Well I just figured I would share my thoughts.

This rack is extremely versitile, Heavy Duty & Easy to install.

High Points

• Heavy Duty
• No Plastic Parts (weak spot on the Nissan Rack)
• EZ Bolt on Application
• Increased Carrying Capacity
• Holds more weight (I can jump on this)
• Price Vs Total Package

First off it does NOT come with the red accents, it is a powdercoat grey.

The rack does come with the welded tabs, they are slightly bent on both sided to give substantial strength.

This bolts right on to the stock rack locations, NO DRILLING REQUIRED.
The rubber pads under the stock rack are reused with the calmini rack. You just need to trim off the middle top portion of the pads to make them flat.
You will also notice the base of the rack does have the bases bent to match to roof line.

The rack comes in 3 pieces for shipping and this also helps with installation. There are sleeves you stick into the rack that need to be drilled out and using the self tap screws to secure. I would attach the sleeved to the front and rear portion then attach those to the main rack.
Yakima attachments DO work with the rack.

You only have the rack loosely assembled until it is fully bolted onto the roof, this makes it easier just incase the stock holes are a little off/different.


Lastly the amount of space and shear strength is insane. I can litterally jump on this and not deform the rack and of course the roof is fine as well.

Notice the mounts are bent out a bit to take advantage of the space on top. And still not hang over the roof.

Negatives

• Lack of floor - But easy to remedy
• Would have been nice to have 1 light tab on the rear

So why the rack.
You can buy the Yakima rack and all the acessories to match the Calmini Rack for about $320-375.

• Yakima Rack $290
• Mighty Mounts to mount to stock Rack $20
• Light attachments Using mighty Mounts $20 using Yakima attachments $54

Even with all of this you still have the weak plastic on the rack (Crossbar Ends), lack or useable space & not as much weight carrying capacity.
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So why am I posting this... I have priced other racks and even a custom one prior to getting the Calmini (extremely expensive). I even had a cheaper off beat rack. But my plastic stripped out on the cross bars and I still wanted more space/flexiblity.
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So look at the options and decide what you eventually really want out of your rack. If you are looking for all of thes options I recommend the Calmini Rack.

Nice write up Alpine Im a big fan of the Calmini rack and wish I had bought it rather than my wilderness rack. My rack and my front skid from AC were hopefully my first and last purchase mistakes.

Great info there Kev! That gives me an entirly new perspective about the Calmini Rack. Before i thought it was just some replacement so you can see out your sun roof, and thought that it didn't fit very well as far as being water tight where it bolts on. I never even thought about it strength wise, as far as how much stronger and capable that rack would be compaired to any other option that you do. Anything else is not really doing anything, because you still have the factory rack doing most of the work.

Thanks for the awesome write up!

It is the perfect write up for the product review section in fact.. The only thing I see that might have been overlooked in the design is the floor. Expanded metal provides a simple, inexpensive, and durable solution.

Very nice work. I've been trying my amature hand at fabricating my own version of this rack. I'm finding it much harder than I predicted. If I have to scrap it I'm definitly going with the Calmini rack.

Thanks fellas, with fall here and winter coming I figured I would start posting opinions info on things I have used.

Think that is the most typing I have done EVAR on this board!!!!

Anyway I put in what I missed. You always have to have the other side.

Negatives
Lack of floor, but easy with more than one solution.
1 or 2 light tabs would be nice on the rear.

Nice write up man, but i tend to disagree with you on the weight carrying capacity. The weight carrying capacity hardly limited by the stock rack, but rather the mounting locations. If you guys notice, there is nothing under the feet of our racks. So basically how much the roof can hold determines the carrying capacity. On top of that, loading too heavy on the rack greatly increases chance of rollover.

My weak spot was the plastic ends on the end of the crossbars, not the roof. That was just a cooler and sometimes a spare tire. The end could not hold up to wheeling or even daily driving on dirt roads.

I've been eyeing this exact rack for some time now. Thanks for the write up Kev, it convinced me that I want it. Now it's just a matter of convincing the wife that I NEED it :rolleyes: .

One question for you Kev, any idea if it is (and by how much) taller than the stock rack? It looks like it is but it might be an issue after my PML and eventual larger tires with the parking structure at work. Might be time for a new job!!!

Maybe 1" higher the basket sits lower to compensate for the height.

I'm telling you guys this, in my opinion, is the best option for lifted Xs with clearance issues.

http://www.xterraownersclub.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=003659#000000

You'll see the half rack and the full rack if you look at the first and second page. I just dont' get why this hasn't caught on yet.

Wow kev, that is AWESOME!

Nice rack !



Looks great; way better than loadwarrior. Not nearly as strong as the Calmini rack, tho.

Also, it is limited by the strength of the plastic and aluminum stock rack.

So what are the tabs/brackets on the sides for? Lights also?

Do you know if they will make one for the '05? The rack looks really great.

REinforcement is my guess, but the holes could be used for lights.

Calmini was working on a basket option that would use those side brackets. So my guess would be that they were ment for that.

Will the OEM airdamn work with this rack?

no