Nomad Roof Rack

[Jerry]

Searching the net, I came across this roof rack engineered by HME. Anyone know any more about it or have any pictures taken at other angles?

PS: Found it when searching for a canvas roof.

The company involved is HME: http://www.hme.co.uk

[dunny]

Interesting Jerry!
I don’t know why they would go that way with the wheel rack through. If you find out any more it would be good. Handy for trips up the Alps etc.To my knowledge there has only been one designed and fitted at Ariel. It is in the workshop as we speak!
Cheers
D.

[Jerry]

Got a price but no pictures as yet. It's made of aluminium.

Will add the price when I get the pictures.

[stupot]

Won't be easy to check and top up fluids!

[Jerry]

Looks to be an access panel at the base of the rear rack. The price is £2250.

Really needed to see a side view. Wonder if the owner is on here.

[dunny]

It’s a bold effort.I’m with you on the side view. There must be some support going on in there somewhere.A lot of buggering about to check the oil and you would have to sit Steve at Ariel down with a strong cup of tea after he saw the welding!

[Jerry]

I too noticed the quality of the welds were poor, especially on the rear right of the wheel carrier element.

I will ask for a side view photograph.

[harry]

Ariel do sell their roof racks at £1650+vat, spotlights (if fitted) get moved onto the front of the rack.

[Jerry]

The car that the rack was fitted will soon be available on Collecting cars. https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2018-ariel-nomad-2

[richorme]

I have this car now, complete with custom roof rack, can I help?

[Jerry]

Excellent, what do you think of the Roof Rack? Is it worth the outlay if I was to get one made?

[richorme]

Excellent, what do you think of the Roof Rack? Is it worth the outlay if I was to get one made?

Hard to say, going to use it in anger in a couple of weeks for a road trip, will report back!

[StephenCM]

I mounted a large (130L) aluminium top box in place of the spare wheel. It did an excellent job but if I strapped an additional bag on the top, it was marginally above the roofline and took 15-20 mph off the top speed while reducing the fuel range even further. That may not be an issue for you but worth noting that Nomads are not very familiar with wind tunnels!

[richorme]

Back yesterday from a four day 700 mile trip to France & Belgium, most of which I spent in the Nomad, more of that maybe on another topic as I prepare for a proper expedition.

The roof rack design is such that it incorporates a new spare wheel holder and under that creates a parcel shelf that I originally wrote off but proved to be very useful.

We couldn’t have done the trip without the roof rack, it held a couple of bags very ably once strapped down and on private roads was still capable of >100 mph.

I prefer the side gap for ingress/egress so it didn’t affect access to the car and when the weather was very sunny provided a good amount of shade.

I’ve never driven the car without it so can’t make that comparison, BUT, it enabled us to travel for multiple nights and that is exactly what we needed.

[richorme]

Sorry about the wonky photo orientations!