Ford Transit Roof Rack Buyer’s Guide: Safari vs. Low Pro

Table of Contents

Choose the Safari Roof Rack if you want a full deck to sit and stand on, room for bulky gear, or a place to mount round off-road lights. Choose the Low Pro Roof Rack if you want a lighter, more aerodynamic rack with adjustable crossbars that work around your solar panels, roof fan, AC unit, and awning.

• Best for rooftop lounging, maximum storage, and round lights: Transit Safari Roof Rack
• Best for a lightweight setup and flexible solar layouts: Transit Low Pro Roof Rack

When building an adventure van, the interior tends to leave little room for storage as the precious real estate is being maximized with a bed system, galley cabinets, or seating. No matter how you use your van, there is always a need for more storage space.

A roof rack for your van creates storage space out of nowhere for gear you want to haul but doesn't need to be readily accessible at all times. Bulkier items can be easily stored so you can enjoy your interior space without it feeling crowded.

Not to mention, roof racks are great for storing outdoor sports equipment like kayaks, skis, snowboards, surfboards, and cargo boxes that may not fit inside your van layout. Keep your van interior clean by keeping your dirty gear outside the van after use. Many also use their roof racks for rooftop tent setups, providing extra sleeping space without crowding the interior. Others use the surface for setting up solar panels or awnings. Those who like to overland with their vans can use this extra space for a spare tire, traction boards, or fuel cans. Work vans can use this extra space for larger equipment like ladders or materials like lumber. The use cases are endless!

Your Transit van roof is not built to hold heavy loads and requires the proper weight distribution to use the space. Without having a roof rack that can support the storage you need and distribute weight properly, roofs have been known to dimple from point loads, damage equipment from flex, or even lose cargo without the proper tie-downs.

We make two Ford Transit roof racks: the Safari Roof Rack, a full-deck basket rack, and the Low Pro Roof Rack, a low-profile rack with movable crossbars. Make sure to confirm fitment with your van configuration before purchase.

The Transit Safari Roof Rack is our expedition-style rack with a full rooftop deck for the 148" Transit and best for maximum added storage space. This roof rack suits overland builds or anyone who wants to use their roof as more than storage. The full coverage deck and off-road light integration are just some of the reasons our customers love the Safari Roof Rack.

Decking Panels and Roof Fans

The Safari rack spans the full roof with a deck configuration that makes mounting gear easy. Its removable decking panels are positioned to line up with common roof fan and AC locations, allowing you to customize your roof platform configuration with no cutting required.

Mounting Gear

Each of the decking panels has L-track mounting points throughout for cam straps and tie-downs. The crossbars underneath are 80/20 aluminum, with built-in hardware slots for accessories. A wire chase channel runs around the full perimeter to keep wiring for lights and solar panels out of sight.

Basket Style vs. Drop Front

The Safari roof Rack is sold in both a drop front and full basket style so you can choose the front look. The basket style has a raised perimeter around the entire rack, including the front. The perimeter has 1.5-inch aluminum tubing surrounding the deck. The drop front style has a lowered rail on the front for mounting round lights or a light bar up front.

The Low Pro Roof Rack is our lightweight, low-profile roof rack option for Transit vans. It sits close to the roofline and is the most aerodynamic rack FVC makes for the Transit van. This roof rack is great for weekend campers and work vans alike, providing you with the most flexibility with the least added weight.

Adjustable Crossbars

The roof racks come with 58-inch crossbars that slide forward or back so you can space them to your specific needs. This allows you to customize the rack's layout around roof fans, AC units, solar panels, and other roof add-ons. The crossbars themselves are constructed of 10-series 80/20 extrusion with drop-in hardware slots so you can add accessories later without taking anything apart. Extra Crossbars can be purchased separately, expanding your gear and layout options with the rack.

Partial or Full Decking

The Low Pro does not include a deck, but you can create a rooftop deck by installing our Universal Decking Panels onto the crossbars. You can add as many or few panels as you'd like. A few panels can create just enough of a platform for a walkway to load gear, wipe down solar panels, or a platform for getting in and out of a rooftop tent.

Front Fairing and Lighting

Every Low Pro rack has a sloped, aluminum front wind fairing for optimal aerodynamics and a clean front design. The rack is also sold with a lightbar cutout, which leaves space for a 50-inch light bar for extra off-road lighting. To light up the area around your van, add our Roof Rack Light Mounts that mount directly to the side rail.

Storage

Consider what you want to carry and how you want to organize it. If you want to place gear exactly where you need it around fans, AC, and solar, the Low Pro's moveable crossbars are the better fit. If you want a full deck with mounting points throughout, or plan to spend time on the roof, the Safari is the better fit.

Lighting

For round lights up front, choose the Safari with the Drop Front. For a 50" light bar, either rack works: the Safari Drop Front or the Low Pro with the light bar fairing. For side lighting on the Low Pro, such as campsite or work lights, add Roof Rack Light Mounts.

Compatibility

Check your van's wheelbase, roof height, and model year. The Safari fits 148" Transits only, while the Low Pro also fits all wheelbases including the 130" Mid Roof. If you're unsure or don't see your van listed, contact our customer service team at support@flatlinevanco.com to confirm before ordering.

Installation

Both racks are designed for DIY installs with basic hand tools and come with detailed instructions, which you can view for each product before you buy. Plan on about 2 hours for the Low Pro, which one person can handle. The Safari has more parts to assemble and align, so plan on 3 to 4 hours with a helper to position the larger pieces. If you'd rather have it done for you, find an installer near you.

Make sure the rack you choose works with the accessories you have now and plan to add later. Popular add-ons include our Solar Panel Mounts for roof racks, a Starlink Mini Roof Rack Mount, and Fiamma F45S awnings.

What is the best roof rack for a Transit van?

The right roof rack for your Transit van depends on your storage needs and how you use your van. The Safari Roof Rack is best for maximum storage, rooftop lounging, and round off-road lights. The Low Pro Roof Rack is best for a lightweight, aerodynamic setup with movable crossbars, with the option to add decking panels and a 50-inch light bar.

Do I need to drill into my Ford Transit roof to install a roof rack?

No, both of our Transit roof racks bolt to the factory roof mounting points on 2015 and newer Ford Transits, so no drilling is required. The Safari and Low Pro roof racks install with basic hand tools and the included hardware, and each one comes with detailed installation instructions you can find on the product page before you buy.

Can I add a side ladder to my Transit roof rack?

Yes. Our Transit side ladders fit both the Transit Safari and Low Pro roof racks, so you can easily access the gear stored on your roof. Choose the side ladder that matches your van's roof height (Mid Roof or High Roof) and model, since the Transit Trail vans have their own version. Each side ladder comes with the hardware you need to install it and attach it to either roof rack. Our Transit Van Rear Ladder + Tire Carrier is also compatible with both roof racks, though it doesn't attach to the roof rack itself.

What is the difference between the Safari and Low Pro Transit roof racks?

The main difference is that the Safari includes a full rooftop deck, while the Low Pro is a lighter, open-crossbar rack with optional decking. The Safari has a raised aluminum perimeter, decking panels with L-track mounting points throughout, and a choice of Basket Style or Drop Front for mounting round lights or a light bar. The Low Pro sits closer to the roofline with a front fairing for better aerodynamics, adjustable crossbars you can position around fans, AC units, and solar panels, and the option to add decking panels only where you need them. The Safari fits 148" Transits, while the Low Pro also fits the 130" Mid Roof.

Can I put a rooftop tent on a Transit roof rack?

Yes, both the Safari and Low Pro roof racks work with rooftop tents, as long as the tent does not fold out to the side. Choose a tent that opens upward or toward the front or rear of the van. The Low Pro has 57.3" of usable width, and the Safari has 60.6", so check your tent's footprint against these measurements before buying. The Roofnest Falcon 3 EVO Air fits both racks, while the wider Falcon 3 EVO XL Air fits the Safari only. The Safari's full deck gives you a solid surface to step onto when getting in and out of the tent, and on the Low Pro, you can add a few Universal Decking Panels beside the tent to create the same kind of platform. Make sure the combined weight of the tent, rack, and gear stays within your Transit's roof load limit.

The right Ford Transit roof rack comes down to how you plan to use your roof space. The Safari Roof Rack turns your roof into a full deck with L-track mounting points throughout, giving overlanding and expedition builds the most rooftop storage and a place to catch sunsets with the best view. The Low Pro Roof Rack keeps your Transit lighter and more aerodynamic, with adjustable crossbars and optional decking so you can lay out solar, fans, and gear the way you want.

Whichever van roof rack you choose, both are DIY friendly and work with our Transit roof rack accessories and side ladders. To find the right fit, browse all of our Ford Transit Roof Racks and check individual product pages for fitment notes.