Removable roof racks?

[Mark Carroll]

We have a 1998 SW2 and we're looking for a removable roof rack with
cross-bars for it. Our Saturn dealer's quoting $227.74, but it'd not
surprise me if there's something else I can get for half that that'll
do the job. However, with the other removable roof racks around, I'm
having a hard time finding any assurances that they will work with our
SW2.

Can anyone recommend any removable roof-racks that are more reasonably
priced that are known to fit fine on the SW2? (Also, a friend has an
SW or SW2 a few years older - would the same work on that?) Or will
pretty much any of them fit?

-- Mark

 

[p_vouers]

yakama but they are still around 180.00

 

[micven55]

I've got a Thule rack on my 2001 SL1 and it works well. You have to remove
the plastic trim pieces on top of the door openings (with a torx driver)
place the rack retaining clips to the roof and put the plastic trim pieces
back on. Once you get the rack set up correctly the first time it comes on
and off in a minute. The retaining clips stay with the car and you can
hardly notice them.

If you go this way you'll need the "Aero Feet" the specific "Fit Kit" for
your car and the Cross Bars (a fairing will cut down on the wind noise so
you might want to get one of them too). The Thule web site will tell you
the exact part numbers that will fit your car. Try "Rack Warehouse", they
usually have the best prices. Since I only carry a couple of bike racks or
a ski rack I shortened the crossbars, they stuck out quite a bit, so sooner
or later I was bound to whack my head getting into the car.

Oh yeah, you'll find out that none of this is cheap, but it will be less
than the rack from the dealer.

 

[meh1963]

I've got a Thule rack on my 2001 SL1 and it works well. You have to remove
the plastic trim pieces on top of the door openings (with a torx driver)
place the rack retaining clips to the roof and put the plastic trim pieces
back on. Once you get the rack set up correctly the first time it comes on
and off in a minute. The retaining clips stay with the car and you can
hardly notice them.

If you go this way you'll need the "Aero Feet" the specific "Fit Kit" for
your car and the Cross Bars (a fairing will cut down on the wind noise so
you might want to get one of them too). The Thule web site will tell you
the exact part numbers that will fit your car. Try "Rack Warehouse", they
usually have the best prices. Since I only carry a couple of bike racks or
a ski rack I shortened the crossbars, they stuck out quite a bit, so sooner
or later I was bound to whack my head getting into the car.

Oh yeah, you'll find out that none of this is cheap, but it will be less
than the rack from the dealer.

Think twice before using the Thule racks. I've had two sets - for a
1997 and 1999 SL2 - and in both cases at least one of the towers
failed, once catastrophically on a thruway (leaving both bikes bouncing
and destroyed). Apparently, the rods are under tension on the newer
Thule racks (e.g., the non-gutter-mount racks) and the strut towers
aren't strong enough to maintain the compression stress.

In neither failure did Thule respond to letters sent them - both were
about 1.5 yrs old and out of warranty. The second time irked me and I
decided not to buy their products again.

I've since used Yakima racks and have found them less prone to failure.


mh

 

[Schroeder3]

I just bought a 95 SL with 77,000 miles on it. I love it. However after reading about the plastic panels used on the car I’m curious whether the roof will adequately hold a removable roof rack. I recently tried a soft strap rack for my surfboard and the roof was very bouncy and unhappy. Will it hold a proper roof rack?