When selecting a roof rack for your off-road or adventure vehicle, it’s important to consider factors such as material, weight capacity, design, and versatility. Let’s compare the Westin Mesa roof rack with a comparable rack from Hooke Road to learn more about what features are important to make sure you get the rack that meets your needs.
Material And Durability
- Mesa Roof Rack: Constructed from high-quality aluminum, the Mesa rack offers a strong yet lightweight rooftop storage option. Aluminum is naturally resistant to corrosion, ensuring longevity and minimal maintenance.
- Hooke Road Roof Rack: Made from a steel and aluminum combination, the Hooke Road rack is sturdy and durable. However, steel is heavier and more susceptible to rust and corrosion over time, especially if the protective coating is damaged.
Weight And Load Capacity
- Mesa Roof Rack: The aluminum construction keeps the Mesa rack’s weight low, reducing the impact on your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Despite its lighter weight, it can support substantial static loads up to 600 lbs, suitable for most overlanding needs.
- Hooke Road Roof Rack: Being steel, the Hooke rack adds a substantial 62lbs to your rig, which can affect fuel consumption. It offers a high load capacity of 800lbs (static), but it’s hefty design also makes it more susciptible to increased drag and road noise.
Design And Aesthetics
- Mesa Roof Rack: Features a sleek, aerodynamic design that complements modern vehicle aesthetics. The strong (16 gauge) low profile, removable front wind deflector panel helps reduce wind noise and drag, contributing to better fuel efficiency.
- Hooke Road Roof Rack: Also a sleek design profile, however, the front wind deflector panel is made of only 13 gauge thick material.
Installation And Waranty
- Mesa Roof Rack: Designed for easy installation, requiring no drilling or modifications, and comes with an industry-leading 3-year warranty.
- Hooke Road Roof Rack: Also installs without drilling or modification, but features an only 2-year warranty.
Accessories And Versatility
- Mesa Roof Rack: Westin offers a matching side ladder addition – the Mesa Side Ladder provides quick and easy access to your roof-top storage. If you’re interested in adding lighting, the removable front panel on the Mesa Roof Rack can be taken off to reveal a channel that’s perfect for easy mounting of LED lights or an LED light bar. Additionally, the crossbar spacing can be adjusted to fit your needs.
- Hooke Road Roof Rack: Crossbar placement is fixed (non-adjustable), and light mounting points are found on the side panels, not the front facing panel.
| Feature | Mesa Roof Rack | Hooke Road Roof Rack |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Lightweight Aluminum | Heavy (62lb) Steel & Aluminum |
| Warranty | 3 Year | 2 Year |
| Rail Adjustability | Fully Adjustable | Fixed |
| LED Options | Front LED Mount Track | Side mount LED points |
| Installation | No drilling, no modifications | No drilling, no modifications |
| Accessories | Matching side ladder available | None known |
The Best Choice: Westin Automotive Mesa Roof Rack
If you value lightweight construction, superior corrosion resistance, a sleek design, and versatility, the Mesa Roof Rack is an excellent choice. You can adjust the cross bars to meet your needs, and mount front-facing LED bars for improved visibility – all with the security of a 3-year warranty.
For over 40 years, Westin has been the leading manufacturer of rugged aftermarket products for off-road, automotive, and utility applications, all of which are developed and tested in the USA. We offer a wide selection of truck, SUV, and Jeep accessories, all designed to look good and perform well, especially in rugged environments. Contact our expert team today if you have questions!
