… Of course, having a bed negates the need for a rack much of the time. You can get a roof rail from your car dealer, or buy one from an independent car parts supplier. Many cars will be compatible with a roof rack, and some even have them equipped out of the factory, but when they don't, some issues may arise. The problem is that I know the S model does not have a support beam across the roof like the SL model does (or so I was told). Step 1 After dabbling in DIY repairs at home and on the farm, he found his calling in the CGCC Automobile Repair program. Instead of interfacing with attachment points, a naked roof mount will use a system of clamps to be fastened to the roof of your vehicle, often hooking in near the windows. Top Tips for Choosing and Installing. If you want to increase the cargo capacity of your vehicle, then you have surely considered getting either roof rails or roof racks. Considering a Roof Rack? Use a tie-down that wraps around the item and the rails. All Rights Reserved. It is understandable that not everyone is proficient with cars, as some of us are more artistically than mechanically oriented. Best for Versatility: Thule Sidekick Cargo Box. There are a number of ways you can add a roof rack to your ride, but the ‘how’ will depend on your vehicle. On the other hand, with a good set of tools, factory instructions and patience, you can install a set of factory roof racks in about an hour. We've singled out the best ones. Look for security features, such as a keyed clamp, unique installation tools or a security cable pass-through, which will help prevent theft of your roof rack, adapters and, most importantly, your equipment. CARiD offers a range of base roof rack products to let you set up a roof rack easily on any car, van, SUV, or truck – even if was built with a completely bare roof. 5 years ago. Roof rails on top of your car are really only one step away from a full roof rack. Your email address will not be published. If your car doesn’t have a roof rack, you can add one without drilling any holes in your roof. Roof racks are high, maybe even over your head, so be careful when loading and unloading your gear. There are many reasons why you may need extra cargo room for your car, from long family trips to a new job. If you have already purchased a vehicle and you find it lacking in cargo space, you may find that some steps will need to be taken so that you can improve your vehicle's carrying capacity. Keep in mind that the primary reason for purchasing a roof rack of this type is because your car doesn’t have existing mounting points. There are a few tools that will come in handy over the course of your roof rack installation: As you can guess, the most common type of vehicle that won’t work with a roof rack is a pickup truck, because there won’t be enough space on the roof for mounting. Factory roof racks often require templates and drilling, which your service center can usually provide. Of course, the issue with this kind of mounting system is that you aren’t guaranteed to find it on every vehicle. As you may have guessed from the name, a naked roof mount does not require pre-existing mounting points so that it can be installed to your car. The next type of roof rack installation that we will be looking at is the mounting of racks which are meant to slot into factory threads. You can check whether or not your car is equipped with mounting points at the factory by looking for some small circular or rectangular covers on your car’s roof. Even if you start with nothing but a bare roof, factory and aftermarket options can get you and your gear on the road with little fuss. If you don’t have either side or cross rails, you will want to select the “Rooftop Carrier for Cars Without Roof … Top Tips for Choosing and Installing Required fields are marked *. Your email address will not be published. If you have yet to purchase your car, however, you will find that a vehicle that comes with mounting points straight out of the factory is immensely helpful. Basically, they are the components that let you set up a roof rack from scratch, or add to existing factory rain gutters, tracks or even raised roof rails. Before you install your roof rack, you will need to consider what kind of roof rack you have or need to purchase, as not all of them are created the same. Buy a set of universal crossbars and towers and a set of vehicle-specific clamps to attach it. We thought ordered the cross bars and the rails that go in the gutters on the roof however when I went into the dealer for my appointment he only had the cross bars and was shocked we didn’t have the rails… If your vehicle already has built-in rails, tracks, or gutters on the roof, you’ll need a roof rack that has crossbars that can connect to them. On each side of the roof, you’ll see a rack that runs the length of the roof of the vehicle. Replacing roof rails is a standard task and not too complex. Installation takes just a few minutes and requires little more than basic tools or possibly no tools at all. These kinds of roof mounts are often an excellent option for sedans and cars with a more substantial amount of surface area on their roofs while compacts may have a harder time with them. Roof bars for cars with solid roof rails: Again, most commonly found on estate cars the 'solid' roof rail pictured below is a more modern version of the raised roof rail. This type of roof rail typically has several inches between the roof of the vehicle and the rail. Regardless of your preferences, however, you are going to have to get your roof rack up there somehow, but you don’t have to worry because we’re here to help you out. The missing ingredient is a pair of crossbars. 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