Thule rack measurements for WRX questions

[GoEhuge]

So I picked up a Thule rapid Aero rack, and installed it the other day on my car. My question is regarding the spacing between the front and rear crossbars. The fitkit suggests to mount the front towers/bars 8 inches back from the windsheild, and that looks just about right. It then says to mount the rear towers/crossbars 18 inches back from the front bars/towers. I did it this way, cause I fugured I might as well fully follow the directions. The problem is, that the crossbars now look way to close to eachother. I was throwing a ski rack on this, and the ski rack directions said that the crossbars should be no less than 20 inches apart... 2 more than the Thule fitkit directions suggest.

Anyone mount a rack on their WRX and have a bit of insight into this? I've tried contacting Thule but they haven't responded. Spacing the crossbars aound 22 inches apart seems like it would be better, but I don't this damn thing flying off going 80 on the highway cause I did it wrong.

Any help?

[counterfeitfake]

I mounted a Thule rack on my WRX. It was used and so I didn't have any instructions. I just eyeballed it. I think the position of the rear bar was dictated by the shape of the roof, i.e. the pillar gets wider farther back and the clamp can only reach so far, so I put it as far back as possible. I'm sure it was more than 18 inches. My skis never flew off, really I have a hard time seeing what could go wrong with this setup as long as you get the pieces locked down right. YMMV.

[Gerome]

I occasionally carry up to 4 kayaks on my Thule rack on my WRX. I mounted the Thule rack at the suggested setting, attached my kayak and laughed. It's not at all enough space and the kayak moved all over the place. I then moved the rear bar back by eyeballing it. I think it has about 24 inches of space now, more or less. It's possible to see that the rear bar has a small angle downward to the back compared to the front bar, but the fittings for my bike rack and pretty much any other rack attachment have enough give that it doesn't matter. The farther apart the bars are the more secure the stuff is that you secure to the roof.

[Gripen]

Just a warning.... the factory WRX crossbars are super weak. Mine snapped.

[skiingsamurai]

ive got the full thule setup on my wrx. +1 for just eyeballing it. since i use the clamps (i cant afford a box) I make them ~2' apart. This way I can fit skis and snowboards.

the only thing I measure is to make sure the distances between the mounts and from the front of the car are equal

[mtskier]

i guess i'll give the other perspective. yes, a wider bar spread is ideal and will properly support any load better. however, that thule rack is designed and tested to be mounted in ONE location only. those measurements are there for a reason. it may have to do with the strength of the roof, the strength of the attachment point, or aerodynamics. by setting your own measurements you are voiding the warranty. having said that, do what you think is best for the gear you haul.

what you should have done is bought the subaru rails (yes, i know they are expensive) and then the thule crossroad rack (cheaper that the rapid aero). that would give you the most simplicity and versatility.

[volklpowdermaniac]

WRX's till I die. I'm already on my second.


but no help with the mounting thing, sorry just wanted to praise WRX

[brown9]

I've only had my wrx through one winter and thus only had my rack on from nov. till may. took it off and there was some gummy crap left on the roof from the feet of the rack. After cleaning that off i noticed that they left some abrasion and so did the four feet of the wind fairing. Do you guys do anything special to prevent this? My paint was clean when the rack went on, so I'm wondering if i should find a strip or three of the clear bra by 3m and slap that down to save the paint. Any other advice?

Sorry to hijack, but it's relevant and wrx's are sick as hell.

[Spew]

another question... All of you with the WRXs and Thule rack use the 206 fit kit, right? and that clamps to the inside of the window sills, right?

[hutash]

I've only had my wrx through one winter and thus only had my rack on from nov. till may. took it off and there was some gummy crap left on the roof from the feet of the rack. After cleaning that off i noticed that they left some abrasion and so did the four feet of the wind fairing. Do you guys do anything special to prevent this? My paint was clean when the rack went on, so I'm wondering if i should find a strip or three of the clear bra by 3m and slap that down to save the paint. Any other advice?

Sorry to hijack, but it's relevant and wrx's are sick as hell.

Put a thick fresh coat of wax, and make sure the rubber is perfectly clean. The rubber feet should not do any more damage then the clear bra material. Taking the rack off occasionally and cleaning well may also help. I, personally would not leave a footed rack on a car for any length of time.

[eLBy]

another question... All of you with the WRXs and Thule rack use the 206 fit kit, right? and that clamps to the inside of the window sills, right?

Just picked up the Thule rack & 206 fit kit - Where exactly are you guys clamping this thing to your roof? What I mean is, are people directly putting this clamp over their plastic window sill insert? This does not seem like the strongest solution... Does it work?

The only other option I see is to pry the plastic down and clamp directly to the metal, but this doesn't seem like a very good idea either, on account I don't want to trash my sills.

Attached pics are how I'm doing it now...

[skiingsamurai]

that looks right to me

dont pry that up, its expensive to replace

[brown9]

that's how i mounted mine up, and once you get some tension on both sides with the clamps down pull the brackets outward to pull them away from the metal lip on the sill.

[rackguy]

Stretching your rack out a couple inches in this case shouldn't be a problem. In older Thule 400 systems, the instructions actually used to suggest moving the racks up to 2 inches from the listed mounting positions to fit different gear on. What ski rack are you using on top of the bars? If your bindings fit within the 18 inches spread of the Thule rack, there's probably no need to change the rack's position.

Many 2 and 4 door cars have similar issues with Thule racks because of the roundness of the roof, or the way the trim around the door curves down. Moving the bars out too far tends to turn them slightly, which can make mounting gear on top harder.

The Yakima Q-Tower is probably the better rack on your WRX, it sits 25 inches apart and gives a 165lb weight limit. It also uses round bars, so no matter how far apart you push them on the roof, you can mount ski racks vertically.

Both the Thule and Yakima racks grab on to the window trim, because the Subaru door opens at the window, not at the top of a door frame. The trim is more than strong enough to mount a rack on to.