Installing an expeditionary roof rack platform from STC (Siberian Technical Center)
Friends, hello everyone!
I previously mentioned that I purchased a new platform rack from the Siberian Technical Center (STC). Some might think it's a matter of throwing one thing at another... No, it's not! Yes, my previous rack was made entirely of aluminum, and the platform on top was made of strips riveted with millions of rivets, which over the years (since 2017) have started to loosen and rattle. I removed some of them and screwed them in with screws. But the counter-parts would fall into the tube, and when turning, all those rivet heads would move from one side to the other in a handful, making a distinctive sound. Secondly, this rack is great for carrying cargo on top, but there's no way to secure anything on the sides, and there's plenty to do!
I liked the STC roof rack because it has a rigid side member with pre-cut slots. It's positioned as low as possible against the roof, leaving a small gap, creating a low side wall with a variety of holes and slots for attaching additional equipment to the side of the rack. This side could accommodate a hi-fi jack, a shovel, an awning, a shower stall, and even a water tank, specifically for a shower. These are essentially the features I have and would like, and maybe something else will pop up. As for the auxiliary light, I don't think there's any point in mentioning it; it's obvious where I'd be without it.
I liked the build quality of the rack! No complaints, it's neatly CNC-cut, bent just right, and painted evenly. I don't know what kind of paint it is, though, and I didn't ask if it's scratch-resistant. But those are minor details! The STC roof rack is based on the LEGO concept, and they've developed all sorts of accessories for it (a spare tire holder on the roof, a holder for a jerry can, a shovel, a hi-jack, an antenna, a side light, etc.). Please, order whatever you need separately. No, I think I'd still like to point out one thing: the instructions are extremely inconvenient! If my post reaches the STC team, it would be great to create a general step-by-step guide. If someone just ordered the base, they could see in the pictures what other accessories are available for this rack and could always buy more or keep in mind that STC has them. The instructions would be similar to those at IKEA. Here's the left side member, part #XX. Attach this part (see schematic symbol and quantity) to it using this bolt, a washer, and a spacer. I assembled the assembly without instructions, and everything was intuitive and logical for me, even with an engineering background, but not everyone will find these instructions useful. It would be great to use Ikea's instructions as an example; even kids can assemble large cabinets there. )))
Thanks for the great rack! Once I've assembled all my gear and lights, I'll do another review fully equipped.
https://stc-russia.ru/
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