Subaru Outback roof rack options

[midlifecrisis]

Yeah, I saw your build. Very nice. I want to get something more lower profile, so I'll see where I get with this. I may contact you if that ends up not working out.



So there is a welded nut there? If so, that would solve a lot of headache for you.

So you're looking at getting rid of all the rooftop plastic, not just the cross bars?
I must be one of the only people that actually likes the look of the rooftop jazz, so i didn't want to get rid of it....I just wanted a better rack/mount option.

I have no idea what is there when you take all of that plastic off, but maybe the tie-down points I used have something there you could use even with the plastic gone?
Then it would be just a much shorter version of what I built I guess.

 

[p nut]

So you're looking at getting rid of all the rooftop plastic, not just the cross bars?
I must be one of the only people that actually likes the look of the rooftop jazz, so i didn't want to get rid of it....I just wanted a better rack/mount option.

I have no idea what is there when you take all of that plastic off, but maybe the tie-down points I used have something there you could use even with the plastic gone?
Then it would be just a much shorter version of what I built I guess.

Correct, I would be getting rid of all plastic cladding up top. That is the only way I can see to mount a proper rack. Aesthetics...I am not too fond of the current rack. I'd rather have something simple and clean looking:

_
If I take off the headliner, it looks from pics/videos that it would be simple to drill new mounting points, if necessary. I'd say 3 feet per side would be adequate for a rack like pictured above. Hopefully, I don't run into issues.

 

[screwball48]

Take a look at this thread. It is like a DIY Prinsu rack. I think the biggest obstacle on for this on a Subaru would be the removal of the factory rack.

DIY aluminium roof rack? sure why not

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?sh...om/forum/showthread.php?t=159688&share_type=t


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[calicamper]

Its not great but our 2010 has done fine with the old Yakima rail grabs. Grabbing the stowed stock rails. Full range of madness has hauled up there just fine. 66in bars with 18ft canoe beside my Thule box. Or my RS Feva 135lb Jrs racing saling skiff.

Or 4 bikes which are like towing a fullsized drag chute. The 54in bars have been hauling my random crap, ladder etc fine for yrs.

Ideally? Yakima flat track!! Skip the cheap plastic blocky junk designed to make it less wagon looking and more SUV look. We all know American Shoppers dont buy Wagons. But slap some plastic tough looking **** on it and call it a SUV and you cant make enough of em. LOL

 

[borison]

Subaru used to do just fine with roof rails and let us( and Yakima and Thule) figure it out.

 

[screwball48]

I found these pics of a conversion that Rack N Road in Utah did on a 2015 Outback. Really opens up the platform to different rack options. Cleaned up the looks of the car I think.

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[calicamper]

Yep flat track is good stuff

 

[MANUCHAO]

I called the local Rack & Road in Costa Mesa.
They quoted me $1300.

Thanks for reaching out to us from our new online feature. Yes we do perform this installation at our location. We have done a few in just the last 6 months. I included a screenshot of the latest Subaru we have done. With this installation the headliner and airbags have to be dropped to remove the existing rack and to install the new track. For this service including the track and new molding is $1,299. We offer a lifetime warranty on this installation. Let us know if you have any further questions.


Thanks,

Josh Vasquez
Assistant Manager
Rack N Road- Costa Mesa

 

[p nut]

I called the local Rack & Road in Costa Mesa.
They quoted me $1300.

Thanks for reaching out to us from our new online feature. Yes we do perform this installation at our location. We have done a few in just the last 6 months. I included a screenshot of the latest Subaru we have done. With this installation the headliner and airbags have to be dropped to remove the existing rack and to install the new track. For this service including the track and new molding is $1,299. We offer a lifetime warranty on this installation. Let us know if you have any further questions.


Thanks,

Josh Vasquez
Assistant Manager
Rack N Road- Costa Mesa

Yeah, I got the same quote. Without the crossbars, $900 (just for installing tracks). I think I could tackle this myself without too much trouble. Either way, I think I'd rather have towers bolted to the roof than tracks. I feel that would be a more solid/stout set up.

 

[Buddha.]

Sorry to stink up the outback thread more but I found what I was looking for is already available for the base foresters.

https://www.amazon.com/Subaru-Forester-SSD-Performance-Stainless/dp/B00LERYOVE#Ask

 

[ExDementia]

https://www.amazon.com/Subaru-Forester-SSD-Performance-Stainless/dp/B00LERYOVE#Ask

Those look nice, but ouch. $35 shipping?

 

[p nut]

Sorry to stink up the outback thread more but I found what I was looking for is already available for the base foresters.

https://www.amazon.com/Subaru-Forester-SSD-Performance-Stainless/dp/B00LERYOVE#Ask

How sturdy are those rails? Doesn't seem that robust from the pictures, but maybe they're better in person. At least you can mount some solid cross bars on them.