I recently changed cars and the new one has roof rails that are flush-mount to the roof. The roof bars attach to the rails by hooking under a small lip that runs along the outside of the rails.
The size of this lip worries me, it's narrow and just I can't see the mounting being anywhere near as strong or secure as on my old car which had raised roof rails.
Anyone got a car with these flush rails, had any problems?
Thanks.
Dingfix I had the old style roof racks on an old honda I too was concerned and ended up like this...
Thanks, and ouch!
Those racks look like they clamp onto the car, the ones i have clamp onto the fixed rails that run the length of the roof as seen on most wagons and suv's.
The rails on my new car are flush fit, the old ones were raised. Hope I've explained that better? Anyone got experiences of these new style rails?
I have a Mini Cooper that has semi-flush rails that my Thule racks clamp onto (like this pic but with extended overhang on ends of cross bars). Have done many hundreds of km's with 2 x 33" wide (stacked) SUP's with no problems at all. No idea how well they're anchored inside the roof as it's covered by the liner inside, but so far (touch wood) they're solid as a rock, even cruising at 110kmh for a couple of hours at a stretch
I recently changed cars and the new one has roof rails that are flush-mount to the roof. The roof bars attach to the rails by hooking under a small lip that runs along the outside of the rails.
The size of this lip worries me, it's narrow and just I can't see the mounting being anywhere near as strong or secure as on my old car which had raised roof rails.
Anyone got a car with these flush rails, had any problems?
Thanks.
I had these on my Suzuki Swift and often had three and even four big DW boards stacked high on the roof without a problem.
Also many interstate trips with three boards stacked on the roof at highway speeds and strong winds. I had no problems.
I'm guessing this is the same type.. Do you have a picture or link?
This is the type that was on my Swift.
Thanks everyone, the rails on my car are same as on 808's Mini Cooper.
So 808, I already have a quality set of roof bars (Thule) but the way they attach to the roof rails worries me. There is only a slight lip on the rails which the bar-feet clip under. My old car had the raised rails and the roof bars clamped to them very securely, almost wrapping right under the rails.
Have you done any long trips and highway speeds, any problems, are they secure?
Thanks.
New-style rails
Old-style Raised rails
I have the new type rails on my car and have never had a problem and als ohave Thule racks, don't stress it will be fine!
Thanks Dave. Not sure I like the design of these new rails, not much of a lip on them, but sounds like they do the job..... Cheers.
Thanks everyone, the rails on my car are same as on 808's Mini Cooper.
So 808, I already have a quality set of roof bars (Thule) but the way they attach to the roof rails worries me. There is only a slight lip on the rails which the bar-feet clip under. My old car had the raised rails and the roof bars clamped to them very securely, almost wrapping right under the rails.
Have you done any long trips and highway speeds, any problems, are they secure?
Thanks.
New-style rails
Old-style Raised rails
Have done many many km's with no problem at all - I know it looks like not much of a lip for the leg bracket to grab, but I've never had an issue. I was very diligent in checking regularly at first that there was no movement (even made reference marks to check!) and in well over 5000kms with SUPs on the roof, the bars haven't moved once. Mind you, I make sure they're still on super tight every couple hundred km's
Oh yeah,
I have a similar style on my Everest... Did the Perth/Sydney drive with a 14ft and shortboard on top no problem. I agree they looked a bit suss when I first fitted the racks but they have been solid for 2 years now.....
My friend has these rails and Thule rack....twice the SUP took off at speed on the motorway.....the boards and rack right up into the air.
Ha, only joking....he drives at speed no probs