Anyone have experience with roof racks?

I'm looking to buy one and am wondering if anyone has had any luck with the cheaper brands. I need bars and want to get a basket too.

Soon after moving back into my house I realized that the car is VERY difficult to load with lumber, plants, and all the other stuff I'm using to update the home and landscape. The other day I somehow managed to get 5 6' trees home, but it was a chore, and 2x4s and fence boards were a real bitch. That and road trips with my girlfriend and the dogs would be made much easier.

I drive a 2013 WRX Limited (so sun roof) if it matters. It has fixed points on the roof for mounting. I would prefer something that I can remove within 20 minutes as the car doesn't only see road use.

This is what I'm currently looking at.

I'm also debating going with the OEM bars and the Thule or something else. The OEM are about $140 and the Thule set up with everything would be about $500. The Thule bars are rated for 150 lbs. and the OEM are rated for 100 lbs., the Thule look a bit better in my opinion, and are apparently quieter. I don't know if I think that justifies the price difference.

Thanks for reading and any advice! Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

originally posted by: Domo1
I'm looking to buy one and am wondering if anyone has had any luck with the cheaper brands. I need bars and want to get a basket too.

Soon after moving back into my house I realized that the car is VERY difficult to load with lumber, plants, and all the other stuff I'm using to update the home and landscape. The other day I somehow managed to get 5 6' trees home, but it was a chore, and 2x4s and fence boards were a real bitch. That and road trips with my girlfriend and the dogs would be made much easier.

I drive a 2013 WRX Limited (so sun roof) if it matters. It has fixed points on the roof for mounting. I would prefer something that I can remove within 20 minutes as the car doesn't only see road use.

This is what I'm currently looking at.

I'm also debating going with the OEM bars and the Thule or something else. The OEM are about $140 and the Thule set up with everything would be about $500. The Thule bars are rated for 150 lbs. and the OEM are rated for 100 lbs., the Thule look a bit better in my opinion, and are apparently quieter. I don't know if I think that justifies the price difference.

Thanks for reading and any advice! Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

Go to the wreckers and get a set of racks from an old Lumina APV or Transport ($25). You can buy the rubber well nuts to mount the racks on ebay (about $5 for 10, you need 10 for the two rails). I put a set of these onto my tonneau cover on my pickup and it worked perfect. You can't carry anything too heavy though I have loaded mine up with a few hundred pounds.

Cheers - Dave

Was this you?

a reply to: bobs_uruncle

Appreciate the reply, and that's a great idea, but I sort of want something that looks decent too. I also want something more like a system so I know everything works when I buy it.

a reply to: VoidHawk

Think sunroof.

originally posted by: VoidHawk
Was this you?

LOL, that has to be a picture from South Africa 'cause that was typical there.

BTW, close but my pickup is black and I was carrying a lot of drywall in the bed and about 50 2x4's on the racks.

Cheers - Dave

a reply to: Domo1

The roof of that vehicle is not designed to hold weight, especially with the sunroof. 150lbs is pushing it honestly and even 100lbs would have me worried. Even if the hard points are already there, new cars have a way about putting frills on to encourage sales. Personally I`d look into a old 4cyl or 6 cyl truck for hauling things around. Some of those old Toyotas are practically indestructible.

a reply to: StratosFear

I wouldn't go past 100 (pounds). I trust Subaru to know what those mounting points are capable of.

Not planning on hauling a ton of lumber or anything all that heavy really. Just want the added cargo space and ability to run to the hardware store and pick up long stuff that I can't fit. Molding being a good example. I also would prefer having a bike rack that I can actually lock the bike to, it's also a pain in the ass trying to find one I actually like that fits with the wing.

I've got a project Jeep and my girlfriend drives a newer full size x-cab so I don't have room or enough reason to justify another vehicle. My girlfriend works full time and volunteers quite a bit so we typically get heavy stuff on the weekend with her truck.

Ever realize you got a LH door when you needed RH in the middle of installing it? Yeah stupid, but also annoying not being able to just run out and exchange it.

Anyway, still want one and hoping maybe someone here has a generic basket or rail set up they like and would recommend. I will get a ton of use out of it, and there are certainly times when having a full size spare would come in handy!

I would think about a small utility trailer. You can get a hidden hitch so it won't break up your car's lines when you remove the hitch ball.

a reply to: Beartracker16

You know what? That's a VERY good idea. I don't know why I hadn't thought of that. Already threw on the OEM bars and the Thule Canyon basket, but now I think I'll price small trailers. I wouldn't mind building a cool camping/bugout trailer. This might be fun!

a reply to: Domo1

Beartracker beat me to it




I work as a parts guy at Autozone and also do side work for many of the commercial accounts coming in so I see many different vehicles and situations. The reason I`m hesitant about roof racks on many cars is I`ve seen a few that haven't been installed right and have damaged the roof in such a way the car was totaled out. For example a guy was hauling some 2x6s all strapped together weighing about 80lbs but the wind caught it and put lots of upforce and down force on the roof that it tore the metal supports out on the front and was working some damage on the rear mounting points. Another issue is if water seeps down into the roof then rust can set in also causing a lot of damage.

Subaru's are notoriously rugged though, Australian cars usually are. So if you were to go with a system for your particular model and you don't go to fast with a load approx. of 100lbs then you may be ok. The trailer idea sounds like a better solution for you though, just maintain your transmission and gear boxes. I`d recommend Lucas Stop Slip if you came in my store asking similar questions.

a reply to: StratosFear

Appreciate the advice!

Australian cars usually are

I think you meant Japanese.

I'm not worried about rust, the roof already has solid mounting points.

The bars are rated at 176 pounds, the rack weighs 30. I figure keeping it under 100 and not speeding I'll be safe. Already used it to haul some 2x4 and it worked great!

originally posted by: Domo1
a reply to: StratosFear

Appreciate the advice!

Australian cars usually are

I think you meant Japanese.

I'm not worried about rust, the roof already has solid mounting points.

The bars are rated at 176 pounds, the rack weighs 30. I figure keeping it under 100 and not speeding I'll be safe. Already used it to haul some 2x4 and it worked great!

Well I`ll be damned it is. I`m not to smart when it comes to a lot of imported cars, nothing against them. I just don't have the experience.

The More You Know...

It is sort of cool to know the two biggest Japanese aircraft manufactures moved on to making cars. Personally I prefer a Mitsubishi to a Nakajima. Then a NSX before both.

a reply to: StratosFear

I`m not to smart when it comes to a lot of imported cars, nothing against them. I just don't have the experience.

I don't really either. I was looking at buying a Camaro or Mustang, then switched to BMW, then fell in love with Subaru. I don't know much about any foreign vehicles outside of BMW.

Then a NSX before both.

Meh.

I like that my 4 door outperforms the NSX in almost every category and has AWD and comfortable seating for 4 (5 is a bit much). Not to mention it's incredibly safe and well under half the cost new.

I love my car.