Rhino-Rack Pioneer Platform Rack with Backbone Mounting System - 83" Long x 49" Wide
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2007 Ford Explorer
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2007 Ford Explorer
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When you’re bouncing along rocky or uneven roads, you want a rack that holds firm. This platform works with Rhino-Rack’s Backbone mounting system to keep the load balanced and secure across the roof. The even weight distribution helps prevent shifting or wobbling, giving you a solid foundation whether you’re on the highway or deep in the backcountry.
When your adventures call for rooftop tents, recovery tools, or expedition gear, this platform is built to take it. The high-grade aluminum construction keeps weight manageable while maintaining serious strength for heavy loads. At 83" long x 49" wide x 1-3/4" tall and weighing 111 lbs, it provides a broad, sturdy surface to haul what you need without flexing or sagging under pressure.
Every trip brings different gear, and this setup adjusts right along with you. T-slot channels run across the entire platform, giving you countless ways to mount awnings, cargo boxes, lights, antennas, or solar panels exactly where they fit best. You’re not locked into one layout—the extra mounting points and crossbeam channels make it easy to rearrange as your setup changes over time.
Roof racks can get noisy at highway speeds, but this one is built to stay quiet. Its aerodynamic shape slices through the air for a smoother ride and reduced drag. You’ll notice less whistling and buffeting on long drives, making travel more comfortable and fuel efficient.
From desert sun to mountain snow, this rack is made to withstand harsh conditions. The tough coating resists scratches, scuffs, and UV damage so it keeps looking sharp after years of use. Integrated wiring channels let you route cables neatly for lights or accessories without zip ties or clutter—keeping things clean, safe, and trail-ready every time you head out.
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Ratings & Reviews
Quality built to tight tolerances. Easy to follow instructions with plenty of on-line videos to help with the installation. Don't hesitate to buy this better designed / better built / better looking roof rack.
The rack is top notch and sturdy. Perhaps just as important the customer service from etrailer is excellent. They answered all my questions and were very helpful.
I almost never write reviews. However, I will make an exception this time. This is my third order with etrailer.com. The previous two were straight forward. This one was not. I was ordering a roof rack for my 200 series Land Cruiser. There were several concerns I had with it. Emily went to the manufacturer to sort out areas I was concerned about. She called me back within 30 minutes with accurate information. I would not have spent the $1,400 on the rack with out the specifics. It was nice not having to do all the research on my own, and getting significant help was a gift. Much appreciated! Hence the review.
Tough, easy to install, excellent platform for all my things (cargo box, two bikes for now) and flexibility for the future. Next up, KC Highlights mounted on the front. Well worth the money for fit and finish.
The rhino rack pioneer setup with the backbone mount is a fantastic roof rack system.
I purchased this for my 2017 Nissan Armada I'm very happy with the quality definitely worth the price tag. Only one thing that might need looking into I had a factory roof rack the middle support on stock rack only has one bolt the backbone rail has 2 mounting holes so I had to take roof trim off and and use a Dremel to cut out larger holes on each side to get the second mounting hole for the middle just a little modification not sure if this is just a 2017 issue but happy with the outcome I have all measurements written down as well if anyone would like it makes it easier to set up mounting platform because if you get it wrong you will need that second person to help bring it back down and reposition mounting points. I bought this because if u have a Armada you know the trunk space is very limited another reason I like this product is it's low profile and I'm able to park in the garage still and that's a must. Hope this helps with making a large purchase I will provide pictures
Ordering super easy, shipping was very fast (doesn't happen so much during covid).
Wish you would sell the wider so that rack fit over sides of vehicle better.
Make certain to measure where the crossbars mount to the vehicle in millimeters. Being off by 1/8 inch on front bar means the back wont align at all. Other than that the instructions were perfect. There weren't any pictures nor much in the manuals about this alignment step (only the on line you tubes briefly touched on it).
I would buy one more long piece & 2 wider end pieces so that the entire rack fit OVER the sides of SUV, but could not get anyone to sell me that option.
Way more of a pain to install than I expected. Assembly of the platform was really easy. But putting on the rails was tricky given the space to screw in. And attaching the platform to the rails was a pain. However after installation, I love this rack. It whistles a bit but I don't have the wind break. It's great for hauling but I appreciate more a place to just chill and enjoy the scenery when I stop in the wilderness. I bought this specifically to install a Bundutop tent. Haven't got it yet but this platform will be perfect for it.
Overall, I like the rack. I use it for a hard shell RTT and it has held up well through several camping and off-roading trips. I chose this rack for the low profile look, weight and mounting system.
If you're looking for a tray/platform roof rack this should be it. Works and looks great. Very versatile and useful. I plan to carry kayaks and numerous camping/tailgating equipment with this platform.
The install took a while but is well worth it. Also, shipping was longer than estimated but I was updated several times by etrailer about the shipment.
I can’t say enough about etrailer.com… fast shipping, and the most comprehensive tracking I’ve ever seen! I will definitely be shopping at etrailer in the future.
The Rhino rack kit is incredibly sturdy. The instructions are not narrated well, but this wasn’t my first rodeo… definitely a well made product from down under.
Mounting the rails was a bit daunting… you WILL need that supplied Allen wrench… bring your patience!
All in all just a beautiful burley roof rack. I’m very satisfied with my purchase.
Thanks again etrailer.com… you guys rock!
I like this rack. Looks sharp and does what I need to to!
Great fit with the Rhino Rack backbone for Gladiator and the Bestop Sunrider.
This is a solid and versatile rack. Really well constructed. I bought mine wider than the vehicle for extra space. I found many generic options for attachment accessories. It's flat when I need it to be for airport parking garages. One year later, it's still awesome!
Awesome rack! Solid functionality and sharp looking on my 4Runner. Only downside is lots of parts and pieces/screws/bolts/washers to manage to put together...worth it in the end, however. Price and service from etrailer also could not be beat, and I did my research! Thank you all around.
The Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform is awesome! Great installation instructions and very well built. Now it time for accessories!
There are so many options for the 4Runner. Going through all the research, choosing one, and being happy with it in the long run are overwhelming to someone like me that just has to be able to see all the angles. We did have a few requirements. It needed to be low profile enough to fit in the garage, it needed to be able to hold a RTT, and not break the bank.
In the end, it came down to 3 options.
Gobi
Rhino Rack
Front Runner
I ruled out the Front Runner option because I wasn’t comfortable with drilling holes in the roof. Not that it can’t be done and done well. I just wasn’t comfortable doing it myself, nor did I have a local shop that I trusted to install the nutserts.
Gobi was next to get eliminated. I love the look and the name speaks for itself with regard to quality. However, the long lead-times and high price tag were turn off’s.
Short story long - We chose the #RhinoRack #pioneerplatform. First impressions - It looks great. It is lighter than the ARB we had before. Wind noise isn’t terrible at 70mph+. The textured powder coat seems tough enough. I like the full length. The #4Runner with 3inch lift still fits in the garage without drama. AND it was delivered to my door 3 days after ordering thanks to #etrailer
The only negative feedback I can give are the directions. There were a couple head-scratcher moments.
Rhino rack builds a great product. The armada backbone and pioneer platform are sturdy and fit well. Customer service and shipping from etrailer were flawless.
Excellent build and fit for the 2019 RAM Power Wagon WITH a sunroof. I would highly recommend using additional RTV to seal the holes. It barely clears the Sat antenna and the sunroof. The satellite radio cuts off easier because of the rack being on top of it. Instructions are clear enough for a DIY-type person to get this done properly.
The rack, just like any roof rack does introduce more wind noise at high speed.
I have been looking a long time for a good roof rack for my 2018 Toyota 4Runner and decided on the Rhino Pioneer Platform with the Backbone mounting system.
Removal of the factory side rails was very easy. Putting the platform together was relatively easy and installing the Backbone mounting system in the existing factory holes was also quiet easy. Attaching the platform to the Backbone mounting system was a bit more challenging for me. I tend to take my time and double check everything as I go. Total build and installation time was approximately 6 hours. The end result is fantastic, it looks great, is very solid, will easily accommodate my needs (Rooftop Tent, lumber trips to Home Depot, Kayak, Mountain Bike, etc.). I have taken a couple of trips on the highway 80MPH and the wind noise is noticeable but acceptable. I will probably purchase the wind deflector and hope this will also positively impact the gas mileage.
The people at etrailer are exceptional to deal with! Their pricing is good, their communication is excellent, shipping was fast, the packaging was perfect with all parts well protected and nothing missing. If you have any questions about the product or installation, they are knowledgeable and happy to help.
The rack is solid, good looking, and well made. At this point my only concern is the high price for various accessories. I highly recommend this roof rack system and dealing with etrailer is a pleasure.
I bought this roof rack to mount on my 2018 Toyota TRD Off Road 4Runner. The reason I purchased it was because of the versatility that this product offers. There are many roof racks out there for my vehicle. Some are cheap and some are expensive. Some racks are smaller and some are full size. I was looking for a rack that wouldn't break the bank as well as cover a majority of the roof (without drilling). I have two young kids and I'd like to get them out more. Hence, buying the 4Runner as well as the rack. This rack will enable me to load a ton of stuff on it in the future such a roof top tent, awning, etc. Even though I'm somewhat handy, the installation did take around 3-4 hours. I did have one other person helping me. I highly recommend having an additional set of hands helping during the installation. The sides rail installation was easier than I thought it would be. The platform itself took longer to install. Overall: very happy with this product. I highly recommend it.
I ordered the Rhino Rack Platform Rack with Backbone System for my 2016 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited to enable it to mount a rooftop tent. The rack is expensive at about $1600 all in, but I have no question about this rack’s capabilities and it looks awesome. I prepped myself by watching several different videos, including etrailer’s installation video. Everything went fairly well, but I encountered a couple of minor issues.
First, when I bolted the platform extrusions to the end rails from the bottom of the rack, I didn’t pay attention to the topside of the extrusions. After completing this and turning the rack right side up, I found that each screw had forced the ends of each extrusion up slightly so that they were not flush to the end rails. I am debating whether to leave this as is or to remove each screw and add another washer to relieve the pressure it is causing.
Second, although I carefully placed the rear and middle brackets in position and was careful with the drilling template for the front bracket, there was still some misalignment that couldn’t be overcome by the small ovals where the legs connect to the platform. I had to expand these ovals by drilling them wider. Eventually I got a good fit.
Finally, the quick mount legs required two different keys to remove the platform. This was caused by the quick mount legs coming in the form of two separate kits. One kit contained two legs and one key (no spare) and the other kit had four legs and two keys. The key numbers from these two sets were different. I contacted etrailer, but they had no control over the key set packaging and referred me to Rhino Rack. Rhino Rack was very responsive and sent me new cylinders and keys so that I had locks that were all keyed the same, as well as having a total of four matching keys.
We haven’t used the rack yet, but I love the styling and enhancement it gives my Jeep. Just check out my picture...
The RINO RACK AND PIONEER PLATFORM are a great addition to my little Wrangler.
etrailer folks were very helpful in determining exactly what I wanted and needed. The assembly instructions are very good - even though there are a lot of parts to assemble. I was able to complete the assembly by myself (with help getting the top off the jeep.) If I can offer a recommendation from my experience, I would pre-assemble the entire unit with the mounting brackets finger-tightened to the platform AND THEN set it on the roof - to insure that the holes needed to be drilled are in exactly the right spot. I had to re-drill two holes and maybe that was my own fault, but until I did, i could not get the platform to rest in the mounting brackets.
All that said, I am VERY PLEASED with the RINO RACK product. It is very secure, easily accessible, very low profile (3" from roof to top of rack), large platform that still allows removal of the Freedom Top on my rig. It will give me the extra carrying capacity as we tow the jeep behind the motor home from Arizona to Alaska and hit lots of back country for tent camping in the process!!
The Pioneer Platform is very solid. Good construction. My only issue is that instructions on cross member placement etc are not very clear. Takes some research. Also, the wind dynamics are a little to be desired. I get a whistling noise when driving. This should have come standard with a wind deflector. Whistling is very annoying. The only way to stop the noise is by attaching some accessories to break the airflow causing the noise….which is more money.
I strongly recommend verifying all platform plank lengths before starting installation. Two of mine were undersized by approximately 1/2”–3/4”, which is a significant quality control issue and should not pass inspection from the manufacturer.
Because the platform is assembled upside down, this discrepancy wasn’t obvious until later in the process. In my case, the platform and rails also arrived in separate shipments, and in an effort to keep the project moving, I had already drilled the mounting holes and installed the rail system before discovering the problem.
To be clear, this is not a reflection on etrailer.com—they were not the issue here. The problem lies with the manufacturer’s lack of quality control.
Once fully assembled, the system is solid and performs as expected. However, I would advise anyone installing this to carefully inspect and measure all components upfront before committing to drilling into their vehicle.
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