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Built for off-road use, this platform rack's large, flat surface accommodates loads of all shapes and sizes. 8 Roof rack legs install to ditch brackets on your vehicle's naked roof. Compatible with many Rhino-Rack accessories.
Features:
Specs:
Built for off-road use and tested in harsh Australian conditions, the Rhino-Rack Pioneer platform is a comprehensive solution for your cargo carrying needs. This platform's large, flat surface lets you carry more gear than a typical roof rack, freeing up space inside your vehicle. The Pioneer uses integrated channels in the planks, side rails, and frame to accommodate a wide variety of Rhino-Rack accessories, including awnings, light brackets, and more. The platform mounts directly to your vehicle's naked roof using custom ditch mounts and Quick Mount roof rack legs.
The Perfect Roof Rack for Any Outdoor Lifestyle
Whether you are overlanding, camping, or tailgating, the Pioneer platform's ample surface space lets you carry a large amount of cargo and gear. This helps free up space inside of your vehicle so you and your passengers can travel comfortably. The integrated channels located in the planks, side rails, and frame let you install channel-mount accessories, like an awning or kayak carrier, similar to a traditional roof rack. But, there are also several accessories that install exclusively to the Pioneer platform, such as the aluminum folding ladder and gas can holders. And because of the platform's design you can utilize many of these accessories at the same time.
Accessory bars (RR43138B - sold separately) can be added to accommodate clamp-mounted accessories that fit in the space between the platform's planks, such as bike carriers and cargo boxes. And because the bars have C-channels, you can use them to mount additional channel-mounted gear in the open space between the planks. By installing the accessory bars in the platform's integrated channels, you gain all the advantages of a traditional crossbar system, while maintaining the generous surface space of the platform.
Utilitarian Design with Rugged, Off-Road Look
The Pioneer platform was designed with utility in mind and features a rugged, off-road look. The low-profile tray was also designed to be aerodynamic to help reduce wind noise and drag.
Strong, Durable Construction
Strong, yet lightweight, the platform's frame is constructed of aluminum and includes reinforced nylon connectors. Since these materials are powder coated and non-corrosive, the platform won't rust or fade when exposed to the weather. Rhino-Rack has rigorously tested the Pioneer in the harsh Australian outback, ensuring it's built to withstand anything your adventures throw at it.
Custom Fit Installation
This Pioneer platform rack is custom fit for your vehicle and includes all the parts necessary to install it on your naked roof. The platform comes unassembled, so you will have to put it together before proceeding to the installation. After this is complete, use a rivet gun to install ditch brackets to your vehicle's roof. These brackets create permanent fixed mounting points where you can bolt Quick Mount legs. The bars attached to the bottom of the platform connect to the legs and secure the Pioneer in place.
Alternate Instructions
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hi everyone. It's Evangeline here at etrailer. And today, we'll be taking a look at our Pioneer platform system. So, this is gonna be a complete system with the Pioneer platform. What we have is the 60 inches by 54-inch large platform. We also have the Quick Mount legs and we have the ditch brackets.
So, if you wanna be able to put a platform onto your naked roof, have something sturdy, something versatile, well, let's take a look at this one. So, there's usually two options for you. You can either get a crossbar system or you can get a platform system. Where the platform really shines is it's gonna be its versatility. You can carry your recreational accessories just like you would if you had crossbars.
But with this, you have more space for many different types of cargo and more weight distribution. So, this can be helpful for if you wanna carry a kayak one day, and on the other day, you wanna carry a really, really large cargo for your different adventures. This is made of aluminum. So, even though it's a really, really large rack, this weighs 62 pounds. It is still kind of heavy but then you can still have extra roof weight for your extra accessories.
Since it is made of aluminum, this is also weatherproof. So, you have that black powder coat finish. Even when you have it out in the elements, even when it gets scratched up, it's not gonna rust on you. So, this is gonna be 60 inches long by 54 inches wide. And that's gonna be about how much of a support base you have for your cargo.
You also have these C-channels on the insides with special C-channel mounted accessories. You can fit them right in there like your Rhino-Rack load stop to make it easier to tie down your cargo. You can also get accessory bars. Those fit right in there and create bars, which you can clamp your accessories around. Again, there's just so many options for you. This is a Pioneer platform that is an open tray design. And I say that because Rhino-Rack has some different options for your Pioneer platforms. Some have walls on the side, which look cool, help with aerodynamics. But I personally prefer the versatility of an open tray, especially if you wanna carry things like a rooftop tent, or you have cargo that may spill over to the side and you don't wanna be limited by walls, you would go with an open tray like this. Now, the downside to having such a large system like this is it all arrives in a box in smaller pieces. So, assembly and installation is required. It takes a little bit of effort. Now, I did this on this truck. So, this is gonna be a Ford F-450. If you wanna check that out, check out our installation video. So, this comes in three parts. You have the tray, you have the legs, and then you have the brackets. So, let's talk about the legs. These are the Quick Mount legs. So, if you want to, you could just take off this whole system, including the legs, and then leave the brackets in place, and then pop it right back on when you're ready to go. It is kind of heavy, so it is gonna take some time, but this allows you to lock your system and keep it secure. This is installed to a naked roof, but notice how we don't have clamps hooking down into our door. That's because we have the ditch mount bracket. So, these are installed right into our ditch. They involve drilling and riveting, so definitely check out the install video for that, but this means that this is permanently mounted to our vehicle. A permanently installed system like this is not for everyone. Let's say, you're just leasing your vehicle or you're planning on upgrading to a different vehicle next year, I don't recommend this system for you. And there's other options out there. You could get the crossbar systems that go right into your door. They're more temporary. You could take them out when you're done with them. And that's a great option too. You still have that good weight capacity. But if you're someone who is perfectly fine with drilling and riveting into their roof and you wanna make the most out of having a Pioneer platform on your roof and then have that extra weight capacity and versatility, then this might be a good option for you. But how much cargo can you load up on your Pioneer platform rack Well, that depends on what kind of vehicle you're installing this on. Since this is ditch mounted, you are limited to your actual roof weight capacity. So, we do have special fits for different vehicles. Rhino-Rack gives the specification for where you're gonna install it and how much weight capacity you then have. So, definitely follow those instructions when it comes to the cargo weight capacity. So, my personal thoughts about the Pioneer platform is I do think it's a really cool rack as long as you can get it assembled and installed properly. Though that's gonna be the trickiest part. That's gonna be what's gonna take up some time. But once you have it installed, it's permanent, it's there, it's ready to go. So, the versatility is very helpful. Again, really consider, is the cargo that you're gonna carry can be carried with crossbars or would you rather have the full system If you are carrying things like tents or larger items, you want that versatility, you wanna put it in here, put it over in the corner, put it on the sides, then the Pioneer platform rack would be the one for you. Just make sure you get the right fit for your vehicle. So hopefully, this video helped you out with guiding you through that decision making process, so that you can get the right fit for your adventures. And that was a look right here at our Pioneer platform system, which is ditch mounted with our 54 inch by 60 inch platform, our Quick Mount legs, and our ditch mounted brackets right here at etrailer. My name is Evangeline and I hope you enjoyed the journey..
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (199 Customer Reviews)
Built for off-road use, this platform rack's large, flat surface accommodates loads of all shapes and sizes. 8 Roof rack legs install to ditch brackets on your vehicle's naked roof. Compatible with many Rhino-Rack accessories.
Have a 2019 Nv3500. Work’s absolutely perfect. Mounted right up to stock brackets. Holds two kayaks and extras for trips.
Great product, excellent quality, great finish very sturdy and mounted to my Vortex bars perfectly.
Couple of cons but I'm not going to knock down the review because of it. Product came with instructions that are out of date for the new racks they are shipping. Platform also came with some missing hardware. Two missing nut retainers,two nuts,two screws and two washers. Was able to put it together with Hardware I had on hand..
Make sure and get the latest pdf installation manual from Rhino Rack's site!
Excellent platform. Excellent customer service.
The Rhino pioneer roof rack and vortex crossbars are going to work great on my Ram Truck with Retrax tonneau cover to help me carry extra gear. I also have the Yakama HD overhaul rack for carrying my kayaks. Everthing fits perfectly!
I called etrailer to verify fitment on my 2013 Ford E-350 XL. Everything arrived sooner than quoted, and instructions were clear. It took me approximately 6 hours to assemble by myself. I had 3 buddies over to put it on the van because it is ~100lbs and 100”x62”. We put towels on top of the van and slowly slid the fully assembled rack on top of the van. It took a while to level everything (30 mins?), but overall went on well and looks great.
The instructions didn’t clarify where the C-channel bars are supposed to be spaced to, but I used basic math skills and spaced each C-channel evenly spaced. It feels very strong. I believe it was 33mm on center for each C-Channel.
Looking forward to camping in a few weeks!
Fantastic rack, easily modified to accommodate tents/cargo/whatever. It's not quiet though, so do yourself a favor and get the faring.
Works great with my 2023 Toyota Sequoia and no wind noise . This was a better option then the oem trd roof rack.
Exactly as advertised! I love this rack. I have it on the top of my 2014 E350. No
Exactly what I needed for my Honda pioneer 1000-5. I can use it for a shooting platform when stopped in high grass or Swampy conditions during hog hunts.
Purchased this about a month ago after having a mediocre cargo basket that started to rust after 2 weeks. This platform is not only more convenient and adaptable but it looks [really] great! Took some time to assemble but I made that every piece fit and lined up correctly. Nice finish and strongly constructed. I should have gotten this first! I also got the matching rail system to complete the set-up. Highly recommended. Shout out the the staff at etrailer for again for the great communication from start to finish!
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!
I’m very satisfied with the level of service I received, from start to finish. Etrailer has mastered the customer experience to 2nd to none.
We bought the Pioneer Platform to go ontop of our Ford Excursion. I called to make sure that this was the model that came with the mounts that fit in the factory luggage rack rails. etrailer was super helpful over the phone. They had really good customer service. We put the Smittybilt Overlander XL rooftop tent on the platform. It all works great. I'd highly recommend etrailer to anyone everyone.
Loving my new Ford Bronco Sport Badlands model and the Pioneer Platform rack! With the Bronco Sport being so new, locating quality accessories was a bit of a challenge. I was excited to see Rhino Rack had the Pioneer Platform rack system I was looking for to start my build! Vicki at etrailer was super helpful in finding the parts, as listed on the Rhino Rack website, to make up the system. The etrailer site had not been updated to include the compatibility with the Pioneer System yet for the Bronco Sport. The parts were actually in stock and ready to ship! I’m giving the Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform 5 stars for ease of assembly and product quality. Assembly and install took about 3 hours, with several fore/aft adjustment to allow for complete operation and clearance for the Bronco Sports moonroof. This rack is the foundation for the complete “overland” conversion to come!
I did a lot of research before settling on this roof platform. I’m really happy with the build quality and once it’s all together it has a lot of strength and versatility. My ONLY complaint is that the “Quick Foot” mounting feet for the factory rail that was sent to me did not have matching key codes. The codes are clearly listed on the boxes and someone at etrailer.com didn’t bother to grab a matching set. Bummer.
After waiting for shipping and finally pulling it all out for the install I was too far into the project to ask for replacement feet. I just installed what was sent.
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.
This platform rack perfect fit to my 2020 DURANGO GT. Easy assembly, easy installation and removal. I bought 2 years ago a trailer hitch receiver (code C13182) from your company and also satisfied with its use. I recommend ETRAILER.COM to all my friends. Thank you.
Very nice platform that fit my needs. Costs a bit more than some others, but once it is put together it is very solid. I like the eco-system of tie-downs, mounts, etc. that you can get for it. Those accessories are what really makes it worth it. The flexibility of the channels makes mounting everything easy and quick. This rack doesn't come with the specific mounts for any vehicle, so make sure you look for whatever you need to attach it to your rack as well. Assembly took longer than I expected (about 3-4 hours, including mounting to my vehicle), with over 100 bolts to assemble. Comes with a nice torque wrench that helps a lot. Instructions were good overall, but pay attention to the screws for the corners, as they are mislabeled. Also, measuring guidelines painted on the side rails are nice, but they are not perfectly aligned on the left and right side. I found it easier to use a tape measure and pencil to make sure the cross supports were straight. While I didn't use them yet, this rack also has internal wiring channels enclosed in the perimeter frame that I could see being very useful.
Very nice rack. It holds well and not too noisy when on the highway. I did drill a couple holes in the rack to hold my roof top tent down. Also like how many accessories are available for the Pioneer Platform Rack.
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.
Just perfect, my shipment arrived in a couple of days. There was a hole in the box that may have occured during shipment that resulted in one of the slat being scratched, luckily I had black satin paint so I just soared over it so problem solved. Took me a while to assemble the platform as fherr were a lot of bolts and nuts to turn. But the end result is a nice sturdy platform rack that I will be putting to good use for my family’s upcoming adentures.
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.
Well I must say I am impressed--with the Rhino Rack and etrailer! This big ole Pioneer platform package arrived really quickly and was in perfect shape in and out--none of this already opened noise you hear about from sketchy vendors. The platform quality is also really good; I didn't expect it to be so good. I also really like how low it sits; they were obviously designing this to fit the Outback just right. I am a happy camper! Thanks etrailer for making this process worry/pain-free.
Fantastic experience! I spent weeks researching rack options for my GX460. At the end of my rope with literally NO good options, the good folks at etrailer talked me thru some great ideas and I went with the RhinoRack Universal Platform, attached to Yakima RailGrab Towers. My etrailer order was delivered within 48hrs and installed within another 12hrs. Great fit, great look. No rattles and surprisingly, no wind noise. I’ll be back for accessories! GREAT experience.
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