Why do you need roof racks or roof rails? When you want to expand the cargo storage space for your vehicle, you have to invest in either roof racks or roof rails. Whatever your purposes are, roof rails or roof racks are must-have hardware for building an extra loading room for your car.
Most vehicles have factory-installed roof rails on the roof, so there is no need for getting another one. However, some cars have a naked roof, so people may need to find compatible roof racks for their vehicles before creating extra loading space on the rooftop.
We highly recommend contacting your local auto dealer to get a factory rack system for your vehicle because of compatibility. If you understand how roof racks work, you can choose one that you truly like on the market.
Related Topic: roof racks for bare car roofs without roof rails
Below, we share our recommendations with you, and if you can get some ideas through our words, we are happy about that.
Quick-Pick List of 8 Roof Racks & Roof Rails
| Image | Name | Dimensions | Dependence | Materials | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Thule Complete Crossroad Rack System | 60 x 6 x 4 inches | require roof rails | alloy steel, rubber | Check Price |
 | Thule Aeroblade Roof Rack Bar | 55 x 4 x 4 inches | require roof rails | Aluminum | Check Price |
 | INNO INA446 Surf-Wind-Long Board Locking Roof Carrier | 33.5 x 5.9 x 11.8 inches | require roof racks | Blend | Check Price |
 | Roof Rack Crossbars 54” Universal | 55 x 6 x 4 inches | require roof rails | Aluminum | Check Price |
 | Yakima Whispbar Through Bar Roof-Rack System | 36 x 7 x 6 inches | work independently without roof rails | no data | Check Price |
 | Perrycraft AVXX48-B Aventura Black 48″ Long Drill-in Installation Roof Rail | 48 x 2.5 x 2.5 inches | independent | Aluminum | Check Price |
 | Rhino Rack 2500 Series Euro 2 Bar and Leg Roof Rack Set | 45 x 7 x 5 inches | work independent without roof rails | no data | Check Price |
 | CargoLoc 2-Piece 52″ Aluminum Roof Top Cross Bar Set | 52.5 x 5.75 x 3 inches | require roof rails | Aluminum | Check Price |
Detial of 8 Roof Racks & Roof Rails
Thule Complete Crossroad System
Whatever car you have in the garage, the Thule Complete CrossRoad System will fit on its roof. However, we strongly recommend you communicate with the manufacturer (tell them the measurement of your car roof) to ensure that your car is not an exception to the Thule rack system.
When you have it in your hands, it is pre-assembled after unboxing. You don’t need any installation on its components, but you have to use 4 lock-mounts to attach the system to the roof rails without a tool. Consequently, if your car’s roof is naked, you cannot use the Thule Crossroad System.
After unpacking the package, you cannot find any tool kit because you won’t need one during the attaching process. Furthermore, the Thule rack system comes with several rubber-coated straps for providing added security to your belongings when your car is in motion.
Its dimensions are 60 inches length x 6 inches width x 4 inches height, and it weighs 14.5 pounds. You can use the measurement to test out that if your car can use it or not. According to the experts’ suggestions, the rack system’s length must be more than the distance between roof rails.
After installation, you can use the rack system to support bikes, kayaks, skis, snowboards, cargo baskets, tents, roof boxes, cargo bags, and more. Its loading capacity is up to 165 pounds, so it is enough for most regular use.
According to experiences from some product owners, the rack system produces some noise when driving on the highway at high speed. Consequently, you can refer to an article to learn how to minimize or eliminate the wind noise for roof racks or cargo boxes.
Thule Aeroblade Roof Rack Bar
It is another option for vehicle owners, and it is also a product from the Thule company. It has an aluminum-made body with silver surface printing that makes it super-sturdy, ultra-light, durable, and UV-resistant. Its blade-shaped design makes it be able to reduce the wind noise under high-speed moving.
The Thule Aeroblade roof rack can hold up to 220 lbs/100 kg weight, so it is the best option for people who want to transport heavy gear or equipment between locations. According to the manufacturer’s descriptions, the Aeroblade roof rack can sustain up to 800 lbs of force; thus, we believe it won’t break even if you stand on it and jump for minutes.
It is the most aerodynamic roof rack on the market because of its materials, BoxBeam constructions, and the Quiet Wind-Diffuser technology. BoxBeam construction makes the roof rack has an empty inner body, but the vertical beams separate the load weights to maximize the loading capacity of the bars.
Its dimensions are 55 inches length x 4 inches width x 4 inches height, so you can use these numbers to figure out if it fits on your car roof rails or not.
Vault Cargo Management Roof Rack System
It is another choice for outdoor enthusiasts. The Vault Cargo Management uses aluminum to produce the rack system, so it is super light. It can support up to 150 of weight on your car roof, so you cannot overload it in any situation. The first thing is first. Its measurement is 55 length inches x 6 width inches x 4 height inches, and you can use these numbers to estimate that if it fits both your car rails and your needs.
When unboxing the Vault rack system, you can find adjustable clamps (width between34.5″ – 49.5″) that allow you to use the crossbars on narrow roof rails; however, the rack system does not fit cars with more than 50 inches of distance between roof rails.
Vault offers high-quality lockable feet to protect both your roof rails and the mounting hardware. There are also several end-caps for preventing damages on the end of your crossbars when unexpected incidents happen.
You can mount bikes, kayaks, cargo boxes, roof bags, gear, equipment, roof tents, and more, so after having it on top of your vehicle, your car can carry almost everything you need to bring on a trip.
INNO INA446 Board Locking Roof Carrier
It is a carrier that requires to work with a roof rack, so before having a rack system, you cannot use it for any purposes. It is a versatile carrier that can carry kayaks, canoes, and multiple kinds of boards, so it is a good option for water sports like surfing. The manufacturer uses rubber to coat the straps for protecting gear and equipment from scratching during the movement. The INNO Board Locking Roof Carrier is a combination of blended materials, and it weighs 13 lbs.
According to the manufacturer’s description, if your crossbars’ height is between 1.25 inches and 2 inches, you have to get the ISF722 LONG BOLT KIT to make the carrier work for you.
Yakima Whispbar Roof Rack System
It is a choice for cars that don’t have roof rails. Its aerodynamic design can reduce 70% wind noise on the roads, so most people vote for its quiet characteristic. According to the manufacturer’s information, its dimensions are 36″ length x 7″ width x 6″ height, and it weighs 13.75 pounds; furthermore, it can transport up to 165 lbs or 75 kg of items in your active life.
Before making decisions, you have to measure your gear or items to ensure that you can load your stuff onto the bars.
It universally fits all vehicles, but you need to communicate with the manufacturer to see if your vehicle’s roof size is adaptable to the default SmartFoot Fitting Kit or a customized one.
When you perform the installation, you have to read the instruction manual several times before actions. Do it slowly.
Perrycraft AVXX48-B Aventura Black Drill-in Roof Rail
It is a good pick for Van or Truck, and it is a combination of super-light aluminum that gives it a weight of 4 lbs. The manufacturer provides detailed instructions to lead you through the entire installation process, so you won’t do it wrong. It is much cheaper than OEM roof rails, so it is perfect for people who don’t have enough budget for a roof rail.
If you would like to know product guides, you can follow the link below to check if your car can use the product or not.
The roof rails can hold up to 220 pounds of stuff, and it is a good pick for loading heavy items.
Rhino-Rack 2500 Series Roof Rack Set
It is another pick for cars from sedans to SUVs that don’t have pre-installed roof rails, and it is super easy to install on the front and rear door frames. The RhinoRack roof bars can carry up to 165 lbs of items like kayaks or canoes.
You can do the installation in minutes without a tool, and if you are not a mechanic person, it is a friendly guy to you.
The manufacturer offers an installation manual that gives you a blueprint about accurately using and installing the roof rack. We recommend reading the PDF file several times for better enjoyment of the product.
Dimensions: 45″ length x 7″ width x 5″ height
Weight: 8.3 lbs
CargoLoc Alumimum Roof Top Cross Bars
It requires pre-installed roof rails to stand on top of your car roof to carry up to 150 lbs of stuff, and the weight limit is enough for gear like kayaks, canoes, bikes, cargo boxes, or other mountable cargo carriers. It is a combination of high-quality aluminum materials, so it is light as 8.6 pounds.
The product has two size options: 46 inches and 60 inches. You can choose one that fits the distance between your roof rails.
The CargoLoc roof rack has 4 feet equipped with keyed locks for preventing potential risks from theft.
Conclusion
In this article, you can find some universal fitting roof racks or roof rails for cars with bare roofs. After having a pair of crossbars on top of your vehicle, you can start to build your cargo management system with many different options: cargo boxes, bags, baskets.
We find compatible roof racks or crossbars for car models: Mini Cooper, Audi Q5, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Jeep Wrangler, Acura MDX, Toyota Prius, Toyota RAV4, Honda Odyssey, Subaru Crosstrek, Honda CIVIC, and more.
About Roof Racks or Roof Rails:
- Tying mattresses on roof racks or roof rails
- Most frequently asked questions about roof racks or roof rails
- The tips for cleaning and maintaining roof racks
- The accurate ways of using roof racks
- The types of rooftop cargo carriers
- The relationship between roof racks, roof rails, and crossbars
- Mounting roof racks or crossbars on bare roofs
- If roof racks damage your car roof
- Should you put roof racks on your car? benefits and disadvantages.
- Tying a couch or sofa on roof racks
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