MicksGarage Blog
  • Menu 
    Filter Home
    Project GTI
    DIY Guides
    Most Popular
    Motorsport
    Driving
    Travel
    Car Safety
    General News
    How Stuff Works
    Car Reviews
    MicksGarage.com
    About us
    Contact us
    Work with us
  • Store
  • Subscribe
  • Close Menu
  • Filter Home
  • Project GTI
  • DIY Guides
  • Most Popular
  • Motorsport
  • Driving
  • Travel
  • Car Safety
  • General News
  • How Stuff Works
  • Car Reviews
  • MicksGarage.com
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Store
  • Subscribe
  • Car Parts
  • Car Accessories
  • Batteries
  • Wiper Blades
  • Gifts & Toys
  • Oil
Everything You Need to Know About Roof Bars

Everything You Need to Know About Roof Bars

What are Roof Bars For?

Virtually anything! Fitting a set of roof bars to your car ads immeasurable versatility and practicality. They're an ideal solution for thousands of people including holidaying families, outdoor adventurists, business owners, DIYers, cyclists and more to boot. Basically, a set of car roof racks allows you to carry more stuff - very handy when you decide to buy more than you thought in Ikea! Whether it's more luggage or baby equipment in a roof box, bikes, surfboards or ladders, a roof rack can handle it. But it doesn't end there, what about that chest of drawers you've been eyeing up? Or that old mattress in the shed that you need to bring to the tip? There are hundreds of everyday scenarios where a roof rack can come in handy and may negate the need to hire a van or bother your mate who owns a huge estate car. Basically, a set of car roof racks allows you to carry more, freeing up space for you and your family inside the cabin. Whether it's more luggage or baby equipment in a roof box, bikes on a bike rack, surfboards or ladders, a roof rack can handle it. But it doesn't end there, what about that chest of drawers you've been eyeing up? or that old mattress in the shed that you need to bring to the tip? There are hundreds of everyday scenarios where a roof rack can come in handy and may negate the need to hire a van or bother your mate who owns a huge estate car. 

How much do Roof Bars cost?

Roof bar sets start at around €60 / £50 and can go up to €300 / £250. Click here to shop now

Why such a difference in price?

A number of factors affect cost such as construction material, ie steel or aluminium, the type or style of roof rack and of course the brand. Aluminium roof racks tend to be more expensive than steel. Roof bars with an aerodynamic profile will be more expensive. THULE, Mont Blanc or Whispbar roof bars will cost more as well as they are perceived as being the premium brands within the industry.

 roof bars 

Will any roof rack fit my car?

No. Unfortunately not. You can't just buy the first or the cheapest roof rack you see, there are different types for different cars but thankfully it's not rocket science! Read on and all will be explained! 

How do I know what type of roof rack I need?

There are 4 main types of roof bars and they differ in the way that they attach to the car. Different cars use different methods of attachment.

  • Roof bars for cars with raised roof rails: Most commonly found on estate cars & SUV's. Raised roof rails run from the front to the back of the roof and look like the picture below. These raised rails are fitted by the car manufacturer and are often supplied as an option or come as standard equipment on some models. They're known as 'raised' roof rails as they are raised up from the car roof with a clear gap between the roof and the rail, unlike 'solid' roof rails, which we'll come to next.

Everything You need to Know About Roof Racks

Raised roof rails fitted as standard equipment to this SUV

  • Roof bars for cars with solid roof rails: Again, most commonly found on estate cars the 'solid' roof rail pictured below is a more modern version of the raised roof rail. They tend to be found on cars from roughly 2006 onwards and are flush with the car roof, ie there's no gap between the roof and rail.

Everything You need to Know About Roof Racks Solid roof rails fitted as standard to this estate car

  • Roof bars for cars with fix points: Fix points can be found on any car body style, be it saloon, hatch, estate or MPV. A 'Fix Point' is a designated point on a car roof or inside the door jamb, specifically designed for mounting a roof rack to. There will usually be 4 of them and they're usually hidden away under a small plastic cover or cap on the roof. There are a number of different designs of 'fix point' and in some cases, the actual mounting point can be quite hard to find.

fix

Illustration showing just a few of the different types of 'fix point' mounting system on the market

Roof Rack Buying Guide

Example of a 'fix point' cover on a Peugeot 307

  • Roof bars for cars without rails or fix points: If your car doesn't have any of the features mentioned above then it will need a 'Door Jamb' type of roof rack. As the name suggests this type of roof rack clamps to the car door jambs (the door jamb is the part of the roof you can see when you open the door - see the image below) Untitled-2Everything You need to Know About Roof Racks

Can I fit the roof rack myself?

Absolutely! Fitting roof bars is a simple DIY job. Here are our top 5 tips to help the job go smoothly:

  • Get help! a second pair of hands will make fitting your roof bars so much easier and will limit the chance of scratching or damaging anything during the installation process.
  • Read the instructions - Men, we're talking to you! All roof rack instructions contain essential information about torque settings and fitting positions so it's vital to read the instructions carefully.
  • Keep it clean. Make sure the roof of your car is clean, especially if fitting a door jamb style roof rack. Grit or dirt trapped between the mounting points/support could scratch your paintwork so ensure your roof is clean before fitting.
  • Lube up! A tiny amount of copper grease on all of the bolts will ensure that removing the roof rack in future will be trouble free
  • Torque settings. Over tightening your roof rack can cause damage to the rack or the car so again, pay attention to the instructions, observe the torque settings and don't over tighten.

The Do's & Don'ts:

Our list of Top 10 Do’s & Don’ts When Using a Roof Rack goes into more detail and covers some of the issues customers have experienced over the years so you can avoid the same pitfalls!

baboons

Our YouTube channel is also a great resource for finding out more about roof racks - specifically the roof rack playlist. We have our own product demo's, as well as a series of customer, submitted videos, specific to certain makes and models of car. If you need any help, our customer service team are on hand 7 days a week to answer any of your roof rack queries as well so feel free to give them a shout. Need roof bars for your car? Click here to shop online at MicksGarage.com

Category: About Us

Author: The Filter Blog Team

22 December 2023
  • MicksGarage.com
SALE
Roof Racks and Bars, Steel roof bars, supplied with locks and keys (Without Fitting Kit), La Prealpina
Steel roof bars, supplied with locks...
€159.00 €244.62
Straps and Ratchet Tie Downs, Draper 60968 400kg Ratcheting Tie Down Strap Sets (4.5M x 25mm) (2 Piece), Draper
Draper 60968 400kg Ratcheting Tie Do...
€16.99 €19.99

Latest Offers!

Toys, Toyrific Stack and Fall Tumble Tower Game, Toyrific
Toyrific Stack and Fall Tumble Tower...
€6.99 €8.74
SALE
Games and Activities, Toyrific Giant Connect 4 In A Row   Great For Garden Play, Toyrific
Toyrific Giant Connect 4 In A Row - ...
€34.99 €49.99
Games and Activities, Toyrific Garden Games Croquet, Toyrific
Toyrific Garden Games Croquet
€22.99 €28.74
Games and Activities, Toyrific Garden Games Bowling Skittles, Toyrific
Toyrific Garden Games Bowling Skittl...
€26.99 €39.99
PRICE DROP!
Games and Activities, Toyrific Garden Games Limbo, Toyrific
Toyrific Garden Games Limbo
€28.99 €36.24
Games and Activities, PowerPlay Garden Cricket Set, Toyrific
PowerPlay Garden Cricket Set
€10.99 €13.99
Lawn Mowers, Hand Push Lawn Mower, YATO
Hand Push Lawn Mower
€97.99
Outdoor Lights, Night Bloom Solar Bollard Light, Night Bloom
Night Bloom Solar Bollard Light
€10.99 €14.00
SALE
Patio Heaters, ETNA Classic White Gas Patio Heater   Propane & Butane Compatible, Etna
ETNA Classic White Gas Patio Heater ...
€129.00 €259.00
BBQ Accessories, Axtschlag Barbecue Wood Smoking Chips   Plum Wood 1kg, Axtschlag
Axtschlag Barbecue Wood Smoking Chip...
€11.99 €13.02
Tents, Easy Camp Crowford, Easy Camp
Easy Camp Crowford
€193.17 €241.46
Games and Activities, Toyrific Baseline 2 Pop Up Goals, Toyrific
Toyrific Baseline 2 Pop Up Goals
€24.99 €34.99
Games and Activities, Toyrific 38cm Racket Set, Toyrific
Toyrific 38cm Racket Set
€6.99 €12.99
Games and Activities, Toyrific Baseline Pro 4 Player Badminton Set with Net, Toyrific
Toyrific Baseline Pro 4 Player Badmi...
€23.99 €29.99
Games and Activities, Yello Crab Fishing Drop Net Set, Yello
Yello Crab Fishing Drop Net Set
€4.99 €6.99
Boats, Aqua Marina Aircat 2.85m Inflatable Catamaran, Aqua Marina
Aqua Marina Aircat 2.85m Inflatable ...
€449.00 €750.00
PRICE DROP!
Kayaks, Aqua Marina Laxo 10'6" All Around Kayak (2 Person)   2 Paddles Included, Aqua Marina
Aqua Marina Laxo 10'6" All Around Ka...
€275.00 €499.00

Related posts

Everything You Need to Know About Roof Bars
The Ultimate Guide To Roof Bars and Roof Racks

...

Everything You Need to Know About Roof Bars
How to Change Your Brake Fluid

...

Everything You Need to Know About Roof Bars
30 Things You Should Have In Your Boot

...

Everything You Need to Know About Roof Bars
How Get Rid Of The Smell of Nicotine From Your Car

...

Everything You Need to Know About Roof Bars
Mad Macs On The Mongol Rally: The Final Leg

...

Everything You Need to Know About Roof Bars
Timing Belts & Timing Chains

...

MicksGarage Blog

Filter Home
Project GTI
DIY Guides
Most Popular
Motorsport
Driving
Travel
Car Safety
General News
How Stuff Works
Car Reviews
MicksGarage.com
About us
Contact us
Work with us

Travel

Roof Racks and Bars
Roof Boxes
Bike Racks
Tow Bars and Hitches
View all Travel

BBQs
Garden Furniture
Patio Heaters
Games And Activities
View all Summer

Service Parts

Service Parts
Batteries
Wiper Blades
Engine Oil
View all Service Parts

SUP

SUP Boards
Kayaks
Boats
Wetsuits
View all SUP

Car parts

Car Parts
Brake Parts
Lamps & Mirrors
Steering & Suspension Parts
View all Car parts

Tools

Garden Tools
Hand Tools
Power Tools
DIY Service Tools
View all Tools