Recommended Roof Rack For 1999 Toyota Camry With Naked Roof

Question:

Im looking for a rack for 1999 Camry LE and found Part Numbers: SR1005 My concern is not seeing how this fits my car as it seems it would either flatten the door rubber molding, or have to go under the rubber door molding... either way it seems it would likely cause wind noise and water leaks. Id like to know for certain this part would work well for my vehicle, or perhaps you can recommend another that would work better. Thank you,

asked by: Stephen P

Expert Reply:

To be honest, the SportRack Semi-Custom Roof Rack, part # SR1005 is one of our less expensive roof racks and does not come with custom brackets made specifically for your 1999 Camry as our other roof racks do. Some of the issues is that because it is a semi-custom fit, the feet do not always fit the contour of the roof. If you are planning on using the roof rack a lot I would definitely go with a custom-fit roof rack to avoid fit issues. We have not had complaints about leaking water, and the clamps should not increase the wind noise if placed correctly.

We do have several roof racks that include custom brackets for your Camry that will work for you. For a big step up I recommend the Rhino-Rack 2500 Series Roof Rack. This roof rack comes with custom leg assemblies that fit the curves of your door jambs. The rubber pads for the feet are designed to fit the contour of your roof. As you can see in the attached photo, the clamps slip between the door jamb and the rubber door seal. To order this roof rack you will need parts # RRVA118B-2, # RRRLKVA, and # DK110.

expert reply by: Jeffrey L

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Chris L.

7/5/2020

I also have a 1999 4-door naked-roof Camry, and would like to carry a kayak. Would the Yakima Q-Towers (with the 48 inch bars and Q79 clips) give a better fit than the Sportsrack SR1005? Because this is a very old car I am trying to find something that offers the best balance between sturdiness/solidity and price. Thank you!

Chris R.

7/9/2020

The Yakima Q Tower setup that you mentioned with the Q79 clips is the correct system for your Camry. If you're able to find these parts somewhere they'll work great and WILL offer a better fit than the SportRack system, unfortunately though Yakima no longer makes the Q Clips and towers.