The Ultimate Guide To Roof Bars and Roof Racks
What are roof bars
Roof bars which are also commonly called roof racks, fit to the roof of your vehicle and allow you to carry bigger items, like roof boxes or bike racks. They consist of 2 - 4 steel or aluminium roof bars that mount across the roof of your vehicle, creating a platform for larger items, like kayaks, luggage and more. Typically, roof bars are used by drivers to transport oversized items that wouldn’t normally fit in the car interior. Roof racks are very commonly used to create additional space in the vehicle interior for things like family driving holidays. Aerodynamic roof bars or, aero bars, are lightweight and strong, making them very easy to install. Steel roof bars are heavy duty roof bars that are excellent for use as commercial roof racks. Wing bars are extremely quiet and look fantastic when fitted to a car. Roof racks for vans are also extremely popular with trade users, allowing them to store ladders and bulky materials on the roof and keeping the van clear. The best roof bar brands you can buy are Thule roof bars, Nordrive roof bars, Yakima roof bars and La Prealpina.
What are roof rails
Roof rails are pre-installed railings set on the roof of a vehicle that are used for mounting and fixing things to. Roof rails run north to south on the roof of your vehicle, while a set of roof bars runs east to west across the roof. Lots of vehicles come with some form of roof rails included as part of their design, and you will most often see these on SUV’s. Roof railings come in two types:
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Raised roof rails - or open rails - these contain a little gap between the roof and the rail, enough to fit your hand underneath the railing and as a result, the railing can be easily gripped by hand.
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Solid roof rails - or flush rails - these sit flush on the roof of the vehicle, with no gaps between the rail and the roof.
What are the different types of roof bars
There are 3 main types of vehicle roof bars:
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Steel bars or Square bars - Steel roof bars with a square design. These are a no fuss, budget friendly roof bar option. Their aerodynamic properties are lower than Aero bars and things like roof boxes are mounted to them using a U bolt clamp system.
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Aerodynamic Bars or Aero bars - Aerodynamic roof bars are made from aluminium which is lighter and as a result, they are easier to install and much more aerodynamic. Aero bars come with a T-track system which provides excellent flexibility when mounting roof bars or bike racks. The T-track system enables you to use the full width of the bar when mounting your accessory, instead of having to use just a set point - this allows for much better fitting.
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Wing Bars - Wing bars were engineered to mimic the shape of an aeroplane wing, harnessing the incredible aerodynamic properties of the wing profile to produce the wing roof bar. Wing bars feature the T-track system also for excellent flexibility in mounting roof boxes and bike racks. In line with their unique shape, wing bars are virtually silent due to the way they cleverly flow wind around the bar, and they look sleek and attractive when fitted to a vehicle. In terms of aerodynamic performance, there is no rival to the wing bar. The world famous Thule wing bar is possibly the finest roof bar money can buy in terms of performance, reliability and aesthetics.
Car roof types explained
There are 4 main vehicle roof types, and understanding which one you have is important before you purchase a set of roof bars:
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Fixed point roof - this roof type contains pre-drilled attachment points indicating where roof bars can be installed. The points are usually covered by a plastic gutter or rubber strip which can be easily accessed.
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Solid railings - flush railings that sit directly on the roof of the vehicle with no gaps between them and the roof
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Raised railings - open railings that contain a small gap between the roof and the railing, enough to grip with your hand.
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No rails, no fixed points - this is a completely flat roof with no railings or fixed mounting points.
It is important to always choose the correct roof bar for your roof type, as roof bars purchased for the wrong roof type will not be compatible.
What is the difference between roof rack and roof bars
Roof bars run across your vehicle roof, and consist of a set of 2 to 4 roof bars which creates a base for your roof box or bike rack to mount to. While roof racks on the other hand are more typically a square or tray type platform which sits on the roof, door to door. Many people use the term roof racks when they are talking about roof bars.
What is the best roof bar
Without a doubt, the Thule wing bar is the finest roof bar on the market. It is an excellent all round product - it looks fantastic, performs brilliantly with near silent aerodynamic properties, and is extremely robust and durable. It comes in either an all black finish or a silver finish, whichever you feel will suit your cars style better. A close second place is the Nordrive Silenzio wing bar for excellent quality and performance at a very reasonable price.
What roof bars fit my car
Use our roof bar car make and model selector to find the perfect fit roof racks for your vehicle. All you need to know is what type of roof your car has (no rails, fixed points, solid rails or raised rails) and we’ll show you multiple roof bar options for your vehicle. Finding which roof bars fit is not tricky at all when you shop with MicksGarage.com. You can choose between black and silver colour options, and square bars, aero bars or wing bars for your vehicle. Check out the world famous Thule roof racks and Nordrive roof bars on our site today.
What’s included in a set of roof bars
Every set of roof bars and roof racks sold by MicksGarage.com comes with instructions, fitting tools, fitting kit, locks and keys as standard. Unlike other retailers, we only sell the truly complete set of roof bars that contains everything you need to fit them to your vehicle. All other sellers will advertise a low roof bar price, and will have hidden extra costs for fitting kits, tools, locks, and keys as extras. With MicksGarage.com, you have complete peace of mind that there’ll be absolutely no hidden costs or extras with your set of roof bars, and you’ll get everything you need in one purchase.
What is the difference between roof rails and roof racks
There are 2 main differences -
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Where they are located: Roof bars run across the roof, from east to west, whereas roof rails run from the front of the car to the back, north to south.
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Pre-installed: Roof rails are pre-installed by the manufacturer and come as part of the body of your vehicle. Roof bars are an accessory that are fitted to your vehicle after manufacturing to help you carry more.
What is the point of roof bars
Roof bars and roof racks provide you with a safe and secure way to transport bulky items that wouldn’t typically fit in the interior of the vehicle. This commonly includes things like roof boxes, bicycles, kayaks, ladders, or even mattresses.
What is a roof basket
A roof basket, or a cargo basket, is more of a square platform with raised edges that gives the shape and structure of a basket. This is designed to mount to either the side rails of a roof, or directly to roof bars. The purpose of a roof rack basket is to provide extra storage, but also provide a more solid and structured platform so that cargo on the roof will not shift or slip during transportation.
What are roof bars called
Roof bars are more technically called crossbars. This is because they consist of a set of 2 - 4 bars that run across the roof of your vehicle, compared to a roof rack, which is often a more square or tray type platform that sits on the roof.
What are crossbars
Crossbars are the technical term for roof bars. They are a set of 2 - 4 bars that run sideways across the roof of your vehicle.
What do roof bars cost
Roof bars and roof racks price can range anywhere from €80 to €1,000 and will completely depend on your needs, style choices and available budget. The good news is that there are a huge variety of roof bar options to suit whatever your budget is. MicksGarage.com have the largest range of roof bars available online internationally, selling 10 brands of roof racks and roof bars and listing for almost every vehicle on the market, so you will certainly have choice when you shop with us.
What is the difference between roof rack and roof bars
Roof bars run across your vehicle roof, and consist of a set of 2 to 4 roof bars which creates a base for your roof box or bike rack to mount to. Roof racks on the other hand are more typically a square or tray type platform which sits on the roof, door to door.
Do roof bars fit any car
No, a set of roof bars is not universal. This is because there are wide variances in roof types, widths and lengths. Roof bars and their fitting kits are tailor made to fit a certain roof type and size, so it’s very important to ensure that you have a compatible set of roof bars for your vehicle before attempting to fit them.
Can roof bars be re-used on another car
This is sometimes possible. If the existing roof bar length is suitable for the other car, then all that is needed is the fitting kit for the other car which will convert these bars from the old car to the new car.
Are roof bars noisy
If you place anything on the roof of your car, you should expect to experience some noise at speed as wind flows around the item. However, the level of noise is something that can be greatly reduced. Aerodynamic roof bars or wing bars are designed to be extremely quiet whilst square bars will generate a little noise due to their shape.
Whistling noise is caused by air gaps in the end caps, rubber seals or side strips. To combat this, you simply inspect all seals to ensure there are no gaps present.
How to stop roof bars whistling
Whistling noise is nearly always caused by gaps found somewhere in the end caps, rubber seals or side strips of the roof bars. You need to inspect all seals and press down any strips that are elevated and securely attach end caps. Sealing these gaps properly will remove any excessive whistling noise. Sometimes, whistling noise could also be caused by the rack not being properly seated against the roof, in this case, you will need to tighten the fixings (clamps or bolts) in the roof to make sure the rack is fully set and sealed.
Can a sunroof be opened with a roof rack installed
It is not recommended to use a sunroof with roof racks. Given the limited spacing between your roof bars and sunroof, using the sunroof could impact with the roof rack system white it retracts, which could in turn cause damage to either the vehicle or the rack.
Can roof racks be used with a glass roof
Yes, this is often possible, but it depends on a number of things like the design of the car roof. For obvious reasons, roof bars can’t sit on the glass roof, so must mount to either fixed points in the roof frame, or attach to roof rails. If the car has neither of these, then it’s not possible (or safe) to use roof bars with a glass roof.
If the roof has rails built in on either side of the glass roof, roof bars will mount to these roof rails and will work fine.
If the roof has fixed points, the roof bar system can screw into these points and avoid the glass area completely. Generally, it’ll come down to the car make / model and what the manufacturer has provided in the design alongside the glass roof - fixed points, rails or nothing.
What are fixed points on a roof
Fixed points are pre defined points set in the frame of a car roof and indicate where roof bars can attach to the vehicle.These are usually covered by a small plastic gutter on the sides of the roof, which can be slid off and accessed for roof bar fitting.
Is it ok to leave roof rack on a car
Yes, it’s perfectly fine to leave your roof rack on the car all year round. In fact, it makes perfect sense to leave roof bars on a car if you’re constantly transporting bikes or equipment. Over time, you should expect to see some indication of wear to the fittings of the rack, particularly as things like bolts will be exposed to frost, snow, UV rays all year round. Treat these fittings once or twice a year with some spray copper grease to prevent any corrosion and leave your rack on all year round.
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How much weight can I put on a roof rack
Roof bars come with pretty clear and well tested weight limits. Generally you’ll find weight limits that range between 60 - 80kgs depending on the rack and the brand. However, the real question to ask is how much weight can the frame of the car take. You need to check your car owners manual to be aware of how much weight can be carried on the roof, which can sometimes be lower than the weight that roof bars can carry, so it’s essential to check. In this scenario, you would also use the lower weight limit as your maximum.
Does a roof rack waste fuel
There are no studies that prove roof racks have a definite negative impact on fuel economy. Common sense tells us that if you place something on the roof of your car, you should expect to experience some level of drag as wind makes contact with the item. However, to what degree that is, is not proven or defined; some studies showed no impact at all, and some studies showed a decrease of up to 10% in fuel economy. Many other factors come into play when considering this, like the type of roof bar used, the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle itself, the load that’s being carried. Generally speaking, the negative impact on fuel economy (if any), should be so low that it’s not something to have to seriously consider.
What are soft roof racks
Soft racks are lightweight foam rack pads that attach to your vehicle roof using nylon strips and consist of two foam pads that are suitable for carrying lightweight surfing and paddleboarding equipment. Soft roof racks are a highly affordable, temporary solution that’s quick to install and quick to remove to help get your inflatable SUP to and from the water.
Do roof bars cause damage to the car
Properly fitted roof bars will cause absolutely no damage to the vehicle. Improperly fitted roof bars can become loose and could detach from your vehicle. Over-tightened bolts can also be an issue, and could cause the fixed points to warp or go out of shape. It is always best to fully follow the instructions for fitting roof bars to your vehicle, or have an expert installer (like us!) fit them for you if you are ever uncertain.
Can a roof rack be added to any car
99% of vehicles on the road today can work with a roof rack.The great thing is that roof rack manufacturers are constantly adding new car makes and models to their bars and fitting kit production process, so quite an expansive range of vehicles are covered with roof rack options.
How to fit roof bars
All roof bars come with detailed, vehicle specific instructions for fitting, and these instructions can vary depending on the type of car roof and type of roof bar purchased. Always refer to the instruction manual that comes with your roof bars for exact guidance.
However, some general guidelines are below:
Step 1: Prepare the Car Roof
The best time to fit a roof rack is right after the car has been washed and dried. A dirty roof can enable dirt to get under the mounting feet which could cause light scratches to your paintwork.
Step 2: Attach the Mounting Feet to the Roof Bars
Roof bars must attach to the foot mounts, which then in turn connect to either the cars fixed point system or the roof rails (depending on the roof / bar type).
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First measure the distance between your side rails / fixed points to ensure you have an exact measurement and so you’ll know exactly where your foot mount needs to be placed on each bar.
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Apply a tiny amount of copper grease on all of the bolts. Why? Well when you eventually want to remove your roof rack, you’ll thank us for this tip then. Applying a small amount of lubricant to the bolts will ensure a completely hassle free removal in the future.
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Then, attach the foot mounts to roof bars, by screwing into the bars in the designated holes.
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Once they are all loosely screwed in, align the bar with the feet attached up against the fixed points / side rails on the roof. Upon confirming the measurements are correct, tighten the screws to secure the foot pack and roof bar are securely fixed together.
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Seal any gaps in the roof bars with the items supplied with the set (e.g. rubber strips, end caps)
Step 3: Position And Install The Rack
To fit the assembled roof rack to your car:
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Open the doors and place the rack on the roof, centering it and aligning it correctly on the roof.
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For roofs with side rails, lock the foot mounts in place using the clamps provided. For fixed point roofs, lock the foot mounts in place by securely screwing into the fixed points.
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After you've installed your roof rack you can still make adjustments to the position of the roof bars, or the distance between each bar, by leaving the screws a little loose so that the bars can move.
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Tighten when everything is in place, but take care not to overtighten.
Is it difficult to fit roof bars
No, when you follow the instructions to the letter, this is a very straightforward job that can be done relatively easily. However if you’re unsure about fitting, then it’s always better to get an ex[pert to do it for you - like us! The MicksGarage.com team fit roof bars from our store in Dublin. All you need to do is select “Fitting” at the checkout as your shipping method, and we’ll take it from there.
How to remove roof bars
Luckily, most roof bars only take 5 - 10 minutes to remove. If you followed our earlier advice and applied some copper grease to the bolts before you installed the rack, this is going to make things even easier.
Start by unscrewing the bolts to or loosening the clamps (whichever is used on your rack system) that secure the rack to the roof. Once done, the rack should lift right off the roof nice and easily. It’s up to you then if you want to disassemble the whole unit, or leave it prepared for the next use. If you choose to disassemble, all you need to do is reverse the initial assembly steps of fixing the feet mounts to the bars and pack the rack away for later.
