Cover photo: Suzuki Auto South Africa, for this shot of their 5-door, full rack on top, in the bushveld. Thank you, Suzuki SA.
A roof rack is often the first thing a South African Jimny owner buys. It is also the mod sellers mention most. In the Jimny adverts we analyse daily, 89 of them name a roof rack.
The reason is the boot. With the back seats up, Suzuki SA gives you this much room:
| Body | Boot with the back seats up |
|---|---|
| 3-door | 85 L |
| 5-door | 211 L |
So owners look up at the roof. Ask any SA 4x4 forum which rack to buy, though, and the first reply is still “take less stuff”. Both have a point.
This guide covers what each rack costs this week, what it weighs, and what that leaves for your gear. Want one already fitted? Start with the listings. Or see every current Jimny rack in stock today, with prices.
One thing before the prices. Some full-length racks weigh close to Suzuki’s whole roof allowance on their own. So a rack’s weight matters as much as its price.
The number that decides your rack: 30 kg
Suzuki Auto SA’s 5-door brochure gives a maximum roof load of 30 kg. The small print says this includes the “own weight of Multi Roof Rack and other carrier modules”. In plain words, everything on the roof counts. The rack counts. So do its brackets, the awning mount, the can holder and whatever you strap down.
Suzuki SA gives no roof figure for the 3-door. It is not in the 3-door brochure, and it is not on the spec page. So ask your dealer before you load up a 3-door. Suzuki SA gives no figure for a parked car either.
Suzuki’s own light setup shows how tight this is. Its genuine roof bars weigh 6.3 kg. Its roof basket adds 8 kg. That leaves about 16 kg for your actual gear.
Some owners believe the 30 kg only applies to Suzuki’s own bars. It does not. Suzuki’s wording counts any rack, and the rack makers agree. Des Sol says its own 500 kg lab test “is not the permitted roof load of the vehicle”. Holdfast tells buyers to check the car’s roof allowance. So this is not us being fussy.
Why a limit? Weight up high makes a tall, narrow car lean and sway more in corners, crosswinds and hard braking.
Here is roughly what each kind of rack weighs, from the makers’ own figures:
| Kind of rack | Weight of the rack alone | Left of Suzuki’s 30 kg |
|---|---|---|
| Suzuki’s genuine bars | 6.3 kg | about 24 kg |
| Holdfast Wingbar crossbars | 5 kg | about 25 kg |
| Three-quarter platform | about 22 kg | about 8 kg |
| Full platform, 3-door | 23 to 27 kg | no 3-door figure from Suzuki SA; ask your dealer |
| Full platform, 5-door | about 28 to 38 kg | little or nothing |
So check the weight of any rack before you pay for it. The maker’s page or the shop will have it.
A rooftop tent plus a rack comes to two or three times Suzuki’s figure. Our rooftop tent guide does that maths and shows the alternatives.
Types of rack, in plain words
There are four kinds of rack for the current Jimny. Store prices on 23 September 2026:
| Type | What it is | Rack weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crossbars (load bars) | Two bars across the roof, no tray | 5 to 6.3 kg | R3,000 to R3,890 |
| Three-quarter platform | A shorter tray; the back of the roof stays bare | 22 kg | R9,599.99 |
| Full platform | A flat tray over the whole roof | 23 to 38 kg | R9,045 to R13,999.99 |
| Tall platform | Taller legs, with room for a table underneath | 27 kg (3-door) | R11,399.99 |
The current Jimny has rain gutters along the edges of the roof. Suzuki calls them drip rails, and says they make it easy to fit roof carriers. A rack clamps onto these gutters with feet or brackets. That is called a gutter mount. It needs no holes in the roof.
No SA Jimny has factory roof rails, in any trim.
Height is a choice too. Front Runner’s standard legs put the tray 180 mm above the gutters. Its Tall kit lifts that to 205 mm.
The short version: a platform, of any kind, uses most or all of the roof allowance by itself. Bars leave room.
The racks South Africans actually buy
These are the racks SA stores carry for the current Jimny, at store page prices on 23 September 2026.
| Rack | 3-door | 5-door | Rack weight (3-door / 5-door) | How it holds on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front Runner Slimline II, full | R10,849.99 (JimSA) | R13,999.99 (JimSA) | 27 kg / 38.37 kg | Legs clamp the gutters |
| Front Runner Slimline II, three-quarter | R9,599.99 (JimSA) | same kit fits | 22 kg | Four gutter legs |
| Des Sol Rack-Tech | R11,500 (Des Sol) | R13,500 (Des Sol) | 24 kg / about 28 kg | Brackets; eight on the 5-door |
| Holdfast Adventure | R9,045 (JimnyworX) | R10,990 (JimnyworX) | 23 kg / not published | Platform with slots for bolts |
| Holdfast Wingbar (bars only) | R3,890 (JimnyworX) | not listed | 5 kg | Crossbars |
| Front Runner load bar kit (bars only) | R3,000 (JimnyworX) | not listed | not published | Crossbars |
| Suzuki Multi Roof Rack (genuine bars) | ask your dealer | ask your dealer | 6.3 kg | Crossbars |
Front Runner Slimline II. This is the default. On SA forums, “Frontrunner” is simply the word for a rack, the way “Hilux” is the word for a bakkie. The legs clamp onto the gutters, nothing needs drilling, and every part comes in the box. Front Runner makes more than 55 extras that bolt onto the tray. The rack carries a limited lifetime warranty, and terms apply. The three-quarter kit is the light pick. It is also the only rack listed for both the 3-door and the 5-door.
Des Sol Rack-Tech. Des Sol makes this rack in Pinetown, KZN, along with Jimny suspension, bumpers and tanks. The top is flat, with the bolts hidden inside, so nothing snags your bags. The metal has a lifetime warranty. The coating has five years. Des Sol does say that damage from overloading may fall outside that warranty. The 5-door version spreads its weight over eight brackets along the longer roof.
Holdfast Adventure. This is the cheapest full platform for both bodies. JimnyworX in Cape Town sells it, and orders can take a while to arrive.
Crossbars. The light way onto the roof: Holdfast’s Wingbar, Front Runner’s load bar kit or Suzuki’s own bars. Suzuki does not publish a price for its bars, so ask your dealer.
Owners also rate other local makers, such as NeoTrek, Eezi-Awn, Predator, Big Country and Car Rack.
It pays to shop around, even for the same rack. Here is the Des Sol Rack-Tech for the current Jimny at five stores on 23 September 2026:
| Store | 3-door | 5-door |
|---|---|---|
| Des Sol, JimSA, JimnyworX | R11,500 | R13,500 |
| Wild Access | R9,950 | R13,500 |
| Zombie Offroad | R9,495 (on sale, was R10,000) | R11,495 |
That day, shopping around saved about R2,000 on the identical 3-door rack. Some store pages still carry older product text, so confirm the spec with the shop before you pay.
Live prices · 4 October 2026
Current Jimny roof racks in stock right now
18 in stock at 5 stores today, from R9 045 to R14 000. Typical price about R11 500.
3-door or 5-door: the fitment traps
Full-length racks fit one body only. Buying a used rack? Ask which Jimny it came off.
The Front Runner three-quarter kit is the exception. It is listed for both bodies.
The 5-door also pays more for its longer tray. On 23 September the typical full rack cost R13,750 for a 5-door, against R11,500 for a 3-door.
A longer roof does not mean a bigger allowance: Suzuki’s 30 kg is a 5-door figure. The two cars also carry about the same in total. Suzuki SA gives each one a gross vehicle mass, which is the most the loaded car may weigh. Take away the car’s own weight and you get its payload: everything you may add, people included.
| Body | Payload, roughly |
|---|---|
| 3-door | 320 to 355 kg |
| 5-door | 330 to 360 kg |
Whatever goes on the roof comes out of that payload too. For more on how the two bodies differ, see our 3-door vs 5-door guide.
The older Jimny (1998 to 2018)
The older Jimny has its own racks. They do not swap with the current car, and every store lists them as separate products.
| Rack (older Jimny) | Price, 23 Sep 2026 | Rack weight |
|---|---|---|
| Des Sol Gen 3 | R11,500 (Des Sol) | 24 kg |
| Front Runner Slimline II Gen 3 | R9,900 (JimSA) | not published |
| Holdfast Adventure, 2009 to 2018 | R8,900 (JimnyworX) | not published |
We could not find a Suzuki SA roof figure for the older Jimny. Check with your dealer or your manual.
One older-Jimny story shows what happens when you ignore the number. In 2019 the owner of a 2017 Jimny posted on a forum. He had carried about 120 kg up there: rack, tent and two full jerry cans. That is about four times the figure. After some corrugated roads, he found cracks at all four mounting points. That was the older model, badly overloaded, not a current-Jimny fault.
See every older Jimny rack in stock today.
What you can actually carry up there
SA owners load their racks with the same few things. Jerry cans, camp chairs, a canvas tent, a mattress, a gas bottle. Here is what some common rack extras weigh, from the product pages at JimSA on 23 September 2026:
| Item | Price | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Front Runner 20 L jerry can (empty) | R689.99 | 3.82 kg |
| Front Runner single jerry can holder | R789.99 | 2.4 kg |
| Front Runner double jerry can holder | R1,299.99 | 4.3 kg |
| MAXTRAX Mini and Jaxbase combo | R4,249.99 | 4.2 kg |
| Front Runner quick-release awning mount kit | R1,099.99 | 2.1 kg |
| Front Runner Pro kayak/SUP carrier | R4,999.99 | 6.2 kg |
| Front Runner Pro surfboard carrier | R2,469.99 | 0.6 kg |
| Front Runner rack shower arm | R558.99 | 2 kg |
Now add it up. Take a 5-door, because that is where Suzuki SA publishes its 30 kg. Put a three-quarter rack on it, with one jerry can:
| On the roof | Weight |
|---|---|
| Three-quarter rack | 22 kg |
| Single can holder plus one empty 20 L can | about 6 kg |
| Total with the can empty | about 28 kg (under 30 kg) |
| Total with the can full of petrol | about 43 kg (about 13 kg over) |
Petrol weighs about 0.74 kg a litre. So 20 L of it weighs about 15 kg.
So a platform suits light, bulky things: chairs, a folded awning, empty cans and recovery tracks. Heavy things like fuel, water and tools belong inside the car, low down, or on a trailer. Our guide to Jimny storage, drawers and cargo covers packing the inside.
Awnings. An awning is the most useful thing on a Jimny rack, because you use it when you are parked. It rolls out from the side of the rack for shade at camp. Prices at JimnyworX on 23 September:
| Awning | Price |
|---|---|
| Front Runner Easy-Out, 1.4 m | R4,938 |
| Front Runner Easy-Out, 2 m | R5,026 |
| Alu-Cab 270 Shadow, 2 m | R15,630 |
Remember that an awning on top of a platform adds to a total that is already close to 30 kg. On bars it has more room. Browse more in rooftop tents and camping, and recovery tracks in recovery and snorkels.
Kayaks and surfboards. Bars and a carrier are the right tool here. Suzuki’s own bike carrier takes one bike of up to 15 kg, which gives you an idea of a sensible light load.
Long loads and the law. The road rules say nothing may stick out more than 300 mm past the front of the car. If a load sticks out more than 300 mm at the back, hang a red flag on it. The flag must be at least 300 mm by 300 mm. At night you need red lights or reflectors instead. A 3-door is only 3,485 mm long, so a long kayak centred on the roof can break the front rule. Slide long boats towards the back.
Or use a trailer. Some SA builders tow a small camping trailer and leave the roof bare. Our towing guide has Suzuki SA’s figures.
Ladders and the back door
A ladder makes the middle of the rack easy to reach.
| Ladder | Price, 23 Sep 2026 | Weight | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front Runner (2018 on) | R1,499.99 (JimSA) | 3.15 kg | 3-door and 5-door; bolts to the back door |
| Des Sol Gen 4 | R2,950 (Des Sol, JimSA, Wild Access) | 3 kg | 3-door and 5-door; clamps to the top and bottom of the door, no drilling |
| Predator (5-door) | R2,800 (JimnyworX) | 7 kg | Stainless steel; top bracket fixes to a Predator rack |
The Jimny’s back door opens sideways on both generations, like a normal door. The ladder rides on that door, next to the spare wheel. Des Sol and Front Runner both say the same thing: climb only with the door shut and latched.
A ladder’s own rating is for the ladder, not the door. Suzuki SA publishes no load limit for the back door. On the older Jimny, SA owners who hung extra weight on the back door said the door metal flexed. So keep it to a light ladder, and keep fuel cans off the door.
If you want both, Des Sol sells a rack and ladder combo. It runs from R12,999 for the 3-door to R15,500 for the 5-door.
Live prices · 4 October 2026
Ladders and load bars in stock right now
9 in stock at 4 stores today, from R1 500 to R3 890. Typical price about R2 950.
Fitting: DIY or installer
Front Runner kits are made for home fitting. The legs clamp the gutters, no drilling is needed, and everything is in the box. The 5-door kit adds rubber strips for the pinch weld, the seam along the edge of the roof. A capable owner can do it at home. One owner said a professional fit of his Slimline II took about two and a half hours.
Des Sol wants a trained installer to fit its racks. At its own works in Pinetown, KZN, fitting costs R1,466 for the rack. Fitting the ladder there costs R425. That price is for Pinetown only. Elsewhere, Des Sol lists fitment centres around the country, and several of them are Suzuki dealers. They run from Pretoria and Cape Town (JimnyworX in Brackenfell) to Umhlanga, Bloemfontein and Windhoek.
Whoever fits it, check these four things:
- The feet sit properly in the gutter, and the paint under them is protected.
- The roof aerial, at the back of the roof, clears the tray.
- Every bolt is tight again after your first gravel road. Des Sol says to recheck the hardware after rough roads, and Cape owners know what corrugations do to loose bolts.
- You know how tall the loaded car is. Measure it once and note it for parking garages.
On your Suzuki warranty, keep it simple. Suzuki SA says it can only guarantee work done at an authorised Suzuki dealer. It also warns that non-approved parts or a poor install “could put your warranty at risk”. A gutter-clamp rack needs no drilling. If anyone wants to drill, ask your dealer first.
Wind noise and fuel: what owners report
No SA magazine or lab has tested a Jimny rack for noise or fuel, so all we have is owners’ word.
A Slimline II owner of two years said he stopped noticing the noise, except on windy days. He saw little change in fuel at highway speed. A Des Sol buyer, in a review on Des Sol’s own store, called his rack dead quiet at 100 km/h in a crosswind. Another owner slid his rack to the back of the roof to cut the noise.
Front Runner kits come with a wind deflector, a lip at the front that smooths the air over the tray. Des Sol says its low rack was trialled for as little wind noise as possible.
Theft and insurance
Racks and whatever sits on them can walk. Locking nuts or a rack lock help. For anything left on the roof, use a lockable box. Front Runner’s strap-down one was R618.99 at JimSA. One SA owner whose Jimny was stolen had to hunt for new rack feet afterwards.
Tell your insurer about the rack and what you keep on it. MiWay has told drivers to declare roof racks to their insurer. OUTsurance, for one, covers extras only once you list them.
Which rack should you buy?
| You want | Buy | About (23 Sep 2026) | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| A kayak, surfboard or tracks only | Crossbars: Front Runner kit, Holdfast Wingbar or Suzuki’s own | R3,000 to R3,890 (Suzuki: ask) | Light bars leave most of the 30 kg for the load |
| A 5-door that stays inside Suzuki’s figure | Bars, or at most a three-quarter platform | R9,599.99 for the Front Runner three-quarter | 22 kg leaves about 8 kg |
| A 3-door platform on the smallest budget | Holdfast Adventure | R9,045 | Cheapest full tray, 23 kg |
| A 3-door, local make, flat top | Des Sol Rack-Tech | R9,495 to R11,500 | 24 kg; same rack, so shop around |
| The biggest range of bolt-on extras | Front Runner Slimline II | R9,599.99 to R13,999.99 | The SA default, easy DIY fit |
| An older Jimny (1998 to 2018) | Holdfast, Front Runner or Des Sol Gen 3 | R8,900 to R11,500 | Check your own roof figure first |
| Nothing on the roof at all | Pack inside, or tow a small trailer | The forum’s “take less stuff” |
The honest SA answer: most Jimnys only need bars, or a light rack for bulky gear and an awning. A full platform on a 5-door is mostly about the look. Nothing wrong with that, as long as you know what is left for your gear.
Will a rack pay you back when you sell? Not really. Modified Jimnys in the adverts ask about R10,000 more than stock ones, on thin data. That is nowhere near what the parts cost. Value your Jimny here to see where yours sits. For the rest of the car, see our guide to Jimny accessories in South Africa.
Prices were checked on 23 September 2026. They change every day, so see every current Jimny rack in stock today, with prices. A few items in that category are not roof racks, such as in-cabin racks and cargo chocks. And if you would rather skip the fitting, 89 adverts in the listings mention a rack already fitted.
A big thank you to the people behind the photos. Suzuki Auto South Africa shot the cover and the loaded 5-door. Des Sol in Pinetown, who design and build their own Jimny racks, supplied the gutter mount, load bar, 5-door, awning and ladder shots. Go and see their work.
