Nissan Patrol 4x4 (Africa)

So am getting ready for a little camping trip from Wednesday afternoon. And because my kids are modern and find everything boring , I have to take their bicycles with (they are young so the bicycles are small). Decided I am just going to load them on the roof rack as the front wheels can detach.

So yes, me and the missus lifted the rack into the troll, also to do some measuring of the height. And biggest fear, it sits at about 2.1m in total height. So as you can see from the picture below.....a small issue (I knew it would be but a guy can dream)
Yes too high for my car port, and definitely too high for parking at the office (limit there is 2m).

Now the rack itself without the high rail at the back is 1.96m. So without that rail I’ll be able to park under my own car port and the office.

The thing is, I like the added rail, it give me a little comfort that if I’m driving and something starts to shift, that there is at least some kind of protection at the back to prevent it from just flying off .
So my question....if I take a grinder and cut the metal strips where the red indicated, then take a second piece of metal plate, drill holes in it, in the rack and the plates of the rail....then I can remove the rail when not needed and keep my roof rack on, and then just put it back on. Then just screw the extra metal plate into rack and rail with some nuts and bolts. Would that solve my issue from “being structurally sound” point of view? Or should I look at another solution?

I am sure it can be done. On the other hand, i promise you that anything except a RTT that comes loose on a bad road will vault that rail with ease.

I have been operating my rack without a rail for years without any problems.

Thanks for the reply, so you say it’s overkill and not really necessary? Cool , makes the whole process easier

Grinder ou maak uit

Ja ...I chopped mine off as well....looks better as well