Dometic’s Front Runner Series Slimline 3 Roof Rack is Next Level Sleek

The days of bulky, cumbersome, and decidedly not-aero roof racks have been fully left behind with the latest update to the Slimline Series.

The first time I ever needed a roof rack was in 2016, when myself and four mates took on the 8 hour drive to Byron Bay for Splendour in the Grass.

Short on space, I went searching for a roof platform or basket of some sort to attach to the roof racks of my Subaru Forester.

With the clock counting down, I accepted my brother’s offer of an old, steel rack made for a 4WD far bigger than the Forrie. It was completely incompatible with my car, so we just lashed it on with ropes and checked it often.

The ‘Banter Bus’ in all of its questionably road legal glory

Safe to say, things have come a long way. In fact, I had a fairly life changing time not too long ago with the Front Runner Slimline II, which we installed on our Jimny XL.

That rack was a big deal for me: Easy mounting, universal T-slots that handled over 55 accessories, and burly construction that meant I could walk all over it.

The Slimline II was tough and practical, but also pretty chunky

So I was pretty surprised when Dometic Front Runner (they’re the same company now) called me up and asked if I wanted to give the Slimline 3 a go.

‘How different is it?’, I asked.

‘Heaps, this thing is next gen!’ came the reply.

‘Colour me intrigued’, I said, probably.

I headed into their Sydney workshop where Front Runner GM Daniel Fluckiger installed the new rack while I ‘helped’.

One look at the new Slimline 3 reveals new streamlined roof mounts, stronger, sexier corners with tie down points, and a flush top

What makes the Slimline 3 game changer?

The headline’s pretty simple: it’s simultaneously stronger and lighter, 40% stronger in fact, due to a redesigned slat profile. It’s also 70% stiffer which is better for the dynamic environment of a roof loaded with camping gear.

Front Runner has long been popular with 4WD tourers in South Africa, where driving and camping conditions are similarly rugged and demanding to Australia. But the company is now part of Dometic, a Swedish company known for its smart design of outdoor gear and focus on innovation.

Dometic Front Runner racks are made for the rigours of off-road driving

That’s why this significant update to the Slimline series now has integrated tie down points in the corners, dual T-slots, a lower profile, easier mounting and removal, and even concealed channels for cable routing. Design and testing still happened in South Africa, but there’s been a huge injection of innovation. Products in the range are now called the ‘Dometic Front Runner Series’.

Low Profile Design

Given the choice between low and high mount options, I went low. Part of the reason we have a Jimny is that we live in Sydney, park in a tiny apartment garage, and enter low carparks in a 4WD with 2 inches of lift. 

The Slimline 3 sits almost as low as possible, improving handling and aerodynamics

The low mounting system is so close to the roof and aerodynamic that Front Runner don’t recommend a wind deflector. I can see why – unloaded on the motorway I can’t specifically make out any rack noise over general wind noise.

It’s about 20% lower than the Slimline II, which is pretty significant, and the flat top design without a lip around the edge really streamlines the look and feel.

The slats sit completely flush, making the rack more aeroynamic and easier to load

Dual T Slots

T-slots allow you to insert a bolt head and slide it along to the correct position before tightening. This works great in the direction of the slot, but is very limited by how far apart the slots are.

Twice as many slots, twice as customisable

By doubling the number of T-slots on each slat the whole system becomes much more customisable. On the Slimline II I had to compromise a little with the location of the bike rack, whereas when I installed the Wolfpack Pro mounting bracket on the Slimline 3 I could get the box in the perfect position.

The Wolf Pack Pro box is mounted exactly where I want it without impeding other accessories

Integrated Tie Downs

These are a huge upgrade. Whereas the Slimline II had plastic corner covers that I whinged about, these new corners bolt the rack together with a classy metal logo that also includes a tie down point.

So hard to photograph, but thankfully very easy to use

This allows the rack to have more aesthetic rounded corners and avoid wasting a slat at each end, while still having a tie down to let you use as much of the rack as possible if needed.

Big brain stuff.

Backwards Compatible for Most Accessories

Front Runner are for sure creating an ‘ecosystem’ here, and whichever roof rack system you buy into will to some extent. If you’ve already got a bunch of Front Runner accessories then the Slimline 3 is compatible with all top mount accessories.

Top mount accessories like bike racks and recovery board mounts will port right over

Unfortunately anything that goes on the edge of the rack will require new mounts, as the new system sits flush and has its T-slot underneath the rack, rather than on top. This helps reduce drag and contributes to the sleek look, but it’s worth noting.

One thing I did like was the Quick Release 270° Awning Mount is designed to work with any awning, so the Rhino Rack one I already had could bolt straight on. I only have to undo two latches and I can lift it off and store it in the garage for the (unfortunate) 90% of the time I’m not actually using it.

I can add and remove the awning myself with this clever two-latch system

Durable Materials For Outdoor Use

Finally, the construction is fairly bombproof. In a world where a lot of products (and especially a lot of camping gear) feels cheap or insubstantial, this rack genuinely impressed me at every turn. There’s even a limited lifetime warranty.

There’s a toughness to the construction you don’t get in many products these days

The construction is stainless-steel, which you’ll know is far pricier if you’ve ever bought stainless steel bolts at Bunnings, but a huge middle finger to rust. It’s 3CR12 stainless for those playing at home, which Google tells me is 250 times more resistant to corrosion than mild steel.

The bolts and fasteners are all black coated too, and little caps for each bolt tie it all together.

Honestly, when I first heard that Dometic Front Runner were bringing out the Slimline 3 I didn’t think I’d have enough to say for an article, but as you can see this is a total rethink of how a roof rack should look, feel, and operate. Daniel told me that they’ve been installed on test cars in South Africa since September last year and they couldn’t be more stoked to get them onto four wheel drives in Aus.