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Roof bar fitting types

By the Overlanding.info team · Last checked

On this page
  1. Raised rails
  2. Flush rails
  3. Fixed points
  4. Gutters
  5. Naked roofs
  6. Bar profiles
  7. Load ratings on bars
  8. Using a fit guide

How roof bars attach depends on your car's roof. Thule describes a roof rack as three parts that work together: the load bars that span the roof, the feet that attach to it, and a fit kit that matches the feet to your car and roof type. Work out your roof type first, then find the parts for your exact car.

Raised rails

Raised rails run along the roof with a clear gap between the rail and the roof, so they're easy to spot. They're common on SUVs and estate cars. Halfords says bars usually clamp around the rail with rubber grips, which makes this one of the quickest systems to fit, and that many raised rails take universal bar sets.

Flush rails

Flush rails, also called closed rails, run along the edges of the roof but sit against the bodywork with no gap underneath. Bars for flush rails grip them with rubber feet shaped to match the rail.

Check before you buy: Halfords notes that some cars look as if they have flush rails but hide mounting points inside them.

Fixed points

Fixed points are small mounting points along the roofline, set by the car maker for roof bars and usually hidden under plastic caps or trims. Bars attach to them with a fitting kit made for your car's make and model.

Gutters

Some cars have rain gutters along the edges of the roof. These take their own feet: Thule's 951 feet, for example, are made for vehicles with rain gutters and come in more than one height. Check which height your car needs in the maker's fit guide.

Naked roofs

A naked roof, also called a normal or bare roof, has no rails, fixed points or gutters. Bars for a naked roof clamp onto the door frames, using a fitting kit designed for your car's make and model. Because the kit is specific to the car, look up your exact model and year rather than buying a universal set.

Bar profiles

Halfords describes two common profiles:

  • Square bars: steel, with a square profile. Halfords says they're tough and usually the cheaper option, but their shape can mean more wind noise and drag.
  • Aero bars: usually aluminium, with an oval, aerodynamic shape. Halfords says they make less wind noise and use less fuel than square bars.

If you're carrying a roof tent, check that the bar is suitable for one. Thule, for example, says its WingBar Evo works with rooftop tents but its WingBar Edge does not. Check the current price with the retailer.

Load ratings on bars

Every bar system has a maximum load set by its maker. Halfords says its range carries between 50 and 100 kg depending on the model, and that the figure is on the packaging or in the instructions. Thule rates its WingBar Evo for loads up to 100 kg, and its 951 gutter feet for a maximum of 100 kg.

Your car's roof has its own limit, which Halfords says is often lower than the bars' rating, and the bars and everything on them count towards it. Work to whichever limit is lower. For how roof tents fit within those limits, see will a roof tent fit my car?, then check your roof load with your own figures.

Using a fit guide

Fit guides match bars, feet and fit kits to your car, so you don't have to work out the parts yourself:

  • Halfords: enter your registration on the Halfords roof bar finder to see bars for your car. When you choose bars, it asks you to confirm your roof type.
  • Thule: enter your car's make, model and year on its roof rack pages to get a complete system for your car.

Once you've got bars, see roof box sizes explained if you're adding a box.

More in Roof bars and boxes

Sources