- Joined
- Mar 25, 2013
- Messages
- 4,617
I am planning to make a roof rack for my Sequoia. I would like to use factory made load bars but make my own mounts for these. I am posting here because I am sure all y'all have a good deal of collective experience with car racks and the like. Below are some criteria and issues:
The car has raised roof rails like many others. I could buy the aftermarket (Thule, Yakima) plastic clamps that attach to these. They are kind of ugly and look, well, aftermarket. My plan is to fabricate brackets that go into the existing rail slots and then mount a factory bar to these.
Noise is a critical consideration. I see that Thule and Rhino make load bars with vortex generators that claim to quite the wind noise. Does any one have experience/confirmation of this? Is there a better item I should be looking at?
Rhino:
Thule truck bar:
I need a bar that is about 70" long to accommodate multiple kayaks.
I will have a lot of questions about spacer material and fasteners to get this right the first time so I hope you will chime in with comments, criticism and helpful experience.
One would think a roof rack would be a simple venture however, I have built a roof rack previously. It ended up being noisy. Years later when I went to remove it, the stainless screws had welded to the aluminum parts due to galvanic corrosion and I had to cut the thing off the vehicle! Lets do better this time.
The car has raised roof rails like many others. I could buy the aftermarket (Thule, Yakima) plastic clamps that attach to these. They are kind of ugly and look, well, aftermarket. My plan is to fabricate brackets that go into the existing rail slots and then mount a factory bar to these.
Noise is a critical consideration. I see that Thule and Rhino make load bars with vortex generators that claim to quite the wind noise. Does any one have experience/confirmation of this? Is there a better item I should be looking at?
Rhino:
Thule truck bar:
I need a bar that is about 70" long to accommodate multiple kayaks.
I will have a lot of questions about spacer material and fasteners to get this right the first time so I hope you will chime in with comments, criticism and helpful experience.
One would think a roof rack would be a simple venture however, I have built a roof rack previously. It ended up being noisy. Years later when I went to remove it, the stainless screws had welded to the aluminum parts due to galvanic corrosion and I had to cut the thing off the vehicle! Lets do better this time.