Square bars vs. round bars vs. Aero

[jacobconroy]

Hi,
I'm going to put Baroud Space RTT on my 2016 Subaru Outback and am purchasing an aftermarket base rack system. Options are limited for the 2016, so I'm leaning towards the Yakima setup with Landing Pads. They are available with Round or Aero-like bars.

On my Jeep with Front Runner Slimline II rack, I install Thule Aero bars to support the RTT. This worked well, but the Thule Aero bars are curved upwards, not flat. I found that the weight of the RTT on it's own will not take the curve out of the two bars, so the outside edges of the RTT aren't quite supported until I lay in the tent.

Since I will only have a 30 inch bar spread on the Subaru setup, do you think the round Yakima bars would actually lay flat? Would it be a better idea to have the curve of Aero (to support my weight when in the tent) or have round bars (more support when mobile, but may bend the opposite way when in the tent)?

The Yakima bars are all rated at 165lbs. per bar. Tent is about 140, I am about 230. I know, I know...gotta lose weight.

Any words of wisdom from someone that has been through this would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[kmlacroix]

The standard yakima round, or Thule Square have no arc.

 

[freshlikesushi]

why are you not using the factory crossbars. They are more than enough

 

[Herbie]

The Yakima round bars are steel, and quite thick, so should be plenty fine. I have overloaded my bars on occasion with significant loads on a decent span (56" bars, at one point), and only seen minor deflection. With a more "normal" load distributed better (like the flat bottom of an RTT), I would expect zero deflection.

 

[BentBomber]

The load rating on the bars is dynamic load rating, meaning when driving the vehicle. Sleeping in your tent you're not going to bend them.