Direct mounting to the roof rails will allow you carry more cargo. Weight and distribution have an impact on cargo and load capacity. This item works with 17 different car models.
In This Article...
Is a roof rack an option?
Choose the solution that works best for your car in order to get ready for the roof rack installation.
- If you want to know if your car already has elevated rails installed, look at the top of it. Some cars, such as SUVs and fast hatchbacks, already come with these even if a roof rack kit isn’t installed. Work with them throughout the roof rack installation if you have them. It will make installing and using a roof rack much simpler.
- See whether your car has any concealed mounting hardware. There are mount locations on some vehicles that are covered by tiny protective coatings on the roof. There are numerous roof racks that may be installed with these.
- Beginning with a blank roof You can still add a roof rack to your car, albeit installation will be a little trickier if your roof is empty.
Can a car without a roof rack have one installed?
You have a choice between two mounting configurations if your automobile just has a roof. You have two alternatives: either you choose a system that clips into your door jams, or you permanently attach a rack to the roof, much like the factory mount options.
How can a roof rack be taken off a Toyota Highlander?
You should: to take off the roof rack on a Toyota Highlander:
- On either end of the roof rack rails, you may find the plastic caps.
- Use a putty knife or other tool to pry them off.
- Remove the washers and nuts that hold the roof rack rails in place.
- Remove the roof rack rails from the car.
Has the Highlander from 2021 has roof rails?
Direct mounting to the roof will aid in carrying more cargo. Do not overcharge your car. For restrictions and weight limits, consult the owner’s manual.
Does It Fit My Car?
Although most roof rack systems contain some modular parts, your specific options will depend on the year, make, and model of your car. For the majority of vehicles, brands like Yakima and Thule currently provide one or more solutions, but at ReRack, we are able to offer a wide range of options, from now-discontinued designs to the most cutting-edge racks. Contact us if you’re unsure about the parts your car needs! We are glad to assist. See this section of our guide for a description of the common roof rack types.
How Much Is It Going To Cost?
For our clients, price is typically the most crucial consideration. We attempt to stock as many return and used things as we can because you’ll save money and it’s better for the environment (the majority of a rack’s carbon lifecycle occurs during original construction). We also provide a wide selection of brand-new roof racks, of course!
At ReRack, we only offer racks and accessories made by reputable companies like Yakima, Thule, and Rhino-Rack. These roof racks often have greater weight and gear capacities than stock manufacturing racks. The cost of a base roof rack will vary depending on if you want new components, an aerodynamic profile, and the year, make, and model of your car. Complete roof rack systems range in price from about $150 for a secondhand rack on older vehicles to more than $500 for a brand-new, top-of-the-line arrangement that is aerodynamic.
What Do I Want To Carry?
The majority of the time, people purchase a roof rack so they may attach specialized mounts (such as bike racks, kayak carriers, cargo boxes, etc.) to them or because they already have roof mounts. Purchasing a roof rack and roof rack mounts from the same brand is the easiest and least expensive option.
While some goods can be used with several crossbar types, others need additional adapters that must be bought separately or simply won’t function with particular crossbars.
Consider your needs and whether a certain brand is best suited for the equipment you plan to place on your roof rack.
What’s Going To Look Good?
Everyone has own tastes, right? You might choose square or round crossbars; you might need more height; you might prefer silver or black; you might prefer round crossbars or square ones. Before making a choice, compare a few different rack manufacturers because they all have slightly distinct designs.
Any car can have a roof rack added to it.
Although roof racks are compatible with 98 percent of automobiles, you will need particular equipment to attach them to your car. Any roof rack that is put on your car’s rain gutters will almost probably work, although you might need to adjust the foot height and bar width.
Roof racks might they harm your car?
A roof rack that is installed and utilized correctly will provide years of trouble-free service and won’t harm your automobile. Your automobile may sustain harm from a poorly fitting, overloaded, or improperly torqued roof rack.
A roof rack: Is it worth it?
We strongly advise owning a roof rack.
They let you transport practically anything that your automobile can’t or won’t fit.
Large items like bikes or boats may be involved, as well as filthy items like hockey or camping gear.
Some automobiles have rack systems fitted from the outset; others do not.
If your crossbars are factory-installed, you might not require an aftermarket rack system and instead can purchase attachments (like kayak carriers) with universal attachment mechanisms that will snap right onto your factory-installed bars.
You’ll need to purchase a rack system if your bike doesn’t come with factory crossbars.
Your roof’s appearance and the items you intend to carry will determine the type of rack you purchase.
What is a rack system?
Crossbars and supports make up the foundation of a rack system. To span your car, you’ll need two crossbars and a means of fastening those bars to it. The elements you’ll hear us discuss are:
- The two crossbars known as load bars.
- The crossbars are supported by foot packs, sometimes known as towers.
- Fit kits (or clips) – Foot pads and/or brackets designed specifically for your vehicle that aid in fastening the foot pack to it.
Depending on the size of your vehicle and the amount you intend to transport, the load bars come in a variety of lengths. Basic bars come in square or round shapes, but you may upgrade to wider, flatter bars that have an aerodynamic profile resembling an airplane wing. These are frequently quieter.
What type of rack system do I need?
Depending on what your car’s roof has (or doesn’t have), there are four primary categories of basic car racks:
A foot pack that clips on to raised rails is available if the rails along the sides of your car roof are elevated (there is a space between the rail and the roof).
Since a vehicle-specific fit kit is not required, your costs are reduced by over $100.
Solid rails are also known as continuous rails or flush rails if they run along the sides of your roof without a gap.
You will need a foot pack and fit kit specifically for them.
Fix points – Some cars have points that can be used to mount a rack.
These are frequently hidden by a sort of plastic tab and can be challenging to see.
Naked roof If your roof is empty, you will want a foot pack and fit kit that is made to clamp into the door jamb.
Trucks
There are various configurations for your rack system if you have a truck. Some truck owners install a rear hitch mount crossbar and a crossbar over the cab (components are offered in half-packs for this purpose). You can put a rack system on the cab and/or cap of your truck by installing tracks on the cap. A premium truck bed rack system is also available, and it may be adjusted in height.
What is it going to cost?
A universal system with suction cups costs around $200, but depending on the model of your car, you may want to spend between $360 and $500 for a square bar system or $620 for a wing-shaped bar system if you anticipate using the rack frequently.
Accessories to consider
After investing in a rack system for your car, you may add a variety of accessories to it to transport equipment like skis, bikes, kayaks, SUPs, and other watercraft.
If you want to lock your rack to your car, you might want to think about obtaining locks.
Lock cores are insertable into your foot packs and cost roughly $75 for a four-pack.
You may purchase locks in packs of 2, 4, 6, and 8 so that one key will secure both your rack and your accessories.
Some cars have roof shapes that cause the crossbars to whistle when air passes over them.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to predict this until you’re on the road.
Choose the wing-shaped bars if this concerns you.
If you already experience this problem, you can spend approximately $100 on a fairing that attaches to your front bar and directs airflow upward, reducing noise.
Purchasing your rack system
When you visit the store, we will search up the year, make, and model of your car and present your alternatives. Load bars and foot packs are generally always available, however fit kits typically need to be ordered.
We will install your new rack for you and walk you through the process of taking it off and putting it back on for a modest cost.
Typically, this is a straightforward procedure.
There is normally a rack that fits your car, though you might want to first look into roof rack possibilities if you plan to buy a brand-new model.
Sometimes Thule has to wait a few years before they can start producing parts for new cars.
What distinguishes roof rails from roof racks?
You’ve probably thought about acquiring roof rails or roof racks if you want to expand your car’s cargo space. The best, safest method to transport luggage, bicycles, kayaks, and a variety of other items that simply won’t fit inside your car is using roof rails and roof racks. To support a roof basket, baggage box, ski rack, bike carrier, or kayak carrier, even a basic roof rail rack foundation may accommodate a wide variety of attachments and accessories.
Roof rails are another easy method to give your car a distinctive appearance and flair while also allowing you to secure cargo to the roof. The information provided here should assist you in choosing between roof rails and roof racks if you want to improve the load carrying capacity of your automobile but aren’t sure which option will work best.
Both roof rails and roof racks let you carry things safely on top of your automobile. This makes them extremely comparable. The direction in which these are positioned on top of your vehicles’ roofs is the key distinction between the two. For instance, roof racks are fitted across the roof and roof rails run the length of the car’s roof attached by feet or other installations.
Roof rails offer points of attachment for crossbars or other add-ons like a cargo box, a ski rack, or a cargo carrier. When necessary, it is simple to add and remove these baggage attachments. Vehicle roofs with flush-mounted roof rails lie flat with no gap between the rail and the roof.
Another distinction between the two is that roof racks are more durable and made to support heavier loads. It is crucial to have roof racks properly fitted since they can select the appropriate kind of roof rack for your requirements. They will also discuss the risks associated with loading the roof rack beyond its capacity.
Surprisingly, most people are unaware of the risks posed by a vehicle top that is overloaded. In addition to endangering the safety of the vehicle and its occupants, an overloaded roof rack can invalidate auto insurance claims in the event that the automobile is involved in an accident and its overloaded roof is found to be the cause.