I'm completely illiterate when it comes to most things automotive and I need help. I'm wanting to get some type of cargo basket for the roof of my SUV (2013 Ford Escape) but I need some strong enough roof racks/rails/crossbar to support the basket/cargo weight I'll get and I'm not even sure what the difference is between a rail, rack etc. All I know is that the top of my car is bare with only the weather strips which appear to be made for removing (for things like this). What do I specifically need to buy? What brands make the best products for this type of thing? Any help would be much appreciated. This is all foreign territory to me and my local ford dealer was incredibly unhelpful.
(02-08-2018 07:19 PM)TTT Wrote: [ -> ]I'm completely illiterate when it comes to most things automotive and I need help. I'm wanting to get some type of cargo basket for the roof of my SUV (2013 Ford Escape) but I need some strong enough roof racks/rails/crossbar to support the basket/cargo weight I'll get and I'm not even sure what the difference is between a rail, rack etc. All I know is that the top of my car is bare with only the weather strips which appear to be made for removing (for things like this). What do I specifically need to buy? What brands make the best products for this type of thing? Any help would be much appreciated. This is all foreign territory to me and my local ford dealer was incredibly unhelpful.
If you know the brand of rack you want, say Thule for instance, their website will have compatibility guide for your the part/vehicle. I'd check Ford's accessory website as well for the Escape and see what they recommend.
Finally, your specific ride has a couple of online forums that I would shift through to see what their experience has been. One of them is sure to have a thread regarding your specific issue.
While I haven't had to put roof racks on a car without rails, I have a fair amount of experience with various bike carrying devices. I like Thule and Yakima devices, and I have buddies who are big fans of kuat. The stuff you're looking for is sold as separate components because a lot of the gear is interchangeable. I assume you'll need to buy a roof rack (includes cross bars) and also a basket.
I highly recommend you visit etrailer.com. These guys will have EVERYTHING you need to know, including compatibility, reviews, instructions, and installation videos. I've purchased from them a couple of times. Prices are competitive and they've got merchandise a lot of other vendors don't carry, but most of all they have ready access to information in one spot.
Take a look at this, and drill down for details on roof racks.