CargoLoc Roof Top Aluminum Cross Bars
Yakima Whispbar Flush Bar Roof Rack
Kova Gear Universal Roof Rack Cross Bars
A roof rack can be a great product to add extra storage space to a vehicle. In these days when Americans are increasingly opting to purchase smaller vehicles than they used to, that extra space can really come in handy.
Then there are the odd shaped items that can be hard to fit into any cars or SUV – we’re talking sports equipment like bikes or skis, or perhaps tools like ladders. Again, a roof rack can provide the space to easily transport these items.
Picking out a roof rack is not at simple as grabbing the first set of bars that fit your vehicle however. Just as with any vehicle upgrade, there is a range of potential models on the market. Each one will have different features, different advantages and will be better suited for different applications.
To help you find the right one then, we have put together this guide of the best roof racks on the market right now, as well as a useful buying guide and FAQ section to provide all the information you need.
The Best Roof Rack
1
CargoLoc Roof Top Aluminum Cross Bars
We’ll kick off with this set from CargoLoc that appear, at least on the surface, to be a pretty simple design of roof rack. What we have here is a rack designed to be used on the kind of raised roof rails that are often found on SUV and Station Wagons.
It simply clips onto the rail with the help of a very well designed locking system. You simply place the bars where you want, then raise the tension with a simple little tool until you have the bar locked securely in place. They’ll stay there too, thanks to the built in lock that secures the bar in place with the turn of a key, deterring ay would-be thieves.
Look a little closer too and you can see that this item comes with some features that you may not expect given it’s lower mid-range price point. The best thing to see is the all aluminum construction, which will give these bars strength (the load capacity is 150 Pounds, not bad at all) and save weight – the 46 Inch versions weigh a little under 9 Pounds, far less than the equivalent steel versions.
They also have rounded edges and about as low profile design as you can expect to see on this style of roof rack.
Simple Design
Keyed Lock
Easy Fit with Adjusting Clamps
- BrandCargoLoc
- Model32451
- Weight8.6 lbs
2
Apex Universal Aluminum Cross Bars
Another set of aluminum bars designed for raised side rails, so very similar to the ones we looked at above. The stand out design feature here is these are a universal fit – so unlike the model above, and many other models on this list too, there is only one size option with this product.
Installation is very simple indeed, we’re talking 10 to 15 minutes from un-boxing to completed installation – so stock up the refrigerator well before you start work or your celebratory beer is going to be lukewarm.
All in all, a very basic design however they are by far the cheapest on the list. Don’t expect any bells and whistles then, but at the same time you can avoid denting your bank account too much.
If one criticism could be leveled at these bars it is that universal one size fits all design. They are made for use on side rails that are up to 50 inches apart. That is fine if you have side rivals of that distance (or close), but if your rails are narrower, there will be a little overhang. As they are nice and wide they are also going to be heavier than bars made for narrower rails, with a weight of almost 12 pounds total.
Still, it’s harsh to be too critical with that low price point!
Fast & Easy Fit
For Side rails up to 50 Inches Wide
150-Pound Weight Capacity
- BrandApex
- ModelRB-1001-49
- Weight11.45 lbs
3
Yakima Whispbar Flush Bar Roof Rack
This roof rack from Yakima certainly has the hallmarks of a premium product. Top quality aluminum has been employed to manufacture a bar with excellent overall weight capacity. Depending on the size, the product itself has a total weight of between 10 to 13 Pounds – not the lightest on the list, but certainly not the heaviest either.
It also boasts a lovely wide surface. That will certainly help with lashing down items, but it also increases the bar’s aerodynamic profile. The weight bearing mass is spread over a shallow, flatter bar and that is going to cut down wind resistance and avoid affecting the vehicle’s performance.
Installation is pretty straight forward, and it should be noted this is a different install type than the two products we have looked at above. This rack is designed to be used on the hidden rail that you will see on modern and smaller cars. It can also be mounted on a vehicle with no rail, though you may have to buy an additional mounting kit for that option. Either design is protected from thieves by being either being screwed in or mounted within the doorframe, so no need to lock the model to protect it from thieves.
All in all then, a well-designed roof rack made of premium materials – but, depending on the size you need for your vehicle, prepare to pay a premium price too.
Excellent Aerodynamic Installation
No Lock Required
Good Load Capacity (175 lbs)
- BrandYakima
- Model8050119
- WeightAprox. 10 to 13 lbs, depending on model
4
SportRack Complete Roof Rack System
In some ways a pretty basic model, that is actually to a certain extent one of the stand out features of this rack from SportRack. The main thing to note with this model is that it is designed to be used on a vehicle with a “bare” roof. In other words, no rails or drilled roof rack attachment points.
That alone is a pretty useful feature to see, because so many modern car designs, especially smaller cars, do not come equipped with anything up on the roof to aid with rack attachment. Yes, it gives modern car models a nice, streamlined appearance, but come on car designers, where are we supposed to attach our kayaks, huh?
This rack simply slots into the door arch, and it even boasts a rubber-coated installation plate that protects the car paintwork. In use, because these are somewhat old fashioned but extremely common 2 Inch diameter bars, you will have no problem finding accessories that fit the bar.
Being of steel construction they are nice and solid, but are that little bit heavier than equivalent sized aluminum bars. To Sum up then, they may be a little heavier, they may be a little old fashioned, but their go anywhere do anything design is certainly very appealing overall.
Fits Vehicle Without Rails
Tool Free Installation
Steel Construction
- BrandSportRack
- ModelSR1102
- Weight11 to 16 lbs, depending on size
5
Vault Cargo Management 54 Inch Universal Locking Roof Rack
Despite its relatively low price, this is actually a very well designed and constructed set of roof rack bars. First things first, these bars are designed to be used on a vehicle with side rails – whether the traditional raised design or the modern solid rail design, this rack will fit on both.
Installation is nice and easy, put them into place and tighten up the side clamps until they are secured in place. Then, once you’ve done that… actually, that’s it, you’ve installed your roof rack, congratulations.
Once in position, they are locked in place with a key to secure them against any opportunistic roof rack thieves. They are made of aluminum so have a low overall weight despite their impressive length (54 Inches, hello ladies) and good overall maximum weight capacity of 150 Pounds. They are also a lovely low profile design, that is very aerodynamic to cut down on any negative effects to vehicle performance.
It’s their universal fit that it is the truly impressive feature however. They are designed to span a roof rail gap of between 34.5 to 49.5 inches. That means they are suitable for a wide range of vehicle models. Just measure the rail gap before you order and that it is, lovely & stress free!
One Size Fits All
Padded Clamps
150-Pound Load Capacity
- BrandVault Cargo
- ModelVCM-CSBR-53-2
- Weight9.85 lbs
6
Kova Gear Universal Roof Rack Cross Bars
These bars from Kova Gera are another of the universal type, designed to be fitted on side rails. They are also the budget rails on our list, rolling up with a price tag well under 100 bucks.
So don’t expect the bells and whistles that you may find on a more premium model – however that being said, these are useful enough rails with some good design points.
First of all, as universal bars, installation is lovely and straightforward. Put them into position, tighten the two connectors into place and away you go. Aluminum is employed as the main construction material to give an overall low weight. They also boast a keyed lock that helps to keep them on your roof and not in the trunk of a roof rack thief.
They don’t quite have the low profile of more premium designs, so they may end up having a bit of a negative knock on effect to car performance. That being said though, they are very cheap but pretty effective. Know that that you’re buying a budget model, expect some aspects to be a little lower quality than more expensive products and just enjoy them for what they are – very simple but straightforward and effective roof rack bars.
Easy Installation
Keyed Lock
Low Price
- BrandKova Gear
- Model–
- Weight9 lbs
Best Roof Rack Buying Guide & FAQ
That is our list of the best Roof Racks out there on the market right now. As you will have seen there can be a considerable difference in the design, materials, features and – most importantly – price across the entire range.
What’s more, you need to ensure that you are choosing a roof rack that will be suitable for fitting on your vehicle – whether it is as raised side bars, solid side bars, fixing points or nothing at all.
Once it is installed, you need to be careful to load it safely to protect both other road users and also your stuff. After all, when you load up the roof rack, you want to know the items you put up there are going to stay up there.
To that end then we’re going to go through some of the features to look out for, give you some advice on how to fit and then load your roof rack, before answering some of the most frequently asked questions about this type of product.
Aren’t we great, huh?
Features to Look For in a Roof Rack
- Aerodynamic/Low Profile Design – Ok, it’s pretty obvious that strapping a kayak and a couple of mountain bikes to the vehicle roof are going to negatively affect performance and fuel economy. But you should also consider the long term effect that the bars themselves could have. As that article puts it, roof racks can turn your car into a real gas-guzzler! Now, the effect is probably not quite going to be that extreme, however choosing low profile bars or a rack that has been designed with aerodynamic performance in mind can really help to offset any negative issues.
- Connectors - You need connectors that work with your vehicle’s design. See the section below where we discuss the different ways you might be attaching the roof rack to the vehicle.
- Construction Material – Your options here are going to be steel and aluminum. Steel is generally cheaper, but a bit heavier. Aluminum is usually found on more premium models, but it is quite a bit lighter.
- Keyed Lock – Roof racks that attach with a clamp should be secured with keyed lock to prevent thieves from stealing them. Roof racks that secure via fixing points or inside the door jamb don’t need to be locked.
- Weight Capacity – How much weight are you planning on carrying? Most of the racks on this list will hold 150 to 160 Pounds, which should be sufficient for most car trips.
Safety Tips When Using a Roof Rack
Using a roof rack is generally a pretty safe and straightforward endeavor. Think about it, if people routinely ended their journeys only to get step out of the car and find that all of their items had disappeared during the journey, no would use the things anymore, would they?
In actual fact, a cursory glance as you drive down nearly any highway will show that hundreds and hundreds of people place their trust in their roof racks to deliver their load safely from point A to point B.
These people are almost certainly following a good set of safety tips, and if you want to be like them (in other words smart) then you should take a look at these useful safety tips too:
- Correct Fit – Nothing will make a rood rack less safe, and more likely to shed it’s load, then if it does not have the correct fit. Think about it, these things are out in the wind, zipping along at 70 Miles per Hour, often loaded down with odd shaped loads of over 100 pounds. That can place a lot of pressure on the rack which it can easily deal with, but only if it is the correct fit for your vehicle. Therefore make sure that you are buying the right sized rack for your vehicle with the correct installation points.
- Correct Installation – Once you have the right roof rack for your vehicle, the next stage is to ensure it is installed correctly. Most racks are relatively easy to install, and many are available that can be put in place securely with minimal tools, sometimes even with none. Try to select a style of roof rack you are confident you can install.
- Height Restrictions – Bear in mind that a roof rack will make your vehicle taller, and also whatever you load on it will also increase that total height. If you already have a tall vehicle, like a SUV, then you should be aware of low height warnings, especially if you’re loading up will tall or bulky objects like kayaks or upright mountain bikes.
- Center of Gravity – A heavy load can offset the center of gravity of the vehicle if it is not loaded correctly. Luckily, this is pretty easy to avoid, just aim to load heavier items toward the center of the roof and not off to one side or all at the front or rear of the available space. Work from the Middle outwards, and place light items around the edges and sides of the space.
- Total Weight – Finally, always bear in mind the total safe weight that the roof rack can handle. Also, consider how that weight is carried. So a rack that can take 150 Pounds can be loaded with that amount if the load is distributed safely and evenly. If however the weight is concentrated in one smaller area, such as one or two dense and heavy objects then take extra care.
Pretty simple really, right? Just bear these tips in mind and also always remember the capacity of your roof rack and you should have no problems.
How to Tie Things to Your Cars Roof Rack
If you are going to safely secure items to the roof, then one of the most important lessons you must learn is how to secure the load safely.
One of the keys, especially when it comes to securing larger loads, is to use a proper knot to secure the ropes. Don’t worry, this isn’t a Boy Scout thing, you don’t need to learn a hundred of them and get a stupid badge. In fact, there is just one you need to know, and it’s called a Trucker’s Knot, because what else would it be called? Click that link to see a great guide to this very useful knot.
As for the loading up of the roof rack itself, please click this link to see a great (and mercifully short) lesson in proper roof rack loading, delivered by a monotone Australian man with a cracking moustache.
FAQ
Do you have any questions about roof racks? If so, we’ll try to answer them here. If your question is “how do I strap a dead body to a roof rack?” please be aware we have passed your IP address to the FBI.
Q: Will Any Roof Rack Fit my Car?
A: No it won’t, which is why we made a point of highlighting on each product review what type of vehicle each roof rack was suitable for.
Essentially there are 4 ways that a roof rack can be secured to the roof of your vehicle, and they depend on the equipment your car is currently equipped with.
- Raised Roof Rails – Most likely seen on SUV and station wagon style cars. These are, as the name implies, rails that are raised up, probably about 2 inches, on the vehicle roof.
- Solid Roof Rails – Very similar to the above, except they don’t have any gaps between the rail and he vehicle roof. This makes them look all cool and streamlined, so you will likely find them on cars and SUVs with a more modern design style. Both types of rail, despite looking different, operate in exactly the same way.
- Fix Points – Some vehicles on the other hand come with pre-installed fixing points. They are basically holes drilled in the car roof and filled with some kind of plastic bung or cap. If you have one of these, then you will need to find it, remove the covering and then attach your roof rack by screwing it down through the hole. The fixing points will be on either side of the vehicle, often covered by a strip of plastic or a plastic cover, helping them to blend into the car’s design.
- Nothing – And some cars have nothing! This is especially common on smaller sized, and modern cars. But don’t fear – all is not lost! What you need to do in this case is pick up a roof rack that secures to the vehicle via the door jamb – this is the cut out that the car door sits in. These can be just as secure – and just as strong – as any rack that is attached to the rails or fixing point.
Q: How Do I Know What Kind of Roof Rack I Need?
A: The first thing to do is read the section above to see how your rack will be secured. Once you know that, the next thing you need to know is what distance the bars must stretch across.
Depending on the type of roof rack, you may have to look up your vehicle model on the manufactures website to see which model is made for your specific vehicle.
If you pick up a universal rack however, all you have to do is check that it will cover the distance you have measured between the bars – nice and simple!
Q: Can Roof Racks be Removed?
A: They are not welded or glued into place, so yes they can be. However, you may not want to keep removing them all the time, especially if you have chosen a model that connects via a fixing point, which can be fiddly to get on and off.
Broadly speaking, a bar that clamps onto a rail is going to be easiest to get on and off repeatedly.
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Our Top Pick
Choosing a top pick for these types of products is not as straightforward as it is with some others that we look at here at Car Bible. That’s because we can happily recommend what we consider the best product – but if it doesn’t actually fit your specific car that advise is worthless.
Therefore we’re going to pick two top picks. Can we do this? Well, who’s going to stop us, huh? Exactly.
First off, we are going to recommend a model for vehicles that have roof rails installed – whether the old style raised rail or the modern solid rail. If you have one of these, we would suggest the Vault Cargo Management 54 Inch Universal Locking Roof Rack (Product number 5 on the list above).
It is just a very well designed roof rack. Easy to install, no size options to wade through, good maximum weight capacity, lightweight but solid aluminum construction and a decent aerodynamic design to minimize drag.
Our other Top Pick is, in a lot of ways, the polar opposite of our other selection. We’re talking the SportRack Complete Roof Rack System (Item number 4 on the list).
Now yes, as we pointed out in out design this is a pretty basic and somewhat old-fashioned design. It’s stand out feature however is that it is designed to be mounted on vehicles with no side rails at all. That makes it very useful in today’s market when smaller cars without any side rails or roof rack mounting points are becoming more and more common.
Sources
- Americans Choosing Smaller Cars, Washington Post
- Affect of Roof Rack on Car Performance, Popular Mechanics
- National Lampoons Vacation Bag Falls, YouTube
- How to Tie a Truckers Knot, Instructables
- Roof Rack Loading Guide, YouTube
