Roof Rack Basics
Roof racks and carriers
are versatile, and they will fit just about any vehicle. Roof racks are
ideal for transporting kayaks or canoes, bikes, skis and snowboards, or
camping gear and other miscellaneous cargo. For a comparison of the
advantages and disadvantages of roof vs. hitch mounts, see
Hitch vs. Roof Racks and Carriers.
Do I Need a Base Rack?
A
base rack
is the foundation - attachment points and crossbars - for multi-purpose
specialty racks and carriers such as ski racks, bike racks, canoe and
kayak racks, or cargo carriers. Some vehicles come equipped with all or
part of a factory base rack, while others require a complete base rack
to get started. Depending on your roof type (see below), you may or may
not need an aftermarket base rack. Keep in mind, however, that investing
in a base rack greatly expands your cargo hauling options.
Roof Types
There are four basic vehicle roof types. The type of roof and
existing attachment points (or lack thereof) will determine the starting
point for locating the type of rack or base rack you need.
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Factory-installed crossbars Your
vehicle may already have crossbars that were factory- or
aftermarket-installed. This is a good starting point. If you already
have a factory-installed rack on your vehicle with crossbars, you don't
need a base rack. Crossbars come in different shapes, and factory
crossbars are generally oval in shape. Most racks are designed to fit
factory or aftermarket racks, but some racks fit only round or square
crossbars (found in aftermarket racks like Thule, Yakima, or Inno).
| | Factory-installed side rails Some
vehicles are equipped with side rails attached to the vehicle roof
either as a standard feature or as an optional addition. These rails run
the length of cars (from the front to the rear) and can either be
raised (a clear gap between the roof and the vehicle) or flush (no gap
between the roof and the vehicle). Determine the type of rails you
have, and shop for base racks accordingly. |
| |
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| Smooth roof with rain gutters
Some smooth-roof vehicles have rain gutters (typically vans and
flat-roof vehicles), and there are special base racks for these. | | Smooth roof If
you have a smooth roof on your vehicle, there are special base racks
designed for your car, but you might also be able to use a specialty
rack that does not require a base rack; for example, ski and snowboard
racks for smooth roofs (including magnetic racks) and foam and
inflatable racks. |
Crossbar Types
There are three common cross bar shapes.
Explore Our Roof Rack Products
Contact one of our Rack Specialists via
chat,
e-mail, or toll free at
866.403.8505.