Expedition Portal Exclusive:
Front Runner Outfitters Gives the New Land Rover Defender an Aftermarket Upgrade
South African overland brand releases roof rack kit for the 2020 Land Rover Defender 110
The 2020 Defender has created a tremendous buzz in recent months, the anticipation building since concept models were teased nearly a decade ago. Now that the world has seen the final iteration, the aftermarket is responding with their offerings for customizing the new 90 and 110. And one of the first companies to do this is Front Runner Outfitters from South Africa with their new 2020 Defender Rack.
Front Runner’s history with the Defender is storied, and they have likely sold more Defender racks than any other company on the market, their first fitment going back over 25 years. Front Runner’s Founder and Chairman, Stanley Illman, shed some insights on their history with the Defender. “We have been pioneering and inventing modular roof racks for the Land Rover Defender for over 25 years,” Stanley said “We have pushed this new rack to the limits on hundreds of thousands of miles in extremely harsh terrain. That’s the standard we have at Front Runner, so when we launch a product, we know it’s ready.”
Over the past decade, my personal experience with their racks has been extensive, including driving a Td5 Defender with their Slimline II throughout South Africa. I also crossed Lesotho, South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda with their racks fitted to a Mercedes G Class—all without failure.
The Defender rack is designed with an aluminum tray, a 3CR12 stainless-steel vehicle mounting system, and zero plastic, which sustains its integrity in harsh weather. With a static load rating of 740 pounds, which easily meets Land Rover’s recommended maximum dynamic load rating of 370 pounds, this rack can withstand the stress of any adventure, on-road or off-road, simultaneously saving fuel and lessening vehicle wear.
The Rack kit contains all of the components needed to mount the cargo rack to a 2020 Land Rover Defender, including the aluminum tray, wind deflector, and foot rails. The mounting system easily bolts to the existing mounting points on the body of the vehicle, eliminating the need for drilling. The patented mounting solution delivers trusted quality and strength necessary for extreme overlanding expeditions without compromising the streamlined, modern look of the rugged SUV—even with the Under Rack Mounted Camp Table.
The rack is built with T6 aluminum and 3CR12 stainless steel and is coated in black epoxy powder, one of the industry’s most durable and lasting finishes. The entire roof rack system weighs approximately 78 pounds. It is a lightweight yet tough roof rack that can be easily adjusted or removed for daily driving. The rack can also be fitted with a wide range of 55+ accessories that keep gear safe and secure, whether you are headed out for a long overland adventure or a weekend camping trip.
As availability of the new Defender approaches, the aftermarket will begin to ramp up offerings, including lift kits, bumpers, skid plates, and camping components. It is exciting to see Front Runner at the leading edge of this wave, building quality racks and accessories for the Defender. The rack will be available once Land Rover begins delivering the vehicle to dealerships. For more information, visit frontrunneroutfitters.com
Web Assets
