The basic element of a roof rack are cross bars (also called roof bars). They are mounted either on railings or directly on the roof. After installing cross bars you can easily mount a roof box, bike rack, or a ski rack. Keep in mind that cross bars are not universal, so you need to choose a product designed specifically for your car model. Be sure to check your car’s compatibility before buying new cross bars.
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Railings
When buying cross bars designed to be mounted on railings, make sure that all the components are compatible with your car. Pay attention to the following parameters:
- Shape and size of railings - the railings must match your cross bars, otherwise you will not be able to install them.
- Vehicle width, respectively distance between railings - cross bars must be longer than the distance between railings, but at the same time they cannot simply hang out to the sides.
Cross bars
If your car is not equipped with railings, you can mount cross bars directly on the roof. In this case, the bars are mounted via brackets below the rim of the roof or to the mounting points in the inner door frame. Keep in mind, however, that each car has a differently shaped roof, so it is necessary to choose cross bars designed specifically for a particular car model! If you are unsure how to mount the cross bars, check your car’s user manual for details.
Compatibility can be an issue even with different generations of the same car model (e.g. cross bars for the Škoda Octavia II are not compatible with the Škoda Octavia III).
How to install cross bars on railings |
How to install cross bars on the roof |
Ski racks, bike racks, and roof boxes
Once you have installed the cross bars, you can easily mount various racks, depending on what you intend to transport:
- Bike racks - an ordinary passenger car can carry up to four bikes on its roof.
- Ski and snowboard racks - provide storage space for up to six pairs of skis or three snowboards.
- Roof boxes - nicknamed "coffins" by some, they provide additional storage space up to 650 l in volume and allow you to transport cargo, luggage, skis, and other equipment (even strollers for some models).
