Ford Explorer Sport Trac Racks
The factory installed roof rack on your Ford Explorer Sport Trac offers the ability to attach a cargo bag or cargo box to the rack for additional storage while driving or traveling. Maintaining the roof rack and the crossbars is important for safety, and these parts may require replacement over time. Additionally, some owners who wish to transport specialty items such as bikes, kayaks, or canoes may need to install a different roof rack with the correct configuration to safely lash and stow these items for travel and transport.
What is the rack weight limit on Explorer Sport Tracs?The Ford Explorer Sport Trac comes with a factory installed rack with crossbars. The recommended weight limit for this rack and crossbar system is a maximum of 200 pounds. When attaching a cargo box or bag to the rack and crossbar system, you should factor in the overall weight of the cargo box or bag into that total weight capacity of 200 pounds.
Additionally, the weight should be evenly distributed for safety and aerodynamics and to avoid any potential damage to your vehicles roof due to too much weight putting stress on any one area. To evenly distribute the weight of your cargo box, bag, or other items, you can adjust the crossbars to hold the weight accordingly. To adjust the crossbars, follow these steps:
- Locate the thumbwheel found at the end of each crossbar.
- Loosen the thumbwheel at each end of both crossbars, then move the crossbars into the proper position to bear the weight of the cargo box, bag, or item.
- Once the crossbars are in the proper place, tighten the thumbwheels.
Several different manufacturers produce roof racks specifically designed for the challenge of transporting one or more bicycles on the roof of your Ford Explorer Sport Trac. While there are several manufacturers or brands, the types of roof racks for bicycles are fairly standard in configuration and operation. These include the following:
- An upright mount rack where the bicycle is mounted in one piece in an upright position on the rack. You may need help to lift the bike to the roof of your Ford Explorer Sport Trac in order to safely secure it.
- A fork mount rack where the front wheel of the bicycle is removed and the bicycle is mounted in the upright position with the front fork. One person can mount the bicycle onto the Ford Explorer Sport Trac.
Kayak and canoe roof racks are specially built to handle both the longer length of these items and to offer more support for the weight of these items on your vehicle. Other sports equipment that you may be able to safely secure with the appropriate mounting gear for your vehicle include skis and surfboards.