Overlanders and road-trip campers have a new piece of kit to consider. Dometic has launched the Slimline 3 Roof Rack, the opening product of its Front Runner Series, a range that will pull roof racks, storage and camping gear into one integrated setup. Notably, while the engineering is Swedish, the design and testing happened in South Africa — a place where a rack either survives harsh conditions or doesn't.
The headline change is the profile. The Slimline 3 sits 20% lower than the Slimline II, which should mean less wind noise and drag on the highway, plus a cleaner look on the roof. The platform is flat, with no perimeter lip, so sliding heavy gear on and off is simpler than on lipped designs.
Flexibility is the other big selling point. Individual slats can be added or removed without pulling the whole rack apart, and the spacing between them is adjustable, so the same rack can carry a roof tent one season and jerry cans the next. Dual T-slots give extra mounting points, and concealed wiring channels let you run lighting and power without cables snaking across the top of your vehicle.
Durability gets attention too: 3CR12 stainless-steel components, black-coated stainless fasteners for corrosion resistance, tie-down points in all four corners, and a mounting system designed for easier removal and refitting without breaking the roof seal. A dedicated accessories line includes a shovel mount, quick-release awning mounts, a recovery-board bracket, antenna mount, axe bracket and even a shower arm.
Fitment currently covers a solid list of popular 4x4s: the Suzuki Jimny (3- and 5-door), Ford Bronco hard top, Ford Ranger T6.2, INEOS Grenadier and Grenadier ¾, the new Toyota Land Cruiser 250 Prado (both body styles), Toyota Hilux Revo Double Cab, Isuzu D-Max and VW Amarok.
Pre-orders opened on 20 August 2026, with first shipments from October 2026, via Dometic, its Kyalami showroom or official Front Runner dealers. Pricing is on request from Dometic.
Why should a traveller care? If you're planning a self-drive safari or an overlanding trip — through southern Africa especially, where this rack was tested — your roof setup determines how much you can carry, how noisy the drive is and how quickly camp goes up. A modular, corrosion-resistant rack that suits vehicles like the Hilux, Prado and Jimny, all common rental and self-drive choices in the region, is genuinely practical news rather than just product hype.
