, on the fasteners of which lights were installed, as additional lighting. This non-standard function of the "slats" will be especially appropriate 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 impassability.

The purpose of the "slats"

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

  • the rails will help to securely fix the additional one, which has conventional and streamlined transverse mounts. The standard "bar" has an aerodynamic profile, and the transverse one has a rectangular one;
  • 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 roof platform;
  • reiki is the best convenient fastening, allowing you to transport bicycles, skis or snowboards. There is no need to disassemble such vehicles for spare parts and completely empty the luggage compartment. In addition, the "bars" provide a stable fixation, the car owner and passengers can no longer think about the reliability of their fastening;
  • any sports equipment can be transported through roof rails, as it is possible to install fasteners that will be fixed magnetically or mechanically;
  • a car on the roof of which it was possible to install roof rails with your own hands has a greater visual appeal. Additionally mounted box allows you to create an interesting exterior, give the car solidity.

Rail classification

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

The roof rails on the car can differ in the material of manufacture (the body can be metal - steel or aluminum - or metal-plastic) and fastening features (longitudinal and transverse models). Car owners with experience have assigned their names to such types of rails; in their “own” environment, the strips are called “rails” and “sleepers”. On the Russian market, you can purchase such roof rails that will simultaneously combine both options. In addition, rails differ in design characteristics, the most common are model and universal types. Naturally, the first type is produced for one particular model range of cars, and 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, shiny steel “slats” and products made of black / gray plastic are in second and third place in terms of fame.

How to choose the right slats

Longitudinal rails

Choosing roof rails for a car is not easy, especially given the wide range of various models on the market. Get lost among the variety of forms, types, color schemes and cost is difficult even for an experienced car owner, not to mention beginners who want to install a similar element on their car for the first time. Decide and do right choice It will be easier if you follow a few important tips when buying:

  • Initially, you need to find out about the existence of a product that is made under specific model. If you can find roof rails that have a mount specially selected for the car owner's car, this will greatly simplify the task. Installing the rails will not be difficult, as their fasteners will ideally fit into existing holes. Each individual car has its own characteristics (size and position), characteristic for fixing the "bars". Do not thoughtlessly buy any product you like, as this can be a waste of money. Before buying, you should look at the instructions, which contains information about model range machines, to which the rails can fit with a 100% guarantee.
  • It will not be superfluous to check the strength of the "slats". You should not opt ​​for 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 cargo being transported, unpleasant dents or deep scratches on the roof of the car may occur. There will be no benefit from such railings, the car owner will “pay” with additional expenses for expensive repairs.
  • To choose high-quality roof rails for a car, you need to ask the seller about the maximum load that can be allowed for a certain type, manufacturer and material before buying. Naturally, there is no apparent need to bend and break the "bar" at the same time, it is enough to check its compliance. 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 that are made of chrome and equipped with plastic clips.
  • If during the purchase there are questions that cannot be solved on your own, you can contact the dealer who sold the car and ask him about the models of “slats” 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 make the installation of rails on our own

To install the rails on the roof of the car, you can use the help of professionals, take the car to service center, where qualified specialists will quickly set the "bars", while observing all 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, you should act as carefully as possible so as not to spoil or scratch the roof of the car.

Before installation, inspect the roof of the vehicle and find places specially provided for fixing the rails. In most cars, the railing mount is not easy to find, the holes can be under unsightly rubber caps. However, if you can’t find any, you need to check from the inside of the car. Perhaps it is from the cabin side that there are compartments for fasteners.

In order to install the railing mount on the roof of the car 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 entire process of further adjustment. It is better to install "bars" in tandem with a friend, self-assembly may result in damage to the roof surface.

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

Advantages and disadvantages of the design

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

  • possibility of installation additional equipment(fog lights, TV antennas);
  • the ability to move agricultural tools over long distances (shovels, for example);
  • installation of vetkootboynik protecting the body during a trip through the forest (branches can scratch and ruin the paintwork).

Design flaws:

  • 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 manage.

Conclusion

The benefits that railings provide cannot be overestimated. The main rule is to take precautions, carry only the maximum allowable loads and not be zealous, overloading your car. It is equally important to choose a product wisely without compromising on quality.

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

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

Roof rails on the trunk have a number of advantages and disadvantages. Details pluses include:

  1. Possibility to install additional equipment. On the trunk, which is mounted on rails, they mount additional fog lights, or an antenna for a radio or TV.
  2. Transportation of large tools. When traveling over rough terrain, or on a hike, drivers attach a hijack and a large shovel to the rails.

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

  1. Reducing the aerodynamic properties of the car, and increasing fuel consumption.
  2. High noise level, due to the occurrence of additional air currents around the trunk.
  3. Low stability of the car, with a heavy load of the trunk located on the roof. An unevenly distributed load can cause an accident: at high speed, the machine loses control and stability, and may roll over.

The car roof rack is not used daily. Therefore, in order to avoid inconvenience, with an additional trunk installed, it is recommended to install removable models.

Varieties

There are several . The choice of suitable cross members depends on their appearance, vehicle model, mounting types, dimensions and materials of which the cross members are composed.

By material

Rails are divided into metal and metal-plastic. As materials for the 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 roof rails is an order of magnitude lower than metal ones.

By installation method

Roof rails on cars are longitudinal and transverse. The first type crosses the roof, and the other, is placed in the direction of the car. V 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 specific brand of car.

On sale you can also find support and integrated roof rails. Details related to the first type are mounted on supports, and there is a gap between them and the roof. Integrated fit tightly to the roof of the car.

Along the length and diameter of the arc

The choice of parts for the diameter of the arc, and length, depends on the type of trunk 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 crossbars with a large arc diameter. The larger the dimensions and load 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: black steel parts are sold on the market, which matches almost any car in color, silver and black matte roof rails are also in demand among drivers.

How to choose

To make the roof rails look spectacular on the roof, and serve for a long time, it is necessary to take into account the nuances of the choice of these details:

  1. Elements are selected in accordance with the model of the car on which it is planned to install an additional trunk. When choosing, pay attention to the railing mount, it must match with the standard installation holes. To find out the compatibility of the arc on the roof of the car, you can use the instructions that came with the part.
  2. Before purchasing, it is necessary to check the slats for strength. Poor-quality products, or parts that are made of insufficiently hard material, do not withstand loads, and quickly become unusable. Due to the breakdown 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 the car is moving poses a threat to other participants traffic. When choosing products, it is necessary to clarify the maximum allowable load level, the manufacturer and the material from which the part is made. Lightly apply pressure to the rails. If they give in, then it is better to refuse the purchase.
  3. When choosing railings, take into account how external factors: color and shape, as well as dimensions of parts.

How to make railings with your own hands

Making railings 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 design 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 trunk, it is important to firmly fix the transported items. To ensure that the load is securely fastened, you should use quality materials with self-construction of crossbars. Ready product must withstand loads having a weight in the range from 60 to 110 kg.

For the design of roof rails on the roof of the car, use the following tools and materials:

  1. Metal profile. Used to create guides and arcs.
  2. Welding machine, drill, grinder.
  3. Fasteners (in their role are bolts, nuts and washers of various diameters and sizes).
  4. Mounting foam.
  5. Heat-shrink tubing.
  6. Building hair dryer.
  7. 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 rails will be created should not exceed 3 millimeters.

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

  1. Belts.
  2. Grid (when using the basket).
  3. Support or clamping clamps (designed for the transport of snowboards, skis or bicycles).

Before installing homemade roof rails on the roof of a new car, it is necessary to protect the paint layer of the car from direct contact with metal structure. To do this, use rubber gaskets.

How to install

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

  1. Carefully examine the roof of the car for the presence of fasteners for the crossbars.
  2. Remove 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.
  3. The vacated 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 rails on the roof of the car:

  1. The attachment points of the crossbars, as well as the roof surface, are cleaned of dirt and degreased.
  2. The trim is removed from the ceiling inside the cabin.
  3. 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 car. The location of the mounting hole must be indicated in advance.
  4. To damage the paint on the ceiling with hot chips, unprotected areas are covered with masking tape.
  5. After preparing the holes, install the crossbars, which are mounted on regular bolts.

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