Buyer's Guide: Everything you need to know about Ford Bronco Roof Racks

After waiting for your Ford Bronco to arrive, you’ve finally decided to make it your own. This means investing in sophisticated aftermarket accessories that are going to both elevate your style and make your Bronco more usable. As such, investing in a roof rack is a great idea as it makes your Bronco more practical while looking the part.

If that is something that interests you, you’ve come to the right place as we are going to tell you everything you need to know about Ford Bronco Roof Racks.

What Do I Need To Know Before Buying A Roof Rack For My Bronco?

There are a few things you need to consider before buying a roof rack for your Bronco as not all products on the market are equal. For starters, you need to pay attention to the build material from which the rack is made as steel can be a bit too heavy.

Adding lots of weight on top of your Bronco is going to affect how stable it is during cornering which is why you should maybe consider a well-engineered aluminum roof rack instead. As a spot of context, a steel rack can weigh up to 150lbs while an aluminum one typically weighs half that.

A modular roof rack is incredibly popular these days as it allows easy assembly in addition to being able to add rack slats for different uses. This includes stuff like expedition rails, complete platforms, and even easily replacing damaged parts without needing a new rack.

Carrying capacity, and durability are also important when it comes to buying new roof racks as you do not want to compensate with any of these. Most Ford Bronco roof racks can carry up to 165lbs, and most durable roof racks tend to be made out of zinc-plated and powder-coated steel and aluminum.

How To Mount A Roof Rack On A Ford Bronco?

Your first step is going to be removing the four covers on the roof of the Bronco and taking off the two 10mm screws at all four corners of the Bronco. Next, you’ll need to line up the rack mounting points with these two studs carefully in order not to scratch the paint.

Most roof racks come with all the necessary screws which will be used to tie down the rack on top of the Bronco with those two aforementioned studs.

While tightening these screws, you’ll feel your tool start to slip when you tighten the screws enough. If you are installing cross bars or any other accessories side-to-side, you’ll attach these to the two mounting points on top of the front-to-end rails.

Make sure to tighten these screws by hand first in order to align them properly.

Depending on the accessories you’ve selected, you’ll mount those after securing the base of the rack to the roof. Also, make sure to use proper covers for all the mounting points to make the whole setup look better and protect it from the elements. Adding additional grease on top of the screws is also a good idea to better protect it from rust.

Which Types Of Roof Racks Exist For A Ford Bronco?

There are two main types of roof racks available for the Ford Bronco. The first one is mounted via those 10mm screw studs while the other (gutter roof rack) is mounted directly on top of your Bronco’s rain gutters.

The gutter roof rack needs to be designed specifically for the Bronco and it also tends to carry less maximum weight compared to a well-engineered rack mounted via the factory-provided studs.

Which Accessories Are Best For A Ford Bronco Roof Rack?

When it comes to roof rack accessories, the sky is your limit, but some are surely more usable than others. For starters, it’s always a good idea to invest in more cargo space which is why cargo boxes and cargo baskets are the most popular roof rack accessories out there.

Be sure to consider these Overlanding and camping accessories which will make your camping trips more comfortable and enjoyable. If you are serious about off-roading, having a handly roof-mounted recovery board is also a good idea. Finally, if you enjoy traveling with your bicycle, a bike rack is also a great idea.

How Much Do Front Bronco Roof Racks Cost?

Most roof racks out there will cost you between $150 and $750 while the best and most advanced aerodynamic low-profile roof racks with included accessories can cost you upwards of $2,000. Aluminum roof racks do tend to be more expensive than steel roof racks while modular roof racks also tend to be more expensive when compared to standard fixed roof racks.