How to measure a high-roof vehicle.

What are you measuring?

The method depends on what you're trying to find. To check our high-roof bracket compatibility, you usually only need roof height — gutter to roof top.

Manual tape method

The step-by-step way to measure roof height using a tape measure — this is the measurement our fitment team uses most often.

1. 1Park the van on level ground — uneven ground throws off the measurement.
2. 2Place a ladder beside the van, near the highest visible point of the roof. If there's no clear highest spot, take a few measurements following the same steps.
3. 3Locate the rain gutter — the lip or channel running along the top of the side wall where roof racks usually mount.
4. 4Hold a straight cross member (a ruler, wooden slat or level) wider than the roof, flat across the highest point.
5. 5Measure the vertical gap between the bottom of the straight edge and the top of the gutter — hold the tape vertically.
6. 6Record the measurement (usually 80–380mm, but up to 620mm on some vehicles depending on make, model and year).

Quick laser method

If you have a laser distance measurer, this is faster:

1. 1Stick a piece of masking tape on the roof top and another at the gutter.
2. 2Measure from the gutter up to the roof tape using the laser's continuous mode. Most lasers are accurate to within ±2mm.

Roof height (gutter to roof top)

The distance from the rain gutter to the roof top. This is the one measurement our bracket compatibility actually needs.

Total height of the vehicle

The distance from the ground to the highest point. Useful for checking clearance for an awning or other accessories.

Pitch or slope of the roof

The angle of the roof: measure rise (vertical height from base to peak) and run (horizontal distance to halfway under the roof). Pitch = rise ÷ run.

Roof area (for racks or solar panels)

Measure length and width directly with a tape or laser.