Can Panoramic Roof be Opened on 2016 Toyota Highlander Platinum with Thule Roof Rack Installed

Question:

I saw your installation on a Toyota Highlander limited Platinum with the panoramic roof. My question is with that installation is the roof still operable. I plan to permanently mount the crossbars to my roof.

asked by: Jason L

Expert Reply:

The Thule roof rack feet in the system in the video, # TH460R, won't block the panoramic roof on your 2016 Toyota Highlander but it is possible that if the glass roof opens up above the roof line it could make contact with items mounted on the crossbars # TH711400 since the hardware used to mount accessories hangs down lower than the bottoms of the bars. The crossbars are also available in black using # TH711420.

Thule does not recommend opening the roof with the crossbars in place but you can provided the roof doesn't make contact with the roof rack or anything attached to it. What I recommend for customers in this situation is to place the roof rack in position but don't tighten it down. Have someone sit in the vehicle to operate the roof while you act as a spotter and if it looks like the roof will hit a bar you can lift it out of the way before that happens.

With that said there is quite a bit of space between the bottoms of the crossbars and the roof and I do not anticipate an issue. In addition to the bars and feet listed above you will also need fit kit # THKIT3134.

expert reply by: Michael H