The Benefits of a High-Quality Van Roof Rack

Whether you’ve transformed your vehicle into an adventure van for long-term living or use it for weekend camping and road trips, you can open yourself up to even more options and capabilities by installing a high-quality van roof rack.

A roof rack gives you extra storage space, an area to install other equipment, such as solar panels, roof decking, an awning, and more, but it all begins with choosing the right roof rack. This post walks you through the considerations you should make when looking for a Promaster, Transit, or Sprinter roof rack so that you choose the best one for your needs.

How to Best Utilize a Van Roof Rack

While you clearly use a roof rack to store items, you may never have thought of the full range of possibilities that it can offer. Whether you travel solo or with a group or use your van for long-term living or short-term weekend trips, a roof rack increases the ease and comfort of your unique style of van life. Consider the possibilities:

• Storing extra items: No matter how you use your van, you have to make choices of what to take along because you have a limited amount of space. If you use your van for full-time living, that means keeping a storage unit or asking a friend to store extra items you can’t put in your van or simply not getting that paddleboard or other bulky item that you know you’d use if you only had a place to store it. If you use your van for other trips, adventure or otherwise, you have to carefully consider what can safely be stored in your van for the trip. With an Orion roof rack you can safely store those bulky items and finally take that paddleboard or surfing trip you’ve always wanted to, or take more people along because you can store more gear up top. See available storage cases here.
  
  
• Installing solar panels: From dedicated adventurists to weekend warriors, solar panels come in handy when you need the power to run small appliances, power your Starlink, or sit in on a meeting while working remotely. A Sprinter roof rack, Promaster rack, and Transit rack allow you to add solar panels to the roof of your van to maintain your power needs. Having solar power allows you to boon-dock reliably and take unplanned side trips at your leisure because you don’t have to worry about making sure you make your way to a campsite or other location for shore power. Consider using flush-mount solar panel brackets for all Orion racks to optimize fitment, aerodynamics, and reduce shading.
  
  
  
• Adding an awning: Throwing some shade isn’t kind unless you’re adding it to your campsite or roadside adventure to shield you from the sun and the elements. When you get a van roof rack from Orion, you can easily upgrade it with an awning that attaches seamlessly to the side or rear of your rack, giving you the protection you need from the elements. It will also double the amount of living space you have in less than a minute. Whether you want a bit of shade from the hot sun or a dry spot outside the door when the rain starts coming down, an awning can work to meet both of those needs.
  
  
• Adding a roof deck: This is always a hot topic. Installing roof deck panels on a van roof can provide several benefits, including extra storage space, additional living space, better views, improved ventilation, and increased resale value. There is no better way to get a better view of your surroundings, especially if you are traveling to scenic areas or want to stargaze at night. You can also mount specialized walkable solar panels when using a roof deck, something that traditional glass solar panels don't offer.
  
  
• Mounting external lights without extra holes: Add light bars or side scene lighting to the rack instead of drilling into the van body, keeping your roof and side panels cleaner and easier to seal. Orion racks also offer an optional set of flush rear scene lights that angle down to illuminate the ground behind the van.
  
  
• Attaching a roof shower: Regardless of whether you use your van for outdoor activities, long-term living, or weekend camping trips, having a pressurized roof shower gives you the comforts of home while you’re on the road without sacrificing space inside the van.

Considerations for Choosing a Van Roof Rack

Now that you know just how much more you can do with a van roof rack, you have to find the best one to meet your needs. When selecting a high-quality roof rack, be sure to consider the following:

• Your van’s make, model, and roof height: This may sound obvious, but you know how they say you can’t fit a square peg into a round hole, and the same is true of van roof racks. To best fit your van, you need a roof rack designed for your specific make and model. Lots of options out there are "one size fits all" and make lots of compromises on fitment, aerodynamics, fuctionality. So if you want a Promaster roof rack, Transit roof rack, or Sprinter roof rack designed specifically for your van, Orion builds sleek form-fitting and model-specific options to all options covering all wheelbases.
  
  
• Materials:You do not want to add unnecessary weight to your van, because extra weight can reduce efficiency and fuel economy. Choose a roof rack made from lightweight materials that still hold up to real use, like Orion Van Gear racks built from 100% premium aluminum. That way you expand your van’s carrying and mounting capability without adding more weight than needed. Also, pay close attention to the hardware. The bolts, nuts, and T-nuts that connect crossbars to the rack, the rack to the van, and accessories to the system should be corrosion-resistant. Many lower-cost racks use zinc-plated or carbon steel hardware that may look fine at first but can rust over time. Orion uses 304 and 316 stainless steel bolts and T-nuts, plus protective coatings designed to reduce fading and help prevent rust and corrosion. 
  

• Adjustability: A roof rack should expand your options, not limit them. If you cannot easily move crossbars, it becomes much harder to plan a layout around vent fans, air conditioners, roof decks, and solar panels. In many real builds, you will not get the fit you want unless the crossbars are adjustable, especially when you are trying to combine solar with a roof deck and rooftop HVAC.

  With an Orion roof rack, you get lightweight aluminum construction plus fully adjustable crossbars that support hundreds of configurations. Many other racks lock you into fixed bar locations or only offer partial adjustability, often around 50 to 75%. Orion racks are designed with 95 to 100% crossbar adjustability depending on the model, so you can fine-tune placement to match your exact roof layout.

• Easy to install: Firstly, an easy-to-install rack can save you time and effort, especially if you are not comfortable with or experienced in installing roof racks. They are less expensive, as they do not require specialized tools (like a crane), freight shipping, or expertise to install. Additionally, they will be more convenient, as they can be installed quickly and without the need for additional assistance. Orion’s racks are all designed to be do-it-yourself installs and come with everything needed for easy installation. 
  
  
• Aerodynamics and aesthetics: When you add a rack to your van, you’re attaching a permanent piece of equipment that will travel with you, even if you’re not hauling something stored on top. So to minimize the impact on your van’s efficiency while traveling, you want to select a roof rack with thoughtful aerodynamics to reduce any risk of affecting this, such as your gas mileage. With thoughtful design, van roof racks from Orion not only offer the aerodynamic capabilities that keep you running efficiently, but Orion racks also offer a sleek “no gap” aesthetic to your van. Because Orion makes model-specific roof racks, once installed, they look like they are part of the van instead of an aftermarket add-on.

No matter how you use your van, a roof rack customized to your make and model opens up endless possibilities for comfort and ease of use while traveling. It's important to carefully consider your needs and priorities before selecting a roof rack. By following these considerations, you can find a van roof rack and accessories to update your Promaster or Sprinter van and add extra storage, power, or protection you’ve been wanting.

If you need help configuring your van rack send us a message.