Weight limits on roof racks

[bbrock]

Smeric, tx for the insight. I picked up my 58" crossbars w/ some Railgrabbers today used, but in what appears great condition. My box should be coming soon. I removed the factory crossbars today as well. I will mount the bars tomorrow, contingent on forecast. Anyhow, Smeric, sounds like based on what you said that it works to place the crossbars in the most forward small holes/openings on the siderails. But, with the rear cross bar, you are saying that it didn't work to have it all the back on the siderails? Do I have to wait for the Skybox 16s to get here before I mount the rear crossbar in order to determine the best positioning without the liftgate rubbing the box? Thanks.

[smeric]

" But, with the rear cross bar, you are saying that it didn't work to have it all the back on the siderails? "
It worked fine for bikes racks, but I had to move it forward for the box to clear the open liftgate. I just measured mine, and my rear cross bar is mounted about 8" forward of the small hole at the rear of the roof rail. That, plus adjusting the clamps inside the box to position the box forward, gave me clearance on the liftgate.
You can probably go ahead and mount the rear bar before you get the box. Once the cross bar is on the car, you can easily loosen the railgrabbers and slide it forward/backward as needed.
I think I remember that when I set up the box, one set of the clamps was adjusted all the way against the rear stop, and the other set still had some room left, but I can't remember if it was the front or rear clamps.

[bbrock]

Tx Smeric. I'll play around with mine when I have some time. The box will coming soon to REI, then I will pick it up. I want to mount it at REI, but hopefully I am not sitting there for an hour trying to get it adjusted so that there are not problems with the lift gate.

[subiesailor]

I have an old Thule silver painted box which seems to be longer than most of the boxes sold today which don't seem to be made to handle proper snow skis ie too short length wise.

When the old box is on the stock 2010 cross bars it rubs the hatch some when you open the hatch. I put some heavy clear tape in one little spot where it rubs. I don't run around with the box on the car unless we are using the box which is like 5-7 times a year. When I put my old yakima gear on with the rail grabs it raises my rack gear up off the roof line about 3 inches which case the box clears the hatch just fine.

Width needed for your gear is a different story I have two bar sets. I run the fairly standard 54 inch bars for the box and two bikes snug fit but they fit. I run the 66 inch bars for the box + canoe or three bikes with the box. Or the 66 bars for my 12ft sailboat if I car top it.

[nhmtns]

I've carried an awful lot using a combo of the factory rails and a Yakima system on all my Subarus. This photo was from one of the WRX's I've owned with two 16' sea kayaks and 2 mountain bikes.

[lexa]

i carry close to 100# on my OEM rack few times a year and so far no bend or other issues.

[4mal]

Originally Posted by dbw001

I see that my 07 OB 2.5 has a limit of 100lbs on the roof. I was thinking of buying a Thule carrier, but it alone weighs 40+ lbs, which would leave not much for the cargo. A few questions:

1) Does anyone know what the Subaru stock roof rails and cross bars can really handle in terms of weight? Is 150 lbs ok?

2) Is it the rails or the cross-pieces that are the limiting factor in terms of weight?

3) If it is just the cross bars, then can someone recommend a few aftermarket cross bars that look decent and are not too expensive.

Thanks!
D.

i use the thule feet and bar setup on my 07 OB. 4 pairs of ski's and poles in bags, tire chains, box of travel tools and simple repair supplies in a Thule Frontier box. ski trips throughout the west and western can. no worries.

in general pack the lightest stuff up top lest you get a bad center of gravity happening. loaded up I can feel the difference...

you really should do an aftermarket crossbar system for safety

[runlikehell]

My Outback handles up-top weight fine. I have a roof top tent with yakima railgrabbers and 58" bars. Total static weight is probably 160lbs. When I sleep up-top with all my gear it must weigh 500lbs or so. It has been absolutely fine with no worries.

I posted a picture somewhere on this site but I forget which thread. Here is another pic -

[error]

Here is my setup: Thule 450 base rack, three bike racks (Mont Blanc Barracudas) and long cargo box

[nspekter]

I lost a wide 14' kayak that was on Thule J-bars on the factory crossbars. The kayak weighs less than 70 lbs. so I was under the weight limit, but there was a strong crosswind. It just ripped the crossbars off the rails and twisted the J-bars. This was on I-94 in Michigan. Since then I've gone to Thule crossbars and feet with the kayak horizontal and haven't had any problems.
The kayak survived with just some scratches and a broken rudder keeper. Luckily it sailed off to the shoulder and there wasn't any traffic nearby.