Airholder System: How many cross profiles are needed on the roof – and what does the number depend on?
Denis Khristolyubov One of the most frequently asked questions about Airholder is quite simply: "How many profiles do I need on the roof?"
However, the correct answer always begins with a counter-question: "What do you want to transport – and how do you use the roof rack?"
With Airholder, the number of cross profiles is not fixed. It is configured according to the intended use . Sometimes the logic is more of a platform , sometimes a supporting structure for a specific setup – so that you don't pay for material that will later go unused.
Why does the number of cross-sections vary at all?
The number of cross-sections influences three key points:
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Load-bearing capacity and load distribution
The more support points there are, the more evenly the load is distributed across the roof rack, fixings and vehicle roof. -
Compatibility with accessories
Roof tent, solar panel, transport boxes, canisters, sand ladders, fastening systems – each setup has a different contact area and different requirements for the support. -
Price, weight and everyday usability
Every additional profile means more material, processing, fastening, and packaging. Sometimes this is necessary – sometimes it only increases costs and weight without any real added value.
What does the number of profiles in the Airholder system depend on?
Here are the most important factors we use for configuration:
1) Intended use of the roof rack
The most important point: Different scenarios require different "profile densities".
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Roof tent
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solar panels
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Transport of long goods (boards, pipes, ladders)
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Expedition setup (boxes, canisters, sand trays, spare wheel)
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“Platform” usage (frequent access/work on the roof)
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combined setups (tent + cargo + panels)
2) Contact surface of the accessory (contact points)
A roof tent typically has two longitudinal rails/profiles on its underside. These are precisely what transfer the load to the roof rack.
Practical rule for roof tents:
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at least 2 cross profiles under the longitudinal rails
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Three cross profiles are better , so that the tent rests more stably and the load is distributed more evenly.
Why "better 3"? Because in reality, the load is never perfectly uniform: driving dynamics, incline, and point reinforcements on the tent floor. A third layer significantly improves stability and reduces local peak loads.
3) Roof length and vehicle geometry
On short roofs, a dense grid structure is often easier (and cheaper) to implement – the profiles are shorter, and additional cross profiles increase the price less. On long roofs, each additional profile has a greater impact on cost and weight – therefore, it makes sense to install only as many as the task actually requires.
4) Distance between the cross profiles (200 mm, 400 mm, etc.)
The distance is a compromise between "platform" and "frame":
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200 mm spacing : greater versatility, more flexible accessory positioning, better load distribution
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400 mm spacing : ideal when the main purpose is clear (e.g., roof tent) and the roof rack should be more attractively priced without losing functionality.
Example 1: Suzuki Jimny – Standard 200 mm, available as a platform if required
In the standard configuration for the Suzuki Jimny, we use crossbeams spaced 200 mm apart . This is a very good compromise between flexibility and stability: accessories can be easily positioned, loads can be distributed evenly, and you are not limited to just a few "proper" crossbeams.
Important: The configuration of the Airholder system is not fixed. On the Jimny, you can add more crossbars , reduce the spacing, and thus practically transform the roof rack into a fully functional platform .
What is the purpose of this?
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Standing and working on the roof. A nearly closed surface makes moving around up there significantly safer.
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Scenario “Observation / Hunting”. For a hunter, a platform configuration can turn the roof into a work surface: one stands stably and uses the height for observation or hunting without getting one's foot caught between profiles.
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Maximum freedom when loading. The closer the profiles are together, the easier it is to attach equipment at any point – without being strictly bound to two or three cross profiles.
The Jimny is therefore a good example of how the number of profiles can lead to a shift from "roof rack for a specific task" to "universal platform".
Example 2: VW T6 – reduced configuration with 400 mm spacing
With the VW T6, we deliberately took a different approach: We developed a reduced configuration where the distance between the cross profiles can be approximately 400 mm .
Why did we reduce the number of profiles on the T6 ? Main reason: The roof rack should become more affordable without losing its core functionality.
If the typical scenario involves a roof tent , then what matters is not "how many profiles in total," but rather how many crossbeams actually support the tent . A roof tent should rest on at least two crossbeams with its longitudinal rails – ideally three . If this condition is met, additional crossbeams are often "nice to have," but not absolutely necessary.
That is precisely why, with the T6, we deliberately moved away from a maximally dense platform logic and towards a configuration that covers the most common real-world setups – especially roof tents – while remaining more economically attractive.
Easy retrofitting: Customizing via accessories (additional profiles)
A major advantage of the Airholder system is that the configuration can be easily expanded later. If your setup changes (e.g., from "roof tent only" to "roof tent + cargo"), you don't need to replace the entire roof rack.
Instead, you can purchase additional cross profiles individually and adjust the spacing or number of profiles as needed. We stock these additional profiles as accessories . This allows you to quickly transform a reduced configuration into a denser solution – even a platform-like setup if maximum contact area is the goal.
How to choose your configuration – a simple decision-making process
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Define main task
Roof tent? Solar panels? Cargo platform? Combination? -
Check contact points
For roof tents: at least 2 cross profiles, ideally 3 under the longitudinal rails. -
Platform or “purposeful framework”?
If you want maximum flexibility and frequently changing loads: closer together (e.g. towards 200 mm or less).
If the task is clear (e.g., roof tent): the distance can be greater (e.g., 400 mm) with the same function and lower price. -
Pay attention to the vehicle's roof load capacity
Always consider the permissible dynamic and static roof load of the respective vehicle. The configuration should be chosen so that the load is evenly distributed in real-world usage scenarios.
