River & Trail Talk

Now that you're properly addicted to adventures, and you have a vehicle to get you there, the natural next step is to invest in a cargo/carrier system for your vehicle to bring all of your gear with you as well. At River & Trail, we carry Thule roof rack systems and carriers.

Thule is a Swedish company that has been making roof racks since 1962. They have an excellent reputation for high quality gear that is incredibly user friendly - whether you’re looking for a bike rack, a kayak carrier or ski cargo box. Thule has an enormous range of carriers and adapters for vehicles, regardless of your gear carrying needs. With so many adventure possibilities and different types of vehicles, it can be tricky to figure out what will fit your car.

The Roof Rack is the foundation to the whole process, and that is what we are focusing on in this blog. A roof rack is mounted on your car so you can utilize it for a variety of cargo needs including bike racks, canoe racks or roof boxes.

Is it a simple fitting process?

Yes and no. It’s easy enough if you know your vehicle and your gear needs. It gets complicated when you’re trying to figure out a system that will work for more than one vehicle and multiple carriers. There is a Thule solution for just about every vehicle and since each vehicle is unique, we determine fits on a case by case basis.

How do you know what will fit my car?

We always refer to Thule’s fitting guide to gather the most up-to-date and accurate information when searching for the products to fit your car. The first step is to determine the roof type of your vehicle.

Car Roof Types:

1. Naked Roof

• A naked car roof is smooth with no rails integrated.
• For a naked car roof, 3 parts are needed to acquire a roof rack system.

• Fit Kit

• Roof Rack Feet (also known as Podium or Tower)

• Load Bars

• Fit Kits will install on a naked car roof with a clamp and pad system, like the Thule Evo Clamp which attaches to the door frame. Some vehicles with a Naked Roof will have factory-installed mounting points, also known as Fixpoints. In those cases, a podium like the Thule Evo Fixpoint would be used.

2. Raised Rails

• Raised Rails run from the front to back of a car roof with a noticeable gap between the rail and the roof.
• 2 parts are typically needed to fit a car with raised rails.

• Roof Rack Feet

• Load Bars

3. Flush Rails

• Flush rails run along the roof of the vehicle, flush with the roof surface, and are a place to mount crossbars. 
• Fits for Cars with flush rails varies but it’s usually the same process as a naked roof.

• Fit Kit

• Roof Rack Feet

• Load Bars

• Some vehicles with flush rails may have integrated fixpoints.

Why don’t we carry Fit Kits in store?

Simply because there are so many options! Once we determine a Fit Kit for your vehicle, we order them directly from Thule. The Fit Kits arrive within a couple of days, so long as they are in stock.

It’s important to note that while Thule has a ton of options for different vehicle roofs, it’s possible there is no fit for your car. This is especially common with glass roofs.

Now that I’m set up with a roof rack system, can I use any carrier?

Pretty much! There are some exceptions. With updates, there's also a chance that some carriers may be outdated or not compatible with a roof rack system. Depending on the rails you chose, you may also need an adapter for some carriers. Hatch and sun roof clearances need to be taken into account. Some Thule and aftermarket bars have lower clearances, like the Thule Edge.

Will my Thule roof rack system fit my next vehicle?

It might. We would need to go through the same fitting process with each vehicle. You could be able to transfer everything or you may need a different component such as a new fit kit or different size rails. You can learn more about reusing your roof rack here.

Anything else I should consider?

It is the owner's responsibility to check your vehicle's weight capacity, taking into account the set up, carriers and gear you plan to carry.

We mentioned earlier about Thule’s excellent reputation and a lot of that comes from it’s durability which is a direct result from the rigorous testing all Thule’s products endure. From crash tests to wear and tear simulators to exposure tests, Thule’s products are built to last and to carry and protect your gear for years to come.

When you’re ready to maximize the cargo capacity of your vehicle, come see us in Rothesay to get your car fitted for your next big adventure!

REFERENCE

https://www.thule.com/en-ca/articles/guides/what-can-i-use-my-thule-roof-rack-for