Roof Rack and Kayak Carrier for 2018 Subaru Impreza Sedan

Question:

Thinking about purchasing a 2018 Impreza sedan, with naked roof. I need to be able to transport a large fishing kayak, preferably two. Not sure what cross bars to use, and what the max load limits are. I am assuming aftermarket cross bars, mounted to the fixed points, will probably have higher load capacity than the stock bars. What are my options?

asked by: Bart S

Expert Reply:

Usually both factory and aftermarket roof racks will be designed to match the weight capacity of the vehicle's roof. The owner's manual for the 2018 Impreza sedan indicates on page 8-12 a 150-lb rating for the factory rails. This means the total load on the roof - the rack you install, the kayak carrier and the two kayaks all together - cannot weigh more than 150-lbs.

Most of the aftermarket sedan roof racks we offer top out at 140-lbs capacity. Wagons have a higher capacity. To see the racks that fit the car, please refer to the linked page. Click on the image of the roof type, then select sedan using the drop-down Select Vehicle Style menu tool.

As an example, a high-value rack for the sedan with a bare roof comes from Inno (who makes the OEM racks for Subaru) and consists of parts # INB127, # INXP and # INTR145. This rack offers a wide bar spread of 31-inches which will be good for keeping the kayaks stable. It can handle 140-lbs total.

To save on weight you might consider the Thule Stacker kayak carrier # TH830 which can handle up to 4 boats and which weighs only 8-lbs.