MU-X build: Rola Titan Tray and Ridge Mount system installed

With the limited cargo capacity of the mid-size MU-X wagon, a roof rack was definitely called for to carry any bigger bits of gear. Thankfully, Isuzu bestows the MU-X with a generous 100kg rating for the roof, so there’s quite a bit you can haul up there if you need to.

With some of the newer hard-shell roof tents weighing in at 80kg and more, you’ll use every bit of that rating once you account for the weight of the rack itself and any mounts.

After sampling and being impressed with the Ridge Mount rack on its 300 Series LandCruiser earlier this year, we went straight to Rola Racks to see if it had a Ridge Mount for the MU-X. It turns out it didn’t but were keen to develop one ASAP, so our MU-X would be the guinea pig.

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The Ridge Mount system is a good-looking alternative to conventional mounts for Rola Titan Tray flat racks. They form a stylish spine that runs down the length of the roof that gives a more stable mount for the Titan Tray. The Ridge Mounts attach to the vehicle in the factory channels and mounting points, so there is no drilling or modification needed to the vehicle itself.

The team at Rola’s Melbourne headquarters were able to fabricate the Ridge Mount for the MU-X before we got there, so, all things going well, it should be a relatively easy installation and something anyone with basic skills and tools could do at home.

In fact, the most difficult part of the job was removing the factory sealant that is in the roof where the mounts bolt to. Don’t forget to put sealant around the bolt holes when you are bolting the Ridge Mounts on to the car.

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With the two Ridge Mounts lined up and bolted down in the Isuzu’s roof racks, it was time to fit the Titan Tray. We chose an 1800mm x 1200mm Titan tray to suit the MU-X, but they are available in bigger sizes for bigger wagons and smaller trays for utes and cargo hard covers.

The Titan Trays have their slats running front to back rather than side to side on the roof of your car, which offers plenty of adjustment for whatever you need to carry on your roof.

There is also a huge range of Rola accessory mounts for specialist items like jerry cans, gas bottles, traction boards, light bars, shovel/axe holders and awnings. The accessories attach via T-bolts in the slots, so again there’s plenty of adjustment for where you need to carry the load. Raised side rails for containing your cargo are also an option.

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Fitting the lightweight tray is relatively simple but best done with two people because of the size and to have someone on each side of the car. Once it’s up there and lined up to where you want it to sit, it’s just a matter of bolting it down and it’s ready to go.

The Titan Trays and Ridge Mounts are rated to hold 300kg, which exceeds that of the 100kg rating on the MU-X and most other vehicles.

So far we only have our Narva LED light bars fitted to the front of the Titan Tray using the Rola accessories brackets, but in the coming months we’ll be loading a roof tent, awning, recovery gear and other accessories (not all at once) on to the rack, to put it through its paces.

Pricing

Rola Ridge Mounts for MU-X: $551.55 (plus fitting)
Rola Titan Tray - 1800 x 1200mm: $839 (at SuperCheap auto)
Available from: www.rola.com.au