What roof rack do you recommend?

[Geoff77]

I'll be needing to put some cross bars on the stock roof rails of an '05 Forester X. All I will be needing it for is to strap some surfboards down to the roof. Looking at the roof rails, there doesnt seem to be anywhere to tie anything down to. Im wondering what cross bars people would recommend. Ive never had a roof rack before so I really dont know much about them. Can you get any brand name ones that will fit right into the Subaru roof rails? If so, are they any cheaper than the Subaru ones? What brands do you recommend for the best value. Im on a tight budget. Also, how do you go about tieing things down to the car if there are no loops or anything in the roof rails? Thanks for all your suggestions and ideas.

[Zephyr]

I'll be needing to put some cross bars on the stock roof rails of an '05 Forester X. All I will be needing it for is to strap some surfboards down to the roof. Looking at the roof rails, there doesnt seem to be anywhere to tie anything down to. Im wondering what cross bars people would recommend. Ive never had a roof rack before so I really dont know much about them. Can you get any brand name ones that will fit right into the Subaru roof rails? If so, are they any cheaper than the Subaru ones? What brands do you recommend for the best value. Im on a tight budget. Also, how do you go about tieing things down to the car if there are no loops or anything in the roof rails? Thanks for all your suggestions and ideas.

 

I don't believe the roofs of the 05's are built in the same manner as the 00-04 models so they can accomodate the huge sunroof (The 00-04 models have those roof "bumpers" so you can easilyslide stuff around, 05s you will be sliding your boards around on your finish). For 05s you will need to carry the load suspended above the roof, rather than on the roof. This makes the rails necessary to tie stuff down.

 

As far as your other questions, I can't answer... yet!

 

An additional question... what is the difference between the round and square bar set(other than shape you smart a... )? I'm imagining an issue where to carry different cages or carriers on top will require different bars. That would not be good to require your customers to purchase both styles of bars...

[Buddythedog]

I've seen the Yakima racks that I believe attach to the elliptical or flat roof rails. Other than that, if you haul stuff, you can get a "basket" type thingy that also attaches to the stock roof rack. Thule and Yakima are by far the best, lasting years and years. You do pay out the b*** for them. My forester, an 03 has the side rails, no tie down areas, and nothing on the roof to protect the finish. Anything I'd put up there would ruin my paint. Not good planning. I have the XS fwiw, I think the other models have the roof bumper things. Look in the paper, at bike shops, ski shops, etc., for used ones.

[Andyjo]

i think thule makes special mounts for subaru side rails...

 

Difference between round & square bars: not much

some people say the round bars are more aerodynamic.. but there's such a small cross sectional area on them that it doesn't really matter. From an engineering standpoint, the round bars shoudl have a higher second moment of inertia (they'll bend less easy). Both companies (thule & yakama) use galvanized steel... and you don't really have to worry about bending them.. unless you load up your rig like i do

 

I've only really had experience w/ thule products, but one of my friends at school has an awesome yakama setup, 4 bars on his jeep, a box, ski & kayaks racks... amungst other stuff.

 

I guess it's all a persanal preferance thing.

[Lesbaru]

Dealer told me that the expensive Subaru cross bars and rack attachments are just Yakimas with Subaru painted on them.